Based upon a short story by Sholem Aleichem - a late nineteenth, early twentieth-century Russian-Jewish author, whose stories about Tevye the Milkman were the inspiration for the film, Fiddler on the Roof - Purim Goodies follows the tale of two maids, Groyseh (big) Adella and Kleineh (small) Adella, who are dispatched by their respective employers to deliver shalach manes - the gifts of food given at Purim. When the two Adellas meet up during the course of their errands, however, they are tempted by the goodies entrusted to them, and end up gobbling them down! Soon the intended recipients and their families, having received half-empty plates, are convinced that they have been insulted, and refuse to speak to one another...

Despite the low star rating, there were things that I liked about Purim Goodies. I appreciated the fact that the author(s) assume that the reader already knows about the story of Purim, and understands the customs that accompany it. This makes it a great selection for Jewish children, who probably don't need another tale explaining the story of Esther to them. I also enjoyed Amalia Hoffman's artwork, which had a quirky, "scratchy" appearance, and a humorous quality that kept me entertained.

But the social critic in me couldn't help but notice that here we have two servants, dressed in the cast-off rags of their employers - Groyseh Adella is wearing the too-large shoes of her employer's son, while Kleineh Adella appears in a worn-out coat that is so ragged, its lining is compared to overcooked noodles, hanging down in tatters. So when Rabbi Meir resolves the crisis, reminding the warring wives that it is absurd to argue over how much strudel, taigelach and hamantaschen they have, when there are truly hungry people in the village, a part of me wanted to step in and remind him that charity begins at home! Provide your employees with decent clothing and a decent wage, before lecturing anyone else on ethics...

Other readers might interpret this part of the story differently, so I still encourage them to take a look at Purim Goodies, if they're in the market for Purim storybooks. As for me, I find myself wondering if this one discordant element can be laid more at Sholem Aleichem's door, than Amalia Hoffman's. I'll have to try her The Klezmer Bunch and see... ( )