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Title details for More Than Enough by Richard Michelson - Wait list

More Than Enough

Inspired by Maimonides's Golden Ladder of Giving

by Richard Michelson
Joe Cepeda
ebook
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A community grows as neighbor helps neighbor in this heartwarming story inspired by the Golden Ladder, a Jewish approach to charity intended to create a fair society.
Moses isn't used to jingle-jangle in his pocket, so he's reluctant to give money when Barefoot Benny clink-clanks his cup of change. But Mom encourages him to follow her example and help a neighbor. "Feels better to help than to need help," she tells him, so drops a coin in Benny's can.
Later that spring, Benny's fortunes have improved. He's cutting hair at the barber shop, where he gives a free trim to Big Jim, who's down on his luck. Soon Big Jim becomes the building superintendent, and then he and Moses volunteer to babysit for Ms. Brown when she gets a last-minute job interview and can't find childcare.
Throughout the year, each neighbor finds the opportunity to help another, and the community grows and deepens through mutual support. As it turns out, "Little enough is more than enough to share."
Inspired by the twelfth-century Jewish scholar Maimonides's concept of the Golden Ladder, this picture book models different stages of giving and provides ample opportunity for thoughtful discussions about charity, generosity, and economics while telling an appealing, accessible story. Back matter features an author's note and more information about Maimonides and the Golden Ladder.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 7, 2025

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781682637616

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      November 1, 2024
      People in Moses' urban neighborhood have varying levels of economic need. Moses' mom gives money to Barefoot Benny, who's unhoused, even though it'll mean buying Moses secondhand sneakers again, and she prods Moses to donate, too. Though Moses protests ("Mom, we have little enough"), Mom says, "Little enough is more than enough for us." With his parents' guidance, however, Moses learns the importance of giving as he sees formerly impoverished people find work and help others. Benny becomes a barber and gives bedraggled Big Jim a free haircut. Later, Moses and Big Jim, now a janitor, watch baby PJ for free when Ms. Brown goes to a job interview. Moses invites a friend to a Jewish New Year celebration, assists at a soup kitchen at Christmastime, and persuades Pops to hire his friend's unemployed father at his new store. Moses' attitudes evolve as he learns to give freely without expecting thanks; backmatter emphasizes that in Judaism, charity is a "sacred and ethical obligation," and it explains the Jewish philosopher Maimonides' concept of the golden ladder of giving, which classifies acts of charity, from the first rung (when donations are given reluctantly) to the last, creating a job for someone so that they, too, can help others. Michelson makes a potentially complex topic accessible, while Cepeda's bright paintings, each with brilliant backdrops, bring to life a bustling city. Most characters are brown-skinned; Moses and his family are cued Jewish. A child-friendly exploration of charity.(Picture book. 6-9)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read

subjects

Languages

  • English

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