A Boy of Old Prague — Sulamith Ish-Kishor

To feed his starving family, a young serf steals a chicken from his master's kitchen. Caught, his death sentence is commuted to servitude in the Jewish ghetto. The youth, Tomás, trembles at the thought of being bound to a mortal enemy. Once settled among a moneylender's family, however, he discovers greater friendship and kindness than he has ever known. But can Tomás protect his new friends from the injustices of his old world? Especially appropriate for 9- to 12-year-olds, this fable of tolerance vividly portrays Jewish ghetto life in sixteenth-century Prague. Twenty distinctive illustrations by famed artist Ben Shahn illuminate the text. This new edition reintroduces a moving tale -- one that's been out of print for 25 years -- to children and adults. Educators, Jewish study groups, and other educational organizations will find it an excellent addition to their reading lists; general readers will find it inspirational as well. A preface by Margot Stern Strom is included.