Passing by

by Yona Tepper, Gil-ly Alon Curiel (Illustrator), Deborah Guthman (Translator)

Yael peeks out from her balcony and sees everything that's happening in the street below, from the cat in the garden next door to a big red tractor chugging down the road; finally, she sees the best thing--her dad on his way home!

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ynah Tepper was born Daphne, Upper Galilee, and moved to Kibbutz Yagur when she married. She worked as a preschool teacher, a teacher and director of the community in which she lives. She is currently the editor of children's books and engaged in writing.

Reviews

[Kathleen Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that sparks a child's observational skills. The story is charmingly written with the simplicity of the little girl's perspective. The story format is consistent and repetitive, which keeps the children engaged and excited to turn the page. The cadence of the words, even with its anticipatory repetitiveness, is relaxed and enables the reader to feel the day passing by, like a lazy afternoon.

The illustrations are even more precious than the story itself. Every page is consistent, even as each page is drawn from a different perspective. Every page that shows the park, for example, has the same kickball on the corner and the same purple hat on the same bench and the same shovel and bucket at the same sandbox. This attention to detail is carried from page to page and from city block to city block at the intersection of this little girl's address. The illustrations are subtle, however, and lend themselves well to a game of "I Spy." My children and I discovered new details on every page each time we pages through the book.

The story is quick, but not too quick, and nice to read over and over. The illustrations are well thought out and don't need the story and allow the book to be experienced and enjoyed without the words. Finally, the ending of the story leads the imagination to another story, and lead our family right out the door to create our own.

[Nielson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yael, like any other child, is curious about the world around her and loves to watch things come and go on her street. She watches from her second story balcony as different things come and go...a dog, a cat, a red car, a tractor, and a man riding his bike. But the best things is yet to come at the end of the day...her dad! Sweet story that uses repetition on each page for children. The illustrations are fabulous and help depict things unique to the life of the Israeli author.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars With a child's name like Yael, you know this isn't written by an American. I assumed it was Hebrew, and I was right. Whether this takes places in Israel somewhere, or New York, I it a nice book about a kid who looks out the apartment window and see's what is going on in the neighborhood. Though the best person she (a assume Yael is a girl) sees is when dad comes home!!

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book hoping to get the reading kid to participate/answer questions.