Seven Good Years Book Review

Seven Good Years: A Yiddish Folktale

Written by Shoham Smith
Translated by Ilana Kurshan
Illustrated by Eitan Eloa
Published by Kalaniot Books, 2023

Mom's Review

A resounding "YES!!!" to this book!

When a poor man is visited by a magician who offers him seven years of wealth on the condition that the money will no longer be provided after seven years, he agrees. When the magician returns to see the man still in shabby clothes and working as a porter, the family still living in their small abode, he is astounded and questions them. They explain that they did use the gold when they needed it, but really didn't need much money to be satisfied with their lives. The magician takes the gold for a new family who could use it, but the original family wakes the next day to find it in their possession once more. The moral of the story is clear and deftly communicated without a moralizing tone.

The message, the fun and detailed art (a minimalist color palette speaks to the moral of the story to use just what is needed), and the dynamic language make Seven Good Years a delightful and entertaining read that also shows where true happiness lies. Back matter provides information about Isaac Leib Peretz (who originally published a version of this in the early 1900's), Yiddish literature, and the Eastern European Jewish piety that inspired this tale. The good-hearted characters, engaging presentation, and life wisdom make this a go-to folktale I enthusiastically recommend!