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Margot Zemach

It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale (Caldecott Honor Book) (Michael Di Capua Books)

by Margot Zemach (Author, Illustrator) Format: Paperback

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Margot Zemach's It Could Always Be Worse is a 1977 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year, an Outstanding Book of the Year, and a 1978 Caldecott Honor Book.

Once upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut.

Because they were so crowded, the children often fought and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man was unable to stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help.

As he follows the Rabbi's unlikely advice, the poor man's life goes from bad to worse, with increasingly uproarious results. In his little hut, silly calamity follows foolish catastrophe, all memorably depicted in full-color illustrations that are both funnier and lovelier than any this distinguished artist has done in the past.

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Reading age

3 - 7 years, from customers
Print length

32 pages
Language

English
Grade level

2 - 3
Dimensions

10 x 0.1 x 9 inches
Publisher

Square Fish
Publication date

September 1, 1990
ISBN-10

0374436363
ISBN-13

978-0374436360

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The familiar tale of the simple villager whose house was so crowded and noisy, he went to the Rabbi for help. . .Never has the tale been made into a picture book of such beauty and gusto.” ―Starred, The Horn Book

About the Author

Margot Zemach (1931-89) was born in Los Angeles, California. She began illustrating stories by her husband, Harve, in 1959, and their subsequent collaborations led to many enduring children's books, including The Judge: An Untrue Tale, a Caldecott Honor Book; A Penny a Look, an ALA Notable Book; and Duffy and the Devil, recipient of the Caldecott Medal.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 1990
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reissue
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374436363
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374436360
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years, from customers
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10 x 0.1 x 9 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 3
Best Sellers Rank: #42,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Children's Jewish Fiction Books
- #53 in Children's Multicultural Tales & Myths
- #2,872 in Children's Humor

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Margot Zemach

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