THE BEST JEWISH CHILDREN'S STORIES "When the Beginning Began" and other favorites

The National Yiddish Book Center has released its first audio compilation of classic stories for children, and it is delightful. The collection begins with Sholem Aleichem's "The Simchas Torah Flag," a marvelous tale read by Isaiah Sheffer, who sounds as though Aleichem's voice is flowing through him. Among other memorable stories are Isaac Bashevis Singer's "Naftali the Storyteller and His Horse, Sus" and three selections from Eric Kimmel's THE ADVENTURES OF HERSHEL OF OSTROPOL. All of the narrators give excellent performances. The production ends with the first three chapters of Julius Lester's WHEN THE BEGINNING BEGAN, read with passion by Lester, whose children's books have won many awards. By book's end, the listener hopes that Volume II is on the way. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]