The Wren and the Sparrow
Written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg
32 pages, Kar-Ben, 2015
In this self-professed fable, an old man called the Wren plays his hurdy-gurdy for the last time, and with the help of his student, Sparrow, inspires a small Polish town during the dark times.
The good stuff
- Simple, yet powerful, lyrical writing
- “In a dark time, the Old Man lived in shadows”
- “The day sealed itself into the lockbox of memory”
- Illustration that shows the reader the time frame is the Holocaust while the text does not mention war or Hitler
- Barbed wire and crows
- Nazis shown in over-proportionate size to villagers
- Memorable imagery
- A six-year-old’s ten finger cymbals tinkled
- The loss of music
The not-so-good stuff
- Not so much a fable as an allegory
Overall rating: 5.0 on 5.0 scale
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Shabbat Shalom my Beloved Jewish Brothers and Sisters.
I pray that all was well for all on this July 4 2015.
Barbara as I think of you so often fighting the Cancer, Here are a few words of encouragement.
Version of Life
(Memoric)
As I Ponder
In the Midst of Age
My Vision Intermingles
With the Version of Life.
Family, Music, Poetry,
Socialization, Success, Failure,
Wisdom, Love
And
Life within and of Itself.
Wherefore, where art Thou?
I need oh so often to be Held.
Memories of when I was Loved
and knew Love
We are Never Alone,
The Calm of Adonai’s Elan Vitale
Is upon Us.
Memories will keep us Alive
Even though Illness is
Without Cure and Overwhelms
Defeat is Not and Never will be
An Option.
By
Barbara A. Edwards