A young Jewish boy learns to be a minstrel as he wanders the countryside in search of news to sing. Grade 3-5 When Misha reaches the age of 13, his parents send him off with hugs and "a sack of peanut butter sandwiches" to become a minstrel. He travels from village to village but is teased because he doesn't measure up to people's preconceived concept of a minstrel: one who seeks out disasters and sings about them. Finally he sings about the ordinary, everday things that he has seen and enjoyed. People invite him back; at last he is a minstrel. The writing lacks polish and precision; sentences are sometimes awkward, and unnecessary repetition of words hampers the narrative flow. The humor is dry and sophisticated. Pen-and-ink drawings are well-executed, and attractive borders frame the pages of print. The story, however, is a blend of fantasy, realism and humor that doesn't work. Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, Va. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Grade 3-5 When Misha reaches the age of 13, his parents send him off with hugs and "a sack of peanut butter sandwiches" to become a minstrel. He travels from village to village but is teased because he doesn't measure up to people's preconceived concept of a minstrel: one who seeks out disasters and sings about them. Finally he sings about the ordinary, everday things that he has seen and enjoyed. People invite him back; at last he is a minstrel. The writing lacks polish and precision; sentences are sometimes awkward, and unnecessary repetition of words hampers the narrative flow. The humor is dry and sophisticated. Pen-and-ink drawings are well-executed, and attractive borders frame the pages of print. The story, however, is a blend of fantasy, realism and humor that doesn't work. Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, Va. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Grade 3-5 When Misha reaches the age of 13, his parents send him off with hugs and "a sack of peanut butter sandwiches" to become a minstrel. He travels from village to village but is teased because he doesn't measure up to people's preconceived concept of a minstrel: one who seeks out disasters and sings about them. Finally he sings about the ordinary, everday things that he has seen and enjoyed. People invite him back; at last he is a minstrel. The writing lacks polish and precision; sentences are sometimes awkward, and unnecessary repetition of words hampers the narrative flow. The humor is dry and sophisticated. Pen-and-ink drawings are well-executed, and attractive borders frame the pages of print. The story, however, is a blend of fantasy, realism and humor that doesn't work. Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, Va. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Life-long knitter Michelle Edwards is the award winning author/illustrator of over 13 books for children, including CHICKEN MAN winner of National Jewish Book Award. Her illustrations have appeared in several shows of children's book art including the current "Monsters and Miracles", co-organized by the Skirball Cultural Center and the Eric Carle Museum. She is a monthly feature writer for the Lion Brand Yarn Company newsletter. Michelle was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and grew up in Troy, New York. She studied at the Bazalel Art Academy in Jerusalem and earned an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa. She lives with her family in Iowa City, Iowa.