Sholom's Treasure
How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer

By Erica Silverman
Illustrator Mordicai Gerstein

     Sholom's Treasure is the story of the childhood of Russian writer Sholom Rabinowitz who wrote under the name Sholom Aleichem. As a writer, Sholom Aleichem believed in showing people how to laugh in the midst of hardship, and Sholom's Treasure shows us how the boy Sholom developed his love of laughter. His childhood was neither easy nor idyllic but throughout it Sholom was irrepressible. Much of the utter delight of this book comes from the illustrations of Mordicai Gerstein. They are never sentimental, never sweet, but they burst with laughter and liveliness. We see the mischievous Sholom lightening the harshness of kheyder, Jewish school, with his imitations. And we see him learning the lessons of imagination from his best friend Shmulik. The text is long, though interesting, but it's really a bit over the head of listeners on the younger end of the recommended age group. It seems better suited to children 8+ who can enjoy the humor without being overly disturbed by the harshness of Sholom's life. I found the book a treasure and I highly recommend it.