  | Rivka's presents Author: Wallmark, Laurie | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
A little Jewish girl living on the Lower East Side during the flu pandemic of 1918 can't start school because her father is sick, so she makes a trade with her neighbors: chores for lessons.
| Illustrator: | Lirius, Adelina |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (07/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/07/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2023 *Starred Review* In 1918, Rivka lives with Mama, Papa, and Miriam, her little sister, in a New York City neighborhood populated by immigrants. Rivka is hoping to start school, but with her father quite ill, and her mother working in a shirtwaist factory to support the family, Rivka must take care of Miriam. Still determined to learn, she asks Mr. Solomon, the grocer, to teach her reading in exchange for sweeping. Later, Mr. Cohen, the tailor, teaches her addition in exchange for making deliveries, and Mrs. Langholtz, a neighbor, teaches her about America in exchange for helping the woman prepare for her citizenship test. When Papa recovers, Rivka thanks her three teachers and prepares to start school at last. According to Wallmarkâs informative note, this fictional story takes place on the Lower East Side during the 1918 flu pandemic. The appended glossary includes both English and Yiddish words. Simply told but unexpectedly moving, the narrative honors generations of immigrant families and communities that have done their best to educate their children despite language barriers and poverty. Created with gouache, colored pencils, and digital elements, the lively illustrations project a lyrical quality while capturing the look of the era and the sense of community that is vital to this endearing picture book. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
