"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 independent bagel makers who has his special customers. Then his son comes by with a new idea. Without spoiling the plot, one can add that Mr. Belinsky learns an important lesson. At the end of the book is a little note by Marilyn Bagel about the origin of bagels, and the author's jacket blurb indicates she was inspired by her grandfather in writing this book. Stefan Czernecki, a British Columbian children's book illustrator, uses gouache on handmade paper for the modern artwork. There is nothing overtly Jewish about the book except we can think that Mr. Belinsky is Jewish and associate bagels with Jews but that's okay because children will enjoy the story." -- Jewish World News, March 1999

Schwartz draws upon the memory of her grandfather to give readers a portrait of the gray-haired bagel baker who has no recipe, for his fingers feel the secrets of the dough. His shop may be old and cramped, yet each day Mr. Belinsky's few but loyal customers come in for their favorite bagel. When the Bon Bon Bakery opens across the street, Victor Belinsky convinces his father to compete with pies, cakes and cookies. So the baker buys egg beaters and pastry machinery. Everyday, new pastry-loving customers crowd the store. Yet every night, as he counts the money, Mr. Belinsky's hands miss something. It takes Mr. Belinsky's loyal customers to remind him of his true craft. As his hands remember the act of bagel creation, Mr. Belinsky laughs and knows that his hands are wiser than his foolish mixed-up head. The reader will feel relief as Belinsky tosses out the new machines and affirms, "I make bagels, bagels is what I make." This Canadian team has created an appealing character, a joyful story, and vivid folk art in this treat. Readers will find plenty to sink their teeth into; large, clear text on a white page, which faces a full-page illustration 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