Sher, Steven. Where the Shouting Began. Illus. by Shoshannah Brombacher. Millburn, NJ: Montemayor Press, 2009. 60 p. $11.95. ISBN 978-1-932727-08-1. Pbk. Gr. 3–5.

The five stories in Where the Shouting Began fall within the category of “literary folktales… written in a folktale style but originate in an author’s imagination” (Charlotte Huck). They tell about life in the shtetl of Slawotich (now Slawatycze). Just as Chelm is a real place in Poland, so too is Slawotich—a town situated between Lublin and Brest. The people of Slawotich face many problems—from the serious one of an impending pogrom to the lighter one of a girl who feels compassion for the chicken that must be cooked for the Shabbes soup. The residents of the town solve their problems in clever and original ways. Poet Steven Sher brings his stories to life with verve, humor, and affection. One can hear the cadence of his voice spring up from the page: “Maybe yes, maybe no. There’s probably truth in all of this.” Although he occasionally uses weak or clichéd similes, and although his sentences are sometimes awkward, one can still imagine an enthusiastic parent or teacher reading these stories to young people who will enjoy their exaggeration and wit. However, problems exist in this slim volume. The pen-and-ink illustrations, in the style of Chagall, are vague and muddy. The sans-serif font makes the text difficult to read. The publisher hopes that this book will become “an instant Jewish classic.” Unfortunately, it does not fit the bill.