The Schlemiel kids save the moon

"Full of folks so silly that they think they are the wisest people in the world," per an opening note, folkloric Chelm gets an update in this contemporary variation from Barbakoff and Teplow. Amid the Chelmites, kids Sam and Sarah Schleimel feel like they're always trying to make a rescue. One night, their father, soon joined by neighbors, insists that because he sees the moon's reflection in Chelm's lake, the moon must be stuck within the water. But the group's splashy strategies to free it--depicted in slice-of-life cartooning composed largely along a single plane--are all for naught. Following a night of community prayer and debate, Sam and Sarah persuade the adults to visit the lake after daybreak, where the moon's now-missing reflection prompts the Rebbe to declare that the group's ascending prayers must have lifted the moon back into place. The lively story doesn't say what nightfall will wreak, but readers should enjoy the kids' savvy and the way the Chelmites, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, stand in for "clueless" adults everywhere. A Yiddish glossary concludes. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)

K-Gr 3--In this modern-day retelling of a Yiddish folktale about the wise men of Chelm, young readers are enjoined to use their big imaginations. The grown-ups of Chelm are uniformly convinced that the moon's reflection in the lake means it has become trapped and thus will cease to light the night. Their two ill-fated attempts to capture the moonlight prompt the group to seek council with the village's rabbi to solve the problem. After the dawn of a new day, the rabbi concludes, with prompting from Sarah and Sam Schlemiel, that their prayers have encouraged the moon to ascend back into the night sky, for its reflection can no longer be seen in the lake. Many versions of this folktale have been told throughout the years, but the story often revolves around the silly folks of Chelm trying to solve moon-oriented mysteries, such as its disappearance on overcast nights or the capture of moonlight in a barrel for nighttime illumination. Centuries-old folktales transposed into a modern setting beget a cognitive dissonance that may have little ones pointing to present-day foils of smartphones and Google. The back matter features a helpful Yiddish glossary. While the author does contextualize the folklore in the front, it may not be enough to get today's readers to suspend their disbelief. VERDICT This Jewish folktale has a modern relatability that will add value to the 398s, but young readers will need some adult-led coaxing to navigate the plot holes and give in to the silliness.--Sarah Simpson

Siblings outshine not-too-bright grown-ups in this take on Yiddish folklore. Sam and Sarah Schlemiel are walking along the beach with their parents when Dad notices that the moon has fallen into the water. Neighbors are alarmed: The moon's stuck! How will they see at night? The siblings try explaining, but no one listens. After all, this is Chelm, where adults aren't famed for their smarts. A neighbor volunteers to pull the moon from the lake; another attempts to scoop the moon into her bucket; both are unsuccessful. At the wise rabbi's house, everyone offers preposterous solutions and prays. Sarah whispers her own idea to Sam. Next morning, a tearful Sarah tells the rabbi that she and Sam want to see the moon before the townspeople set it free, but they can't visit the beach alone. So the rabbi escorts them to the beach--and is shocked to realize the moon is gone! He concludes the prayers "lifted" it into the sky! Everyone marvels at his wisdom--everyone except the two smart children. Readers will relish this comically fresh, fast-paced tale. An author's note explains that stories of Chelm and its hilariously ignorant residents have been passed down for years (though this tale is set in the present). Colorful illustrations enliven the humorous proceedings. Sam and Mom are brown-skinned, while Sarah and Dad are lighter-skinned; townsfolk are racially diverse. Most males wear skullcaps or head coverings. An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon--or anytime. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.