Most Popular Books by Eric A. Kimmel

Joha finds a magic stick and learns that you don''t always get what you wish for

A young girl brings her pets to the library--with predictably disastrous results.

"Terheyden''s narration makes the characters come alive. A truly delightful addition to any collection." - School Library Journal

A traveler rids a village synagogue of ghosts in this Caldecott Honor Book.

In this variation of "The Three Little Pigs" set in the Southwest, three little tamales escape from a restaurant before they can be eaten, and set up homes in the prairie, cornfield, and desert.

"The expressive male narrator charms the listener by impersonating the characters...Short segments of music and brief sound effects add interest...useful for all reading and listening situations." - Booklist

Bubba Brayna’s legendary latkes lure an unexpected visitor into her home in this playful Hanukkah tale from a master storyteller. Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village, and on the first night of Hanukkah, the scent of her cooking wakes a hungry, adorable bear from his hibernation. He lumbers into town to investigate, and Bubba Brayna—who does not see or hear very well—mistakes him for her rabbi. She welcomes the bear inside to play the dreidel game, light the menorah, and enjoy a scrumptious meal. However, after her well-fed guest leaves, there''s a knock at the door—it''s the rabbi, and all of Brayna''s other friends, arriving for dinner. But there are no latkes left—and together, they finally figure out who really ate them. Lively illustrations by Mike Wohnoutka, portraying the sprightly Bubba Brayna and her very hungry guest, accompany this instant family favorite, a humorous reworking of Eric A. Kimmel’s earlier classic tale, The Chanukkah Guest. A traditional recipe for latkes is included in the back matter, along with interesting, digestible facts about the history and traditions of Hanukkah. A 2013 National Jewish Book Award Winner, this book is perfect for a holiday story time with children— either in the classroom or at home, as an introduction for young readers to the traditions and customs of Hanukkah, and as a classic to return to year after year.

"Anansi the Spider, a master trickster, uses the powers of a magical rock to dupe his neighbors...a musical introduction sets the mood...the text of the book is read clearly and expressively."-Booklist

Retells the story of Joseph, who is rewarded for honoring the Sabbath by being generous to others even after he, himself, becomes poor.

Convinced that he can outrun any danger, the freshly-baked gingerbread man fails to appreciate that a very fast runner is no match for a very sly fox.

Told through soft, gorgeous color illustrations, Why Worry is a gentle story of two friends swept into the unpredictable wilderness and how, despite feeling anxiety and worries, they find peace and calmness together. Once upon a time there were two good friends, Cricket and Grasshopper. Cricket always worried. Grasshopper never did. Cricket and Grasshopper go on a high-flying, wild adventure and encounter a large crow, a hungry fish, powerful winds, and more. But while Grasshopper is having the time of her life, Cricket can’t help but worry if they’ll be safe, where they’re going, and how they’ll return home. Though the two have differing perspectives, Grasshopper and Cricket find support in each other through acceptance and patience. Originally published in 1979, Why Worry? is a soothing tale that teaches understanding and empathy of people who experience anxiety, and how to support and alleviate those worries.

A close encounter with Grandma Mina''s time-traveling carpet sends Scarlett and Sam to ancient Jerusalem, where some very important people need their help. The twins meet the prophet Nathan, the warrior Benayahu ben Yehoiada, and even King Solomon himself, the wisest ruler of all time. But Solomon has a big problem that even his wisdom can''t solve. God wants him to build the Temple, but it can''t be done without the mythical insect called the shamir. It''s up to the twins to find the shamir—even if that means facing off against the king of the demons.

Scarlett and Sam are back again in a twist on the biblical adventure tale of Jonah and the whale. When the twins take Grandma Mina''s special carpet to be cleaned and repaired, they encounter a strange person who steps on the rug and disappears! Scarlett and Sam follow him back through time to ancient Israel, where they find themselves on a ship. Why have they been sent back in time to this ship on a stormy sea? Soon the answer comes. The man is Jonah and they''re in the story of Jonah and the whale! Sam and Scarlett know that they must do what the ship''s captain cannot—get Jonah overboard—even if that means that they must go overboard, too!

Boxed Poster and Book Gift Set The perfect Hanukkah gift for the whole family! This beloved Caldecott Honor classic will delight readers each night of the holiday. "A masterpiece."—Jason Chin, Caldecott Medal Winning Illustrator of Watercress For more than thirty years, this clever story of a folk hero outwitting dreadful goblins has been a staple of family Hanukkah celebrations. Celebrate the holiday and family tradition this season by sharing this elegant gift edition of the treasured classic with beautiful foil detailing and slipcase. Unfold a poster showcasing the evocative artwork, and read the insightful afterword from the 25th Anniversary Edition explaining the book''s origins and remembering Trina Schart Hyman. Adapted from a Ukrainian folktale, with an imaginative twist from master storyteller Eric Kimmel and featuring the timeless illustrations of Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a true classic of children''s literature. A haunting tale with a warm heart, Hershel of Ostropol arrives at a village on the first night of Hanukkah but finds the villagers too afraid to light a single candle! Goblins with spindly claws and twisted faces are haunting the synagogue. Hershel vows to break the curse. The clever trickster faces down one goblin after the next, night after night, until he meets the terrifying King of Goblins. It will take all of Hershel’s wits to trick the King of Goblins to light the Menorah himself. This classic picture book is a perfect Hanukkah gift and a wonderful read-aloud. Caldecott Honor Book ALA Notable Children’s Book NCTE Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts A Sydney Taylor Award Honor Book Colorado Children’s Book Award Washington Children''s Choice Picture Book Award

Through an adventure, Medio Pollito discovers that even though he is a half chick, he has a whole heart.

A clever little girl outwits seven rattlesnakes

Marc, an imaginative Russian boy, discovers his talent for drawing and, with the encouragement of a friend and an art teacher, decides to become an artist, in a delightful story that is based loosely on the childhood of Marc Chagall. Reprint.

A mysterious soldier appears at the door hands Gabriel a tarnished horn, and disappears. As the years go by, Gabriel''s family prospers and they, in turn, help their neighbors. Could their good luck have something to do with the soldier or the horn?

A sassy tortilla, so light she jumps off the griddle, leads an elaborate game of chase through the desert while taunting a passel of critters—two horned toads, three donkeys, four jackrabbits, five rattlesnakes, and six buckaroos. But has she met her match in Señor Coyote?

Once upon a time three cabritos (little goats) decide to go to a Mexican fiesta. But their mother is worried. She warns them about Chupacabra, the goat-sucker who lives beneath the bridge. And sure enough, as the goats cross the bridge, he jumps out "Say your prayers. I''m going to eat you," he tells the goats. But they are clever. And they know how to play music--music that finally gets rid of that old goat-sucker forever Pleasant illustrations rendered in pencil and digital techniques by Stephen Gilpin add to the story of the legendary creature, Chupacabra. An author''s note, glossary, and pronunciation guide are included.

Although Bubba Brayna is almost blind and deaf, she makes the best potato latkes in the village. On the first night of Chanukkah, she cooks a special batch for the rabbi, who is coming to visit her. When she hears a thumping at the door, she lets in her guest. Only later does she realize she has served a bear her delicious latkes. Full-color illustrations.

One minute, twins Scarlett and Sam are bickering about who''s going to read the Four Questions at the Passover seder. The next minute, they''ve been swept up by Grandma Mina''s time-traveling carpet and dumped in the ancient Egyptian desert! And as if being stranded 3,000 years in the past isn''t bad enough, they also find their fellow Hebrews suffering in slavery. So they team up with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help free the slaves. The future''s looking bright! But the story they know so well doesn’t turn out the way they expected...

When three Hanukkah latkes fight over which of them tastes the best, the winner is decided by the family cat. Which will he choose? The excited latkes can’t wait to find out, but perhaps they should be careful what they wish for!

Anansi the Spider''s plan to trick his friend Turtle into doing all the work while he teaches Anansi to catch fish somehow gets turned around. While Anansi doesn''t learn his lesson, he does learn the invaluable skill of weaving.

Set in biblical times, the story of Nicanor''s Gate—one of the entrances to the Temple in Jerusalem—shows how a man''s faith is important to living a happy, fulfilled life. Nicanor, a wealthy merchant from Alexandria, is thrilled when King Herod calls on him to assist in rebuilding the ruined Temple in Jerusalem. Nicanor orders massive, beautifully intricate doors to be built, especially for the Eastern Gate of the Temple, but disaster strikes while the gates are being shipped from Alexandria to Jerusalem. To escape sinking, the ship must reduce its load, and one of the doors is pushed into the sea. But a miracle happens: the heavy door surfaces, is recovered from the sea, and installed as an entrance to the Temple area.

A picture book highlighting scenic rides through some of Oregon''s most beautiful sites, I Want a Real Bike in Oregon is the perfect book for the young cyclist who is ready for a new bike. From award-winning author Eric A. Kimmel with whimsical art by Josh Cleland, the book includes illustrations of popular bikes, including the tandem bike, the road bike, the folding bike, and more, plus tips on how to choose your first real two-wheeler.

Neither avalanche, nor Indians, nor flooding river can keep a daring young stage coach driver from delivering Senator McCorkle to the train station on time.

When an old lady swindles him out of his magic dreidels, Jacob tries to get them back in time for the family''s Hanukkah celebration.

To avoid paying the Widow Macrae the four dollars and fifty cents he owes her, deadbeat cowboy Shorty Long plays dead and almost gets buried alive.

During the Mexican Revolution, when a troop of hungry soldiers comes to a town where all the food has been hidden, they charm the townspeople into helping make a soup from water and a cactus thorn.

"....Jerry Terheyden''s narration alternates between the slow pace of a turtle and the bounce of an exuberant spider.... Balloons filing with air and underwater bubbles are among the fitting sound effects." -AudioFile Magazine

Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel visits the Emperor, leaving a new housemaid to prepare for his Hanukkah party, but returns to find that she has misused the clay man he created. Includes historical and cultural notes.

Don Aurelio falls in love with a witch who has a beautiful face but fails to heed her special instructions.

When Pecos Bill''s daughter gets two pet hamsters, they soon multiply into the hundreds, so Bill decides to take them all to Chicago where lots of boys and girls want pet hamsters.

Tells the story of why snakes have no legs, have a forked tongue and why the shed their skin.

Why does a bar mitzvah (BM) happen at age 13? Where did the elaborate rituals come from and how are they relevant today? What does it feel like to experience a BM? Kimmel answers these questions and more, providing historical background, explanations of rituals, and real-life bar mitzvah stories. This is a book not only for every pre-bar mitzvah boy, but for anyone who wants to learn about the beliefs, philosophies, and history of the Jewish religion. Illustrated with woodcuts. "A thorough well-written account of the ceremony and rituals involved in a 13 year-old boy''s confirmation in the Jewish faith. interspersed with fascinating and sometimes deeply moving vignettes in which boys and men of various ages share memories of their own bar mitzvah experiences."

A retelling of the Grimm tale about the fisherman''s greedy wife, set in the land of the Aztecs.

Explanation of the Biblical roots of the caduceus, the coiled serpent symbol seen on doctors'' office walls.

Presents the steps performed in a traditional Passover Seder, plus stories, songs, poetry, and pictures that celebrate the historical significance of this holiday to Jews all over the world.