TALI'S JERUSALEM SCRAPBOOK

TALI'S JERUSALEM SCRAPBOOK

This book focuses on nine-year-old Tali's disappointment when she learns that her American relatives will not be traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate her birthday this year because of the unsafe conditions there. She laments the reality that Israelis face every day when they go to the market or travel on a bus. She meets an older neighbor in the park and shares her feelings with him. Acting as the voice of reason, Mr. Feldman explains that "life is never perfect" and that it's OK to be afraid as long as you move forward. When one of Tali's friends suggests that things might be safer "if only Jews lived in Jerusalem," the man sends the girls for ice cream. They discuss how they live in a city of many flavors, and think about how boring it would be if there were only one type of ice cream. Tali reminisces about a simpler time by looking over her photos in a scrapbook and wishing that her family could enjoy day-to-day experiences without looking over their shoulders in suspicion. In the end, the girl hopes that next year her American relatives will be with her to share her special day. The clearly written story is enhanced by Oppenheimer's complex, rich illustrations. The painterly artwork shows close-up views of the characters interacting as well as scenes of the city.