The Bagel

A “scrumptious little book” about the cultural and historical background of this humble and hearty treat (The New York Times). If smoked salmon and cream cheese bring only one thing to mind, you can count yourself among the world’s millions of bagel mavens. But few people are aware of the bagel’s provenance, let alone its adventuresome history. This charming book tells the remarkable story of the bagel’s journey from the tables of seventeenth-century Poland to the freezers of middle America today, a story rooted in centuries of Polish, Jewish, and American history. Research in international archives and numerous personal interviews uncover the bagel’s links with the defeat of the Turks by Polish king Jan Sobieski in 1683, the Yiddish cultural revival of the late nineteenth century, and Jewish migration across the Atlantic to America. There the story moves from the bakeries of New York’s Lower East Side to the Bagel Bakers’ Local 388 Union of the 1960s, and the attentions of the mob. Maria Balinska weaves together a rich, quirky, and evocative history of East European Jewry—and the unassuming ring-shaped roll the world has taken to its heart. “Thought-provoking and fact-filled . . . Uses the bagel as a way of viewing Polish-Jewish history.” —The New York Times “Gives readers plenty to chew on . . . Thoroughly entertaining.” —The Wall Street Journal

Oy! What’s a Sunday without bagels? Every Sunday morning, no matter the weather, Eli could count on Zaida to bring bagels from Merv’s Bakery. To Eli, “bagels were the best thing about Sunday.” But then one Sunday, Zaida didn’t come. He’d fallen and “hurt his tuches,” and the doctor said he had to rest for two whole weeks! This meant Eli had no Sunday morning bagels. And neither did Zaida’s friends, who had been receiving their own weekly deliveries from Zaida. Will they all go hungry for bagels on Sunday? Or is there something Eli can do? With a schmear of humor and an oven-warmed heart, this is a timeless story kids will crave!

A lovingly told, compelling story of a young boy learning the values of caring, community and thankfulness.

Award-winning author Larsen offers a gently humorous take on the special bond between a boy and his grandfather and their simple yet special ritual. It also teaches a lesson on how a young child can help a family member in need. Includes a mini glossary and pronunciation guide for Yiddish words in the story. Full color.

"Everything you can put on a bagel besides cream cheese and lox!"--Cover

Loveable prankster Alley and bunny-suited brainiac Rex team up again, this time to help each other survive PE and save breakfast, one mutant bagel at a time in this hilarious story that’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wayside School! Rex can rock a bunny suit like no one else. But his PE teacher insists that all students must wear gym clothes—or face a punishment worse than dodgeball. Alley vows to help his pal Rex. And to save the free breakfast cart that was closed due to budget cuts. Everyone knows that kids can’t learn on empty stomachs! From a heist in the principal’s office to a bake sale featuring mutant bagels, Alley tries everything he can to bring back the food cart. And Rex tries everything he can to turn Alley’s bad choices into good solutions. They will stop at nothing in their quests for justice!

From A to Z, asiago to za’atar, cover your ABCs while learning about this popular breakfast food. "A...delightful, colorful, bagel-themed ABC book that’s an ode to the round doughy delicacy beloved by American Jews (and anyone who has good taste in food)." —Kveller Roll, boil, and bake your way through this book, where unicorns and rainbows take bagel form, and schmear knows no limits! B is for Bagel teaches the whole alphabet, while introducing children to traditional and innovative bagel flavors. Vibrant photographs of each life-size bagel, plus two bonus recipes in the back, make turning the pages that much more interactive for young readers! MORE PRAISE FOR B IS FOR BAGEL “Vibrant and creative… a perfect introduction to the infinitely versatile bagel we all know and love!” —Sam Silverman, Bagel Expert at Brooklyn Bagel Blog & Founder of BagelFest “Our team of educators loves this book! It's a wonderful way to teach kids basic language skills while giving them a piece of Jewish Culture.” —The Bible Players

For International Day at school, Pablo wants to bring something that reflects the cultures of both his parents.