Mr. Belinsky's Bagels
by Ellen Schwartz, illustrated by Stefan Czernecki
A Canadian Children's Book Centre 'Our Choice 1999/2000' Selection
Entrepreneurship... It's Elementary, They made America
"Mr. Belinsky's Bagels are the toast of the town. His poppy seed bagels help soothe Mrs.
Alperstein's many ailments, while Frankie, the would-be tough guy, is hooked on the onion bagels.
So when Mr. Belinsky's son, Victor, encourages him to expand and bake other goods, he replies:
"Should a doctor fix leakypipes? NO! ... Should Belinsky make fancy cakes? NO! I make bagels and
that's that." But after a bakery opens across the street, he starts to turn out dainty pastries.
The new line is a hit, but every night, "his hands felt ...as though they were missing something.
But he couldn't remember what." Predictably, Belisky is soon back to bagels and, of course, back to
his spiel. ("I make bagels. Bagelsis what I make.") Czernecki's flat compositions and matte gouaches
reinforce the old-fashioned tone. All ages." -- Publisher's Weekly, June 29, 1998
Mr. Belinsky knows how to make bagels, and that's
what he makes, bagels. His regular customers don't
miss a day buying their favorites, and Mr. Belinsky's
hands always know the perfect recipe for each variety.
Then a fancy new bakery opens across the street, and a
parade of eager customers buy tarts, eclairs, cookies
and other treats while Mr. Belinsky's shop remains
empty. Is he missing out on something? Must he change
his ways to keep up? What happens when those
bagel-making hands begin turning out all sorts of
goodies? More isn't always better, for the customers
or the magic hands or the satisfaction of the soul, so
read this delightful tale yourself and also give it to
your young readers. Charmingly illustrated in
one-dimensional primary colors, these are the kind of
pictures kids might like to copy themselves. --Judy Chernak, Children's Literature
"Mr. Belinsky made bagels. Bagels were all he made" begins this cheery picture book tale of loving what
you know, and knowing what you love. Mr. Belinsky's regulars come in daily for the bagels they want: onion,
pumpernickel, poppyseed. But when a fancy bakery opens up across the street, Mr. Belinsky fears for his
livelihood and turns to cookies and tarts, pies and strudel. The money rolls in but his regulars are crushed,
and Mr. Belinsky isn't so sure of the path he's chosen. Joyfully, he returns to his true love, bagel-making,
and his customers are happy. The broad, flat planes of gouache illustrations face each page of text, and charming
details abound: the ring on Mrs. Alperstein's ruby-manicured fingers; the ceramic water pitcher; the glimpses of
yellow taxis and the Chrysler building. Best of all is Mr. Belinsky himself: a cherub with tufts of gray hair and
a fuzzy mustache, round glasses, and pink cheeks. A tasty nosh, indeed." -- Copyright �1998, Kirkus Review
"Nice Mr. Belinsky has made bagels, and only bagels, for years, and he has a devoted clientele:
Mrs. Alperstein likes poppy seed, which seems to cure her various ailments; tough-guy-with-a-big-heart
Frankie likes his onion; and Jacob, Mr. Belinsky's helper, likes pumpernickel. When a fancy bakery opens
across the street, Mr. Belinsky decides to compete by making cakes and cookies. His business booms, but
it isn't long before he discovers that his increased earnings are not worth the loss of his valued friends.
If the story is a bit weak, the message is solid and the artwork winning. Czernecki's primitive-style illustrations
are simple, yet nicely detailed, and their blocks of bright, flat color will draw children into the story. A little
bagel history rounds out the book." -- Booklist
"Mr. Belinsky's Bagels by Ellen Schwartz and illustrated by Stefan Czernecki is a charming and well
designed book. It is a cautionary tale about diversifying business and straying too far from one's
roots. In this charming and humorously cartoonesque book, Mr. Belinsky's son Victor encourages him
to expand beyond his small bagel business to compete with the elaborate pastries available at the
bakery across the street. His over-reaching ambition is not rewarded." -- The Western Jewish Bulletin
"A good read-aloud, this story with its simple pictures is perfect for sharing at story-time." -- CM Magazine
"Young bagel-snackers will be enchanted by Mr. Belinsky's Bagels by Ellen Schwartz. Wise Mr. Belinsky forgoes
the success of a conventional pastry shop to continue doing what he does best-baking bagels for hisloyal
customers. Young and old will be delighted to learn that "bagel" is derived from the German bugel, which
means stirrup. An Austrian Jewish baker baked hard rolls in the shape of a stirrup in 1683 in gratitude
to the equestrian king who protected the Jewish community." -- Hadassah, May 1998
"If you are a bagel lover (and who isn't today!),you'll love this very dear story about Mr. Belinsky.Mr. Belinsky
appears to be the last of the independentbagel makers who has his special customers. Then hisson comes by with
a new idea. Without spoiling theplot, one can add that Mr. Belinsky learns animportant lesson. At the end of
the book is a littlenote by Marilyn Bagel about the origin of bagels, andthe author's jacket blurb indicates
she was inspiredby her grandfather in writing this book. StefanCzernecki, a British Columbian children's
bookillustrator, uses gouache on handmade paper for themodern artwork. There is nothing overtly Jewish aboutthe
book except we can think that Mr. Belinsky isJewish and associate bagels with Jews but that's okaybecause children
will enjoy the story." -- Jewish World News, March 1999
"Schwartz draws upon the memory of her grandfather togive readers a portrait of the gray-haired bagel bakerwho
has no recipe, for his fingers feel the secrets ofthe dough. His shop may be old and cramped, yet eachday Mr.
belinsky's few but loyal customers come in fortheir favorite bagel. When the Bon Bon Bakery opensacross the street,
Victor Belinsky convinces hisfather to compete with pies, cakes and cookies. So thebaker buys egg beaters and pastry
machinery. Everyday, new pastry-loving customers crowd the store. Yetevery night, as he counts the money,
Mr. Belinsky'shands miss something. It takes Mr. Belinsky's loyalcustomers to remind him of his true craft.
As hishands remember the act of bagel creation, Mr. Belinskylaughs and knows that his hands are wiser than
hisfoolish mixed-up head. The reader will feel relief asBelinsky tosses out the new machines and affirms,
"Imake bagels, bagels is what I make." This Canadianteam has created an appealing character, a joyfulstory,
and vivid folk art in this treat. Readers willfind plenty to sink their teeth into; large, cleartext on a white
page, which faces a full-pageillustration awash in bold colors." -- Library Talk, March 1999
"Competition across the street causes Mr. Belinsky tostart selling pastries, cakes and cookies instead ofhis beloved
bagels. Despite success, Belinsky returnsto bagel-making out of loyalty to his less numerousbut more cherished bagel
customers. Brightly coloredfolk-art-like illustrations enliven this somewhatstale story, which is followed by a brief
history ofthe bagel." -- The Horn Book Guide, December 1998
Hanukkah Hits. Bookstores Pick Top Holiday Sellers"Some children's book creators whose appearances have boosted
Hanukkah sales are writer Ellen Schwartz and illustrator Stefan Czerncki, who came down from Vancouver, recently
to read from Mr. Belinsky's Bagels. "That was our big pre-Hanikkah children's event," Yanow commented, adding that
nearby local vusiness Bagel Oasis donated free bagels to the store for the occasion." -- BookWeb December 11, 1998
"Mr. Belinsky makes bagels. And his customers love them. Of these things, he is sure, and he's happy � until the
competition sets up across the street. Its busy stream of customers, in contrast to. his own small following, leads
him co diversity. Soon, he is making highly successful fancy deserts � and lots of money. But something is missing.
He's not sure what, but ultimately, he makes a decision that leaves him once and again satisfied, and sure.
Czernecki's drawings, simple and brightly coloured, are as certain and solid as Mr. Belinsky's conviction, "I make
bagels. Bagels is what I make. And that's that." His pictures and Schwartz's text make it easy to track his transformation
from secure and happy bagel-maker to uneasy pastry chef and back again." -- By Cora Lee. West Coast Families March 1998.
"Mr. Begilinsky sold bagels. Bagels were all he made and he liked it that way. He looked forward to his favorite
customers coming in for all his different bagels. Mr. Belinsky was happy until Bon Bon Bakery moved next door. What
did this competition lead to? You will have to read the book..." -- Victoria 11, John Thomas Dye School. Los
Angeles Times, January 24, 1999
"Mr. Belinsky contents himself and his customers making delicious bagels and nothing else. When a new bakery
opens across the street, his shop empties and he gives into pressure from his son to modernize and diversify.
Mr. Belinsky's success presents him with anew dilemma�a dilemma whose resolution is satisfying and logical, and
that promotes integrity without moralizing.
Ellen Schwartz writes well and clearly, developing character and plot with seeming ease. Her opening is emphatic,
direct, and tinged with humor,and establishes a strong voice. Mr. Belinsky, for all his warmth, compassion, and
expertise, is very human in his moments of self-doubt. Children and adults will be able to identify with the pressure
he feels to fit in with the rest of the world. Also effective is the pacing. Plenty of believable dialogue, some
of which has inferred inflections that are recognizably Yiddish, keeps the story moving at just the right speed.
Balanced, simple sentences contribute to the text's pleasing rhythm. The language is accessible and fresh, yet
resonates with the clarity of a well-worn folktale: "Mr. Belinsky was happy. So his little shop was old and cramped.
Who cared? His customers loved his bagels, and that was that."
Stefan Czernecki' s vibrant colors and bold lines complement the text well. The attractive compositions employ abroad
variety of colors. The book is well bound with an eye-catching, bright cover, Highly recommended."
-- By Joan Buchanan. Canadian Book Review Annual 1998.
Book bounty Late summer's perfect for relaxing with a read
"Mr. Belinsky made bagels . . . He didn't make pies, he didn't make cakes, he didn't make doughnuts or muffins
or gingerbread. He just made bagels . . . and he sold them in his shop, called Belinsky's Bagels."His loyal customers,
Mrs. Alperstein, Frankie, and Josh, came to the shop every day to feast on the tasty bagels. He was happy and so were
his customers. "So his little shop was old and cramped. Who cared? His customers loved his bagels, and that was that."
But one day the Bon Bon Bakery opened across the street; soon people bypassed Mr. Belinsky's store to buy pies, cakes
and cookies. Alarmed, Mr. Belinsky stopped making bagels and started making pastries. Now customers began to crowd into
his shop, buying every delicious morsel.But success was not everything - something was missing. In an agreeable conclusion,
Mr. Belinsky realizes that his hands are wiser than his head.
Readers will enjoy this fast-paced, clearly written story of a kind, caring man. The bright, bold illustrations depicting
life on a busy city street neatly complement the plot." -- By Elsie Prizio. Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA), August 15, 1998
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