Shnook the Peddler

by Maxine Rose Schur, Dale Redpath (Illustrator)

A young boy in turn-of-the-century rural Russia learns that appearances are often deceiving after he steals and then tries to return a dreidel to the traveling peddler Shnook.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Russia, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Cultural

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

I am an author of several award-winning children’s books and I also teach children’s book writing. As recipient of the Sugarman Award given by the Washington Independent Writer’s Legal and Educational Fund, I was appointed the Guest Lecturer on Writing for Children to the Humanities faculty at Case Western Reserve University.

I have twice won the Sydney Taylor Award for the most outstanding contribution to Jewish Children’s literature. Also, I have worked full-time as a children’s writer for Addison-Wesley and wrote children’s fiction and non-fiction for Hampton Brown, Scholastic, Houghton-Mifflin, Harcourt Brace, The American Girl’s Collection, Heinemann, Radio New Zealand and the BBC.

This year I have two new children’s books coming out. The first is The Word Dancer, a middle grade fantasy novel that both explores and celebrates the power of words. The second one, Brave with Beauty, is an advanced picture book about Queen Goharshad who some historians now believe was the most powerful woman in world history. In the 14th century she reigned from her throne in Herat in what is now Afghanistan and sponsored a spectacular renaissance of science and the arts.

And, by the way, if you love Paris as much as I do, please check out the adventurous tale of a fashion-designing mouse who takes Paris by storm! Marielle in Paris is a fun picture book and a beautifully illustrated homage to Paris.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Leibush learns an important lesson about appearances and truth in this folktale-style story set in a small Jewish shtetl in nineteenth-century Russia. Believing, as all the young people in the village do, that Shnook the peddler is a bit simple, he has scant respect for the traveling salesman, and wonders at his seeming lack of skill in his chosen trade. But when he pockets a wooden dreidel that Shnook has accidentally left behind at his home, and then, troubled by his conscience, sets out to return it, he discovers another side to the man that everyone thinks is a bit of a fool...

Originally published in 1985 as Shnook The Peddler , with artwork by Dale Redpath, this story was revised for this 1999 edition, and presented with new illustrations by Kimberly Bulcken Root. An engaging tale that manages to impart an important moral lesson about not judging people based upon trivial things, it is as entertaining as it is instructive, and will keep young children involved. The artwork, done in pencil and watercolor, is also appealing - I particularly appreciated the beauty of the scene in which Leibush, coming upon the peddler as he is singing his prayers, sees his face lit with joy. Although the story is not set during Hanukkah, The Peddler's Gift was on the Hanukkah display at the my public library, and I think it would make an excellent selection for this time of year, both because the stolen dreidel eventually becomes a Hanukkah gift, and because the final revelation about Shnook/Shimon is very much in the spirit of bringing light to darkness, as Leibush casts off his misconceptions about the kindhearted peddler.

[Haley Tweedell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Peddler's gift is a jewish tale about a young boy who's family is visited by a peddler. He steals a wooden dreidel from the Peddler because he believes the peddler foolish and hadn't noticed him take it. Overwhelmed by guilt, he returns it and apologizes. All is forgiven and he is rewarded. The illustrations are very technical and blue in color, only really depicting the exactness of the story rather than conveying it. I've given this story 3 stars because it wasn't very artful and even though it was a good story, a child could easily lose interest and get bored. When there is a lot of text on the page and not a lot of interest in a picture, they get distracted quickly. In order to keep their attention, I would shorten the text per page, or add more visual interest and dynamic illustrations. When there is movement (page turn/action filled illustration), it captures the eye. Just like when someone walks into a still room, and naturally you look at that person. It's a feel good story that teaches kids that stealing is wrong and doing good things bring you reward. However, I felt bored. It had the same vernacular as a folk tale, but lacked the suspense of one. I wouldn't add this into a classroom unless it is paired with many other religious tales from various beliefs. I do not think that religion has a place in a classroom unless it's being discussed in a historical context rather than a theological one. If it is present, it should have equal bearing as other religions so that it is more democratically shelved.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma and I really enjoyed this lovely book. It is set in a Russian shtetl and follows the story of Leibush, a boy who learns what the dark guilt of thievery feels like and the enlightenment of making amends and of forgiveness. He develops compassion and empathy for Shnook/Shimon, the peddler from Pinsk.

The illustrations are warm, sometimes dark, with a tinge of nostalgia.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with children, especially around holiday time.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book tells a simple story that teaches a couple lessons. Set in a small Jewish shtetl in nineteenth-century Russia, this is a story of a young boy who believes the traveling peddler to be simple minded and steals a dreidel. Overcome by guilt, when he searches him out he finds that the pedler is not what he seems. The lessons of looking beyound the surface and the rewards of honesty are brought home in this gentle tale. The watercolor illustrations by Kimberly Bulcken Root are expressive and create the villiage setting in a realistic way that transports the reader. Both the lengthy story and the pastel illustrations are aimed at older children. Although the story is set in the summer, it centers on the dreidel and is often read at Hanukkah.

Originally published in 1985 as Shnook the Peddler , with artwork by Dale Redpath, this story was revised for this 1999 edition.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this! As I'm reading backwards in time through all the Sydney Taylor nominated picture books, I am realizing that I really loved the newest picture books, like 2024 and 2025, because there is so much diversity in terms of stories from different diasporic Jewish communities, such as in Persia, Sub Saharan Africa, Spain, the Ottoman Empire. There is a period with most picture books featuring American Jews in modern settings, which are OK, but a lil boring. Now that I am back in the early 2000s and late nineties, I'm seeing more and more shtetl / Lower East Side based stories. I'm realizing that I like these the same way that I like the newer diverse ones, in that the stories aren't general. The stories are particular and focus on different diasporic communities when and where Jews were less assimilated.

This book is about a boy in the shtetl who makes a mistake and then does what is right. You really feel like you are in the shtetl with him!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This folk story is a great "slice-of-life" view of what Eastern European Jewish life looked like in the 19th Century. Other than that, I have to say I don't really understand the story as a whole. Is it about forgiveness? Is it about understanding people's depths and not judging a book by its cover? (Is it about children who bully an adult who's arguably bad at his job but is also a really nice person? Yes, but also, why?)

Obviously, I am not the target audience, but I am curious to know how a child would read this and what their reaction would be.
I'm not sure what the age range for this is. It's pretty wordy, so I'd say an older child reader who still loves picture books; 7-9?

3 stars.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of time and place in this story, the folktale feel, the simple village life, and Leibush and Shnook (as well as the other characters). The traveling peddler was intriguing and wise, and I was fascinated by Leibush's interest in him. Well done!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

hard to wrap my mouth around the russian words but a great story.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A christ story, but done in not as sappy a way

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

No response.

[Ian]

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