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It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale (Caldecott Honor Book) (Michael Di Capua Books) Paperback – Picture Book, September 1, 1990

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 346 ratings

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Margot Zemach's It Could Always Be Worse is a 1977 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year, an Outstanding Book of the Year, and a 1978 Caldecott Honor Book.

Once upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut.

Because they were so crowded, the children often fought and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man was unable to stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help.

As he follows the Rabbi's unlikely advice, the poor man's life goes from bad to worse, with increasingly uproarious results. In his little hut, silly calamity follows foolish catastrophe, all memorably depicted in full-color illustrations that are both funnier and lovelier than any this distinguished artist has done in the past.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A wise rabbi doles out surprising advice to a man complaining of overcrowded quarters in this Yiddish folktale; Zemach's exuberantly chaotic illustrations earned her a Caldecott Honor. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“The familiar tale of the simple villager whose house was so crowded and noisy, he went to the Rabbi for help. . .Never has the tale been made into a picture book of such beauty and gusto.” ―Starred, The Horn Book

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; Reissue edition (September 1, 1990)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374436363
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374436360
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 8 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD590L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10 x 0.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 346 ratings

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Margot Zemach
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
346 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the story's message and find it a great reminder for all ages to be happy with where they are in life. They appreciate the well-written story, wonderful illustrations, and the book's design. The humor is appreciated, teaching perspective humorously.

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27 customers mention "Message for all ages"27 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's message for all ages. They find it a great reminder to be happy with where we are in life and teach children an excellent life lesson. The story is humorous, but has a great message for everyone who believes that things can't get better. Many readers appreciate the humor and consider it a fun book for students.

"This is a tremendous lesson any age group can use…I read the book to my Sunday School class… Adult ladies!!!! They loved it!!!" Read more

"This story is so much fun and is so very funny! What a terrific lesson as well. I just love it." Read more

"We love the story, which is funny with a message. Great for ALL ages." Read more

"...It subtly teaches gratitude without launching into the "poor me" Olympics...." Read more

22 customers mention "Story quality"22 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They say it's a well-written folk tale with great illustrations. The book is described as an old Yiddish folk tale, beautifully retold by Margot Zemach. Readers mention it's great for teaching optimism and a delightful folk tale.

"This story is so much fun and is so very funny! What a terrific lesson as well. I just love it." Read more

"We love the story, which is funny with a message. Great for ALL ages." Read more

"I love this story, the artwork is beautiful with the story even more beautiful...." Read more

"...However, it’s a good story for EVERYONE, even if your life is mostly void of struggles." Read more

11 customers mention "Illustrations"11 positive0 negative

Customers like the illustrations and design of the book. They say the pictures are wonderful and kids find it funny. The book's design prompts questions about how Jews really lived in the past, and it's easy to see life's blessings despite difficult times.

"I love this story, the artwork is beautiful with the story even more beautiful...." Read more

"...The book's design is wonderful and prompts questions about how Jews really lived in the Pale...." Read more

"Why are there not six stars? I love this book. The drawings are darling and the story is good for the whole family...." Read more

"The story and pictures part of the book are fine. It's a great story. However, the book was not properly cut at the manufacturer's...." Read more

10 customers mention "Humor"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They say it teaches perspective humorously and is a Jewish-tinted tale.

"This story is so much fun and is so very funny! What a terrific lesson as well. I just love it." Read more

"We love the story, which is funny with a message. Great for ALL ages." Read more

"...I now had an opportunity to share this funny tale with my child and he absolutely loved it...." Read more

"My 6 year old son was full of laughs reading this story. It was perfect for our homeschool language arts class." Read more

Humorous tale to teach contentment
5 out of 5 stars
Humorous tale to teach contentment
It Could Always Be Worse is a good book to read with young children when the temptation to self-pity is high. (For us, that was last week when the stomach bug made its way through the family over Thanksgiving!)Humor can be an effective way to drive a needed message home without causing offense, and this Yiddish folk tale accomplishes exactly that.A poor unfortunate man, his wife, and six children live in a small hut and are always getting on each other’s nerves in their confined space.Desperate for help, the poor man asks the Rabbi for advice. The Rabbi has an odd suggestion – he tells the man to add his animals to their home one by one, until one hilarious catastrophe after another, the situation becomes “worse than a nightmare.”When the poor unfortunate man can stand it no longer, the Rabbi suggests moving the animals out, and the family realizes how good they actually have it. Their home no longer feels too small. In fact, it feels quite roomy and peaceful, with plenty of room to breathe!This book opens the door to a great discussion on contentment. There is always someone who has it worse than we do. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”Colorfully illustrated and humorously written, It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach is recommended as a read aloud for children ages 6 and under, but all ages will benefit from the lesson conveyed.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
    This is a tremendous lesson any age group can use…I read the book to my Sunday School class… Adult ladies!!!! They loved it!!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
    This story is so much fun and is so very funny! What a terrific lesson as well. I just love it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    We love the story, which is funny with a message. Great for ALL ages.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
    I had this book as a child and it's a tale that's gotten me through some difficult times as an adult. It subtly teaches gratitude without launching into the "poor me" Olympics. I bought this copy for the new grandbaby, I'm hoping he gets strength from it too.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
    I love this story, the artwork is beautiful with the story even more beautiful. It's a great reminder for young and old to be happy with where we are at in life and to not wish for more or you may regret it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
    Book was in very good condition, pages were clean and in great shape. No markings, tears or dog eared pages. Arrived promptly and was packaged well.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2018
    This was my favorite book as a child. My dad would read it with different voices and it was the best! I was born with a disability and have been through a lot of surgeries and I find that as a grown adult, I’m constantly muttering to myself “It could always be worse”. It sounds silly to say, but this book has had a tremendously positive impact on my entire life! However, it’s a good story for EVERYONE, even if your life is mostly void of struggles.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023
    Love this book and bought it here to gift; I have my own as well. Would get this for any age except a young child. There's no way to write that below. I bought it for an English language learner adult.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Rachael
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Story with a Strong Moral
    Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2016
    This was one of my favorite books as a child, and it is still as funny today as it was then. 'It Could Always be Worse' is a Yiddish folktale. It tells the story of a poor, unfortunate, hardworking man who lives in an extremely small house with his wife and children. One day, unable to take it any longer, he visits his Rabbi and asks for his advice. The Rabbi tells him to go home and bring his chickens, rooster and goose inside to live with them. Much hilarity ensues. This charming story about being grateful for what you have, and remembering that no matter how bad your situation seems, it could always be worse, is a delightful read. The beautiful, heavily detailed, illustrations give the story a strong sense of time and place. And, if you are fortunate to have a Grandparent with an Eastern European/Yiddish accent to read it to you, all the better. Practically perfect.
  • Annie Clayton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for nursery group reading
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2016
    The best kind of picture book for older children. Makes them think. Perfect for nursery groups. Very, very funny. And the usual Zemach illustrations that are so enriching.
  • L.A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2015
    Good book!