The Ball of Clay That Rolled Away

PreS-Gr 2—This book is about a ball of clay with attitude. It belongs in the arts and crafts cabin at Camp Knish, but when it overhears the campers' plans to use it, it decides to make a break for the door. And so it goes, picking up speed as it passes campers dancing, playing soccer, and picking vegetables for Shabbat dinner. As it travels along, it loses its perfectly round shape, ending up on the shores of the lake, flat as a pancake. When a camper decides to make it into a ball of clay, it flip-flops into the lake and makes its escape. The book is set in a Jewish camp, and this emphasis adds an unusual twist to the traditional "Gingerbread Man" tale. As the ball of clay passes the campers, they all envision what they could make from it, such as a mezuzah or a kiddush cup. All of the signs throughout the camp are lettered in Hebrew and English, giving the setting more impact as well. The vivid blue skies and bright green grass of summer help the sassy ball of gray clay stand out. The ending seems abrupt and a little flat, but then again, so is the ball of clay.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ