Ella Kvellephant and her little brother, Eli, are off to the beach with their grandparents, Bubbe and Zeyde Kvellephant, for a day of fun. Soon everyone is shvitzing and enjoying a nosh after their long shlep to the shore. Bubbe sprinkles her speech with Yiddish words, and although she no longer speaks the language of her childhood fluently, she says that each word is "like a treasure" to her. Ella makes a pirate ship out of sand and declares that she will hunt for the lost treasure of Bubbe's Yiddish words. By the end of a day of sun and waves, Ella has learned a long list of Yiddish words that have found their AJL News and Reviews March April 2023 29 REVIEWS OF TITLES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS Continued on page 30 way into everyday English usage. AND Ella starts to learn Yiddish so that Bubbe's treasure "never gets lost again." Author and illustrator Jen Kostman introduces the origin of Yiddish through words that have become part of American English. The glossary defines and transliterates the 13 Yiddish words in the story and writes them in both English and Hebrew letters.The illustrationsare particularly charming.The anthropomorphized elephant family and their world are warmly depicted in a pastel color palette. All children, in both Jewish and secular settings, can enjoy this unique picture book. It is klug(smart)and batamt (cute).--Rena Citrin "Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews"
Hunting a "lost" language. Ella the elephant and her pachyderm family--Bubbe, Zeyde, and little brother Eli--visit the beach. Bubbe peppers her conversation with Yiddish words but regrets she's forgotten--"lost"--many words in that ancient language; she calls them a "treasure." Ella, proud of her treasure-hunting skills, promises to help Bubbe find them and builds a ship from sand to go exploring. A wave ruins it, but undaunted Ella falls asleep and dreams of adventure. Alas, she doesn't find what she seeks because she doesn't know what a "lost language" looks like. As the family gets ready to head home, Ella spies a Yiddish lexicon on a table displaying "Seaside Treasures" and--better yet--recaps the day in an animated exclamation laced with every Yiddish word Bubbe used, even in the order she said them! Bubbe confirms Ella's hunting prowess, crowing that the Yiddish "was inside you all along!" This cheerful story celebrating a loving family overplays the language shtick and strains credulity: Ella doesn't know what Yiddish is yet can recall all Bubbe's Yiddish terms and verbalize them correctly in context on her first try soon after hearing the words. The energetic illustrations fare better; the depiction of Ella's shipboard exploration is especially vivid. All characters are animals. Yiddish words are set in a larger, boldfaced, capitalized red font. (This book was reviewed digitally.) (Picture book. 4-8) ...a cheerful story celebrating a loving family-- "Kirkus Reviews"
When elephant siblings Ella and Eli spend an exciting day at the beach with their grandparents, they are distressed to learn a sad fact about old age. Sometimes a language, if it is not spoken regularly, can disappear. When Bubbe confesses that she can no longer access all the Yiddish words she used in her younger years, Ella determines to help her recover them. While many gems, such as nosh, shvitz, and chutzpah, still pop up in conversations with Bubbe, her granddaughter realizes that she must race against time if she wishes to accomplish this goal. More is at stake than words in this adventure. The bond between generations is essential: "Bubbe is very important to Ella," author-illustrator Jen Kostman writes, "and it is clear that Yiddish is very important to Bubbe." The illustrations alternate between depicting the peaceful, real-life beach and Ella's imaginary voyage to search for treasures. Dressed as a pirate, her ship tossed on the waves, Ella refuses to give up, no matter her frustration. Other animals play a role, including a friendly sloth who is selling a toy slinky, a gaming device, and the Big Book of Yiddish. Through entertain-ing imagery, Kostman represents words as a precious commodity that can be as elusive as a chest full of gold. Ella ultimately learns that the search is as important as the destination. In fact, her concern for her grandmother's well-being allows Bubbe to reconnect with her past. Each small object depicted in the illustrations represents a meaningful moment. The floor of Ella's room is littered with crayons, toys, and trading cards; Bubbe's speech is similarly full of words like shlep, klutz, or bupkes. An intergenerational scene -- showing Bubbe and Zeyde bringing milk and cookies while Ella teaches Yiddish to her younger brother -- serves as a bridge. Ella's mission is on the way to being accomplished.--Emily Schneider "Jewish Book Council"