Aunt Naomi

by Gertrude Landa · from Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends

fairy tale moral tale hopeful Ages 8-14 243 words 2 min read
Cover: Aunt Naomi

Adapted Version

CEFR A1 Age 5 338 words 2 min Canon 100/100

Hello, dear child! I am Aunt Naomi. I have a special book for you. My friend Ruth loves books. She wrote a little song. Books make her very happy. Books are good for you. They bring much joy.

I wrote stories before. Many children liked my first book. They liked my stories very much. This made me happy. I wanted to write new stories. I wanted to write more for you. So, I made this new book. I hope you like it.

I want to tell you old stories. These are very special stories. Wise people told them long ago. They are from our past. These old stories are for you. They are for all children. I found them for you. I want you to know them. They are good stories. They make us think.

The wise people knew children. They knew children love stories. They told stories about our heroes. Our heroes were little once. They were children just like you. These stories teach us good things. They teach us to be kind. They teach us to be brave. They teach us to be strong. These stories are very old. They are very important. I hope you like them.

I found other old stories too. Some children do not know them. These stories are also very special. They are new old stories. I want to share them with you. They are fun to read. They are fun to hear. I like them very much. You will like them.

This is my big wish for you. I want these stories to be fun. As fun as any other story. These are our special stories. They are for our children. They will make you happy. They will make you proud. Books are so good! They make us happy. They tell us about our family. They tell us about our past. I hope you love these stories. I hope you love them very much! Now, open the book! Let's read our first story together. I hope you love them all!

Original Story 243 words · 2 min read

"Aunt Naomi"

(GERTRUDE LANDA)

When Childhood's toys have passed away,

May Books become another play.

Then may each book a blessing give

And bring you pleasure while you live.

Ruth Landa.

SIXTEENTH THOUSAND

NEW YORK

BLOCH PUBLISHING CO., Inc.

"The Jewish Book Concern"


Copyright, 1919,

Bloch Publishing Company.


PREFACE

The very cordial welcome given to my earlier volume of "Jewish Fairy Tales and Fables" has prompted me to draw further upon Rabbinic lore in the interest, chiefly, of the children. How the wise Rabbis of old took into account the necessities of the little ones, whose minds they understood so perfectly, is obvious from such legends as those dealing with boyish exploits of the great Biblical characters, Abraham, Moses, and David. These I have rewritten from the stories in the Talmud and Midrash in a manner suitable for the children of to-day.

I have ventured also beyond the confines of these two wonderful compilations. There is a wealth of delightful imagination in the legends and folk-lore of the Jews of a later period which is almost entirely unknown to children. I have drawn also on these sources for some of the stories here presented. My desire is to give boys and girls something Jewish which they may be able to regard as companion delights to the treasury of general fairy-lore and childish romance.

Aunt Naomi.

London, March, 1919.


CONTENTS


ILLUSTRATIONS



Story DNA fairy tale · hopeful

Moral

Books can be a source of lifelong pleasure and a way to connect with one's heritage.

Plot Summary

In this preface, 'Aunt Naomi' introduces her new collection of Jewish fairy tales and fables, inspired by the success of her previous volume. She explains her method of drawing from ancient Rabbinic lore, including tales of young Biblical figures like Abraham, Moses, and David, as well as lesser-known later Jewish folk-lore. Her aim is to provide Jewish children with engaging stories that can stand alongside popular general fairy tales and romances, fostering a connection to their heritage through enjoyable literature.

Themes

educationheritagechildhoodlegacy

Emotional Arc

anticipation to fulfillment

Writing Style

Voice: first person
Pacing: slow contemplative
Descriptive: sparse
Techniques: direct address to reader, preface format

Narrative Elements

Conflict: person vs society
Ending: hopeful
booksJewish heritage

Cultural Context

Origin: Jewish (Ashkenazi, given the author's name and publishing context)
Era: 1919 (early 20th century)

Published in 1919, this preface reflects an effort to preserve and transmit Jewish cultural heritage to children through literature, at a time when Jewish communities were navigating modernity and cultural identity.

Plot Beats (6)

  1. The book opens with a dedication poem by Ruth Landa, emphasizing the lasting pleasure of books.
  2. Aunt Naomi, the author, writes a preface acknowledging the success of her previous book, 'Jewish Fairy Tales and Fables'.
  3. She states her motivation to continue drawing from Rabbinic lore, specifically for children.
  4. She highlights how ancient Rabbis understood children's needs, citing legends of young Abraham, Moses, and David.
  5. Aunt Naomi also reveals she has included stories from later Jewish legends and folk-lore, which are less known to children.
  6. Her ultimate goal is to offer Jewish children stories they can cherish alongside other popular fairy tales and romances.

Characters 2 characters

Aunt Naomi ○ author

human adult female

A woman of indeterminate height and build, likely reflecting the early 20th-century European context of the author. Her appearance would be neat and respectable, befitting an author and educator.

Attire: Likely wears practical yet elegant clothing typical of a professional woman in London in 1919. This might include a tailored dark wool skirt, a high-necked blouse with lace or simple embroidery, and a fitted jacket. Her attire would be modest and refined.

Wants: To provide Jewish children with engaging stories from their heritage that can stand alongside general fairy tales, fostering a love for reading and their cultural background.

Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a tendency to be overly academic or formal in her approach, though she strives for accessibility.

As an author, her arc is reflected in her continued dedication to her craft and her audience, expanding her repertoire to include more diverse Jewish legends.

A thoughtful expression as she holds an open book, perhaps with a quill or pen nearby.

Kind, thoughtful, dedicated to children's education, appreciative of Jewish heritage, imaginative, and industrious.

Image Prompt & Upload
An adult woman of European descent, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a kind, intelligent face with a thoughtful expression, and her hair is styled neatly in a modest bun, typical of London in 1919. She wears a tailored dark grey wool skirt, a high-necked cream silk blouse with delicate lace trim, and a fitted dark blue jacket. She holds a closed, leather-bound book in her hands. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.

Ruth Landa ○ minor

human child female

A young girl of indeterminate height and build, likely reflecting the early 20th-century European context. Her appearance would be innocent and bright.

Attire: Likely wears a simple, comfortable dress typical of a child in London in 1919, perhaps made of cotton or linen, with a modest collar and sleeves. Colors would be soft and practical.

Wants: To find joy and learning in books as a replacement for childhood toys.

Flaw: Not applicable, as she is only represented by a poem.

Not applicable, as she only provides a poem.

A young girl with a thoughtful expression, holding a book close to her chest.

Inquisitive, imaginative, and appreciative of stories and books, as suggested by her poem.

Image Prompt & Upload
A young girl of European descent, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a bright, curious face with rosy cheeks and wide, innocent eyes. Her light brown hair is styled in two neat braids that fall over her shoulders. She wears a simple light blue cotton dress with a white Peter Pan collar and short puffed sleeves, and dark brown leather Mary Jane shoes. She holds a small, open storybook in her hands, looking at it with a gentle smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations 1 locations
No image yet

London, March, 1919

transitional Spring, likely cool and damp as is typical for London in March

The location and time from which the author, 'Aunt Naomi', pens the preface to her collection of Jewish fairy tales.

Mood: Scholarly, reflective, a sense of quiet dedication to literature and children's education.

The author introduces her work, explaining her inspiration and purpose for compiling the stories.

Desk Writing implements Bookshelves filled with books Window overlooking a London street (implied)
Image Prompt & Upload
A quiet, well-lit study in a London home from the early 20th century. A sturdy wooden desk is positioned near a tall window, through which diffused, cool light filters. Bookshelves line the walls, packed with leather-bound volumes and academic texts. A simple, elegant inkwell and a fountain pen rest on the desk, beside a stack of neatly organized papers. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.