
Written by Ronit Chacham
Illustrated by Moran Yogev
Price: £9.99
Pages: 32
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781784388065
Subject: Touching story about a boy who casts bread into the water
Highlights
First time English translation from an award-winning Israeli author
A beautiful, touching, and heart-felt story that teaches the value of kindness
Magical and colourful illustrations throughout bring the characters to life
Description
“They say he met the King of the Sea, who taught him something important.”
“And it all happened because he fed a fish!”
“And it all happened because he shared what little he had.”
Every day young Nuri makes his way to the sea shore to eat some bread and throw a piece into the waves. He does so because his father always told him to “cast your bread on the water”. Even though Nuri can’t remember the second part of that beloved saying he grew up hearing, he follows his father’s advice and generously feeds the small fish in the sea.
Until one day, Nuri slips and falls into the water where he meets the fish he had been feeding. As Nuri marvels at the treasures hidden beneath the waves, the fish takes him all the way to the bottom of the sea. There, Nuri meets Whisewhale, the King of the Sea.
Wisewhale teaches him something very important about the saying his father passed on to him all those years ago. This will change Nuri’s life forever, he just doesn’t know it yet.
Told in utterly beautiful prose, this heartfelt story is inspired by the Hebrew Bible verse,
“Cast your bread on the water, and one day it will come back to you.” – Kohelet
(Ecclesiastes) 11:1. Through moving and uplifting encounters, Nuri teaches readers the value of kindness and the importance of being generous even when you don’t have much yourself.
This is a simple message that has a big impact as we see Nuri grow to become surrounded by the love that blossomed as a result of his generosity. Accompanied by majestic and colourful illustrations that bring the characters to life, young readers will be captivated by the illustrator’s unique style.
The perfect bedtime story for 4 to 8 year olds.
Author Details
Ronit Chacham lives in Jerusalem. She has published books for children (some of which won awards and have been translated), short stories and plays; she has created works for theater, performance arts pieces, street theater and puppet theater in Jerusalem and in London. Her theatre pieces have been performed in various theater festivals and have won awards. She has instructed children and teachers in drama and puppetry; coordinated community arts events; developed educational programs; written and researched for television productions; edited books and magazines. Currently she teaches creative writing and lectures about children’s literature and appears in schools as part of the “meet an author” programme. https://www.ronitchacham.com
Illustrator Details
Moran Yogev is an Israeli illustrator and graphic designer. She graduated with distinction from the Minshar School of Art in Tel Aviv. She lives in Kibbutz Hagoshrim in northern Israel with her husband Nis, children Adam and Omer, and their dog, Menny. Moran illustrates books and magazines for both children and adults where she specialises in print techniques, such as linocut and foam stamps. The books she has illustrated include
Yerus Goes to Jerusalem and Miriam, You Tell Me. Moran also illustrates for the children’s magazine Einayim and the magazine Liberal. She has participated in many exhibitions, including the Tel Aviv Illustration Festival and the Outline Jerusalem Festival.
Reviews
Nuri and the Whale, translated by Mekella Broomberg, explores the concept of sharing what you have, however little, through an enchanting allegory with exquisite aquatic and sandy-toned illustrations by Moran Yogev’ — Angela Kiverstein, The Jewish Chronicle
Nuri and the Whale, translated by Mekella Broomberg, explores the concept of sharing what you have, however little, through an enchanting allegory with exquisite aquatic and sandy-toned illustrations by Moran Yogev’ — Angela Kiverstein, The Jewish Chronicle
‘There are many children’s picture books that embed a Jewish teaching in an illustrated text, offering both a moral lesson and an appealing work of art. Nuri and the Whale takes a slightly different approach. Ronit Chacham extrapolates on a short selection from the biblical book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), dividing the narrative into numbered chapters and implicitly challenging the divide between picture and chapter books. Moran Yogev’s lavish illustrations allude to Middle Eastern artistic traditions and present convincing characters who speak to young readers on their own level. This exceptional book does not simplify its message of generosity and intergenerational respect, but rather brings it to life as a core tzedakah.
Is the completion of a mitzvah contingent on fully understanding its meaning? While this question may confound even adults, it is almost bound to come up when teaching young children. Chacham confronts the issue as Nuri, a young boy, responds to hearing his father quote the verse, “Cast your bread on the water, and one day it will come back to you” (Kohelet 11:1). Naturally, he interprets its somewhat enigmatic language literally, throwing bread into the sea until one fish grows unnaturally large. When his well-intentioned act results in conflict, he is confused. Fortunately, Wisewhale, an archetypal paternal figure, takes the time to explain to Nuri the difference between obedience to his father and true comprehension. He does this not through direct instruction, but by encouraging Nuri to draw inferences. Wisewhale thus sets the boy on the right path, reminding him that “there will be days to come when you will give and take — and you will be both happy and sad.”
Nuri and the Whale notably combines biblical and Talmudic stories with Jewish folklore. Children may not immediately associate Nuri’s tale with that of Jonah, caught in the belly of the great fish, or with the legendary Joseph, who loved the Sabbath and shared his wealth with his whole community. Nevertheless, these parallels situate Chacham’s and Yogev’s work in the larger realm of Jewish literature.
The book’s illustrations and design also display a deep immersion in Jewish artistic heritage. One two-page spread features the quote from Kohelet in Hebrew calligraphy, while the floral border around each picture recalls medieval manuscripts. Word bubbles with variously colored fonts elaborate on the main text, and a range of color tones connects characters and scenery — from people, to animals, to the natural habitat they share.
When the book concludes, Nuri is an old man. Along the way, readers learn that people develop and change, and that both the young and old play distinct roles in Jewish life. Giving to others is not only a requirement for those with great wealth, as Nuri points out, because “Sometimes in life you’ll have everything and sometimes you’ll have almost nothing.” It’s a message worth conveying to children, especially in a book as enchanting as this one.’ Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council
Wisewhale gives Nuri two gifts of comprehension: the ability to understand all animals’ languages, and a fuller appreciation of the Ecclesiastical saying, “Cast your bread upon the water, and one day it will come back to you.” When he returns to land, Nuri devotes himself to the idea of giving to others. As a result, he is rewarded with a joyous, love-filled life.
This story will transport children to a sparkling and magical world, while also demonstrating the importance of generosity and kindness. Along the way, children will learn the difference between obedience (“Dad told me to throw bread”) and true understanding (“helping others is a mitzvah, whether you have a little or a lot”). The lush, majestic illustrations amplify and complement the evocative prose – you could literally dive into the pictures. Nuri and the Whale is highly recommended for homes, libraries and classrooms.