Books with author Sheldon Oberman

King Soloman is wise, the wisest man in the world. One day, the Queen of Sheba--the wisest woman in the world--arrives at the gates of Jerusalem. She has come form a faraway land to see Solomon put this wisdom to work. "Name anything," says the king. What the queen asks of Solomon is startling. To fulfill her request, he must change the birds of the sky--and change them forever. Soon the fate of every bird in the world rests with a small, colorful bird called the hoopoe. The roots of the story of Solomon, Sheba, and the hoopoe bird are deep. Versions of the story are found in the folklore of Israel, Yemen, and East Africa. Out of this folklore, Sheldon Oberman has fashioned his own moving version of the tale, while Neil Waldman's stunning paintings reflect a blending of the tale's Jewish and African traditions. This tale, which speaks to us of respect for different people and the different creatures of the world, is ancient and powerful.

An old and tired winter wind is searching for a place to rest. But wherever he goes, the wind is turned away, until his pain fuels a raging storm. Then he meets a good-hearted child who offers him a place to stay, and in gratitude the old wind leaves the child a lasting legacy. From Sheldon Oberman, author of the award-winning The Always Prayer Shawl, comes a timeless tale about the good that flows from kindness and understanding. Neil Waldman's stunnign art evokes the world of old Russia, where the story originated.

"Some things change. And some things don't."That simple truth, whispered in a synagogue, echoes throughout this deeply felt picture book. Adam, a young Jewish boy in czarist Russia, must flee his ancestral home at the outbreak of the revolution. Before he sets sail for a new land, his grandfather gives him a prayer shawl that was handed to him by his own grandfather, who was also named Adam. And so the life of Adam and his prayer shawl unfolds from time past to time present, when Adam has a grandson of his own. Some things change and some things don't. Sheldon Oberman's picture book about the strength of tradition and the passing of generations is given powerful expression in Ted Lewin's atmospheric illustrations.

When Grandpa was a boy growing up in Europe, he celebrated Hanukkah in much the way children do today. He sang songs, played dreidel, and ate potato pancakes. Yet Hanukkah was very different. His family could not share the joy of Hanukkah with the world. They were forced to observe the holiday behind locked doors and drawn curtains. In those days, a man came with soldiers to persecute the Jews--just as a foreign king had done centuries earlier in Jerusalem. Sheldon Oberman's beautiful story explores the meaning of Hanukkah in a way that enlightens and inspires. Neil Waldman's radiant illustrations capture the message of joy and courage that is the Festival of Lights.

When Jewish author/storyteller Sheldon Oberman met Inuit artist/hunter Simon Tookoome, he knew the encounter was special. Still, he had no idea their meeting would result in an amazing collaboration that would span a decade. Through the use of many tape recordings and translations, Sheldon has painstakingly woven the threads of a remarkable man's life into a book for all to treasure. With Tookoome's drawings to enhance the text, Oberman has managed to express the cadence and voice of one of the last of the Inuit to live the traditional nomadic life in the Arctic. The Shaman's Nephew magically transports readers to a cold climate that warms and grows more familiar with every turn of the page. Shortlisted, Governor General's Award 2000 Norma Fleck Award 2000 Parent's Choice Silver Honor Winner 2000 The Parent's Council, Select Title 2002 Red Cedar Award, Non-Fiction Nominee

When Jewish author/storyteller Sheldon Oberman met Inuit artist/hunter Simon Tookoome, he knew the encounter was special. Still, he had no idea their meeting would result in an amazing collaboration that would span a decade. Through the use of many tape recordings and translations, Sheldon has painstakingly woven the threads of a remarkable man's life into a book for all to treasure. With Tookoome's drawings to enhance the text, Oberman has managed to express the cadence and voice of one of the last of the Inuit to live the traditional nomadic life in the Arctic. The Shaman's Nephew magically transports readers to a cold climate that warms and grows more familiar with every turn of the page. Shortlisted, Governor General's Award 2000 Norma Fleck Award 2000 Parent's Choice Silver Honor Winner 2000 The Parent's Council, Select Title 2002 Red Cedar Award, Non-Fiction Nominee