Greg Cohen illustrates top new Jewish children's book

By Paul Haist

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"The Littlest Maccabee" by Sylvia Rouss, illustrated by Greg A. Cohen, Pitspopany Press, 2006, hardcover, $16.95.

Portlander Greg A. Cohen has illustrated a new book for Jewish children.
"The Littlest Maccabee" by Sylvia Rouss is out recently from Pitspopany Press of New York and Jerusalem.
Intended for children between the ages of 3 and 6, "The Littlest Macabee" includes 24 wonderfully whimsical illustrations by Cohen who also created the cover art for this year's High Holy Days supplement in the Jewish Review.
The large-format storybook retells the events of Hanukkah chiefly from the perspective of an unnamed mouse whose uncommon courage in the face of the giant elephants used by the Greek soldiers helps to save the day for the Jews.
Rouss is the author of more than 20 children's books, including the National Jewish Book Award winner "The Littlest Pair," the first of the highly acclaimed "Littlest" series, which includes "The Littlest Frog," "The Littlest Candlesticks" and "The Littlest Tree."
This project was Cohen's first venture into children's book illustration. He did the work, all in watercolor or gouache, between June and August of this year after the publisher inquired whether he could do such a large job in just two months. The publisher had seen Cohen's portfolio.
His little mouse surely will capture the imagination of young readers and bring them back to this beautiful book many times.
Cohen runs Cohen Designs, where he does general-purpose illustration and graphic design for business and other clients. He is known locally for his sophisticated caricatures of local personalities.

"Wishes for One More Day" by Melanie Joy Pastor, illustrated by Jacqui Grantford, Flashlight Press, 2006, hardcover, $15.95.

Tarzana, Calif., kindergarten and grade-school teacher Melanie Joy Pastor has written a deeply moving large-format picture book for young children that will help them understand and cope with the death of a close and beloved relative.
The story follows the experience of young Anna and her brother Joey after they learn of their maternal grandfather's death. Together, they create their own picture book that compiles their "Wishes for One More Day With Poppy."
This book offers a profoundly sensitive treatment of a difficult subject. It does so in a subtly Jewish context.
At one point Anna and Joey's mother tells them, "After the funeral, I'll stay home for a few days with Grandma and Aunt Susan?.That's our Jewish custom. We light a memorial candle. Our friends and family will come over to comfort us with hugs and food, and we'll all remember Poppy."
This passage appears on a page where Aunt Susan is seen covering a mirror in a room where a memorial candle awaits lighting. Elsewhere, Aunt Susan is seen to wear a Star of David necklace.
Orthodox families might wish that the men in the book were more obviously observant; still, the book is likely to be very helpful for any Jewish family.
The illustrations, beautifully rendered in gouache and watercolor pencil by Australian artist Jacqui Grantford, are as emotionally moving as the author's text.

"Jewish Alphabet" by Janet Clement, illustrated by Albert G. Rodriguez, Pelican Publishing Co., Gretna, La., 2006, $15.95.

Packed with informative and fun facts, this ABC book teaches Jewish culture and tradition with alliteration and rhyme.
In I is for Israel, for example, young readers learn that Hebrew is Israel's national language, that Jerusalem is the capital and that the city is an important center for three major religions.
The entire alphabet is displayed at the top of all 26 entries, with the highlighted letter represented in boldface type.
Below the linear alphabet, the highlighted letter is stylistically drawn to represent the letter as well as depict the chosen word. The selected word is used and defined, and additional words beginning with the same letter are introduced.
Author Janet Clement is an early childhood specialist who provides assistance and training at facilities serving children from infancy through elementary school for before- and after-school care.