The Language of Angels: A Story About the Reinvention of Hebrew - Hardcover

Michelson, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580896367 ISBN 13: 9781580896368

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2017

Synopsis

2018 Sydney Taylor Book Award
2017 National Jewish Book Award
In 1885, few Jews in Israel used the holy language of their ancestors, and Hebrew was in danger of being lost—until Ben Zion and his father got involved. Through the help of his father and a community of children, Ben modernized the ancient language, creating a lexicon of new, modern words to bring Hebrew back into common usage. Historically influenced dialogue, engaging characters, and colorful art offer a linguistic journey about how language develops and how one person's perseverance can make a real difference.

Influenced by illuminated manuscripts, Karla Gudeon’s illustrations bring Ben Zion—and the rebirth of Hebrew—to life.


A compelling emotional journey — Publisher's Weekly

A lively introduction to the work of a Hebrew language scholar and lover—and his family — Kirkus Reviews

A perfect resource for religious school collections and public library language shelves — Booklist

Hebrew teachers and students in Jewish schools will welcome this gorgeous new picture book about how the language developed and the impact of one person's perseverance on an entire people — School Library Journal

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Michelson's children's books have been listed among the 10 Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and the New Yorker. His many books include Too Young for Yiddish and Busing Brewster (Knopf Books for Young Readers). He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Karla Gudeon is a former teacher whose art is influenced by illuminated manuscripts and folk art. She is the illustrator of One Red Apple, Hanukkah Haiku, and Grandma's Wedding Album (Blue Apple Books).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Once there was a child without a friend.
            Two boys his age lived nearby, but they spoke Yiddish. In the morning they said “guten tog” to each other. Two girls down the road spoke Arabic. They said hello when they met. “Marhaba!”
            Some children spoke Spanish. They said “hola” to their neighbors. Others spoke Ladino. They wished each other “buenas tardes” in the afternoon.
            But Ben-Zion didn’t speak Yiddish or Arabic, Spanish or Ladino. He didn’t speak Turkish or Russian or English or any of the many languages spoken in Jerusalem in 1885. So he spent most of his time alone.

About this edition

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1580896367
• ISBN 13: 9781580896368
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Gudeon Karla