Gershon's Monster

Author: Retold by Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrated by: Jon J Muth

Publishing information: (Scholastic Press, September 1, 2000, Ages 4-8)

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Genre: Fable

Summary of Plot:       

            A Jewish man had a bad habit of not repenting of his mistakes. He never admitted he was wrong, said sorry, or felt remorse for what he did. Every year,on Rosh Hashanah, he gathered his mistakes up ina bag, hauled them to the coast, and tossed them into the sea; he thought that erased them. He was soon to learn a lesson.

            The baker, Gershon, and his wife wanted a child. They decided to ask the tzaddik, a rabbi, for one because they had heard he could help. Without corncern, Gershon barged into the house and asked what it would take. The rabbi told him to be grateful for what he had.

The rabbi gave him a piece of parchment on a string to have his wife wear for on e year. If they did that they would have twins. He told him that the day he put on two socks without knowing, and then stomped around looking for the last sock, something would happen to the children.

Gershon left the rabbis’s house and like was promised, he soon fogot everything about the situation. Gershon and his wife got twins in a year’s time. They was darling. They had good health. Gershon kept being as reckless as he had been. He continued to collect his mistakes and toss them into the sea

One day to propeshy came true. He puton two socks without lookng and stomped around looking for the lost one. He remebered the situation. He quickly sought for the children. They were down by the sea. All of the sudden a black cloud, Gershon’s mistakes, that started heading for the children. Gershon felt sorrow for the first time for his wrongdoings. He gathered up his children and waited for the attack. It never came.The curse was broken. They went home to a new and refreshed lifestyle.

My Reaction to the book:

             This book was incredible. It had a very interesting story line, fun pictures, and a fantastic lesson. I liked how the author's note at the end gave more insights to the moral of the story.  I feel that this lessons needs to be shared with everyone, because no one is perfect.

Potential Problems:

This book talked about throwing mistakes into the sea and not truly repenting. That is the wrong approach to erasing the harm commited by doing them.

Along that line, because it talks about the importance of repenting, some parents, schools, or other places may find it inappropriate for discussion in a secular situation.

Recommendations:

            For schools who would allow this book to be read, it teaches a good lesson. It would go along with learning about character education. Stories connect to children. It has a simple plot that children can follow easily. It is great discussion starter.