Something From Nothing is a book that we’ve read over and over and over again. In fact, we love it so much, that when we loaned it to our friends and they accidentally left it on an airplane, I had to go out and find another copy so we’d still have one to read (Thankfully they had a copy at our favorite used book store!).

This book is a delightful retelling of a Jewish shtetl story, and though it portrays Jewish culture and sensibilities, it speaks a universal message suited to all people, no matter what ideology or culture they identify with. It’s a timeless, heart-warming tale that carries important messages for today as we try to promote sustainable living by encouraging people to rethink, reuse, repurpose, and make do with what they have. It is a beautiful example of living a simple life, and valuing thrift and repair above throwing away and replacing.

The engaging illustrations are lovely, and truly bring the story to life. Their details portray some of the realities of European Jewish shtetl life, including cramped quarters and multi-generational family living, but the beauty, love, and everyday happiness of the family is evident in their expressive faces and interactions.

While the tale itself is simple, starting with a grandfather who made his grandson a beautiful blanket, and then re-makes it into a jacket, a vest, a tie, a handkerchief, and eventually a button as each item starts to wear out – repurposing the part that’s still usable. The gentle message of conservation and reusing every last bit of something until it literally disappears into nothing is profound. And the modeling of letting go of the old as well as inviting in the new is a welcome change from the messages encouraging materialism and the accumulation of stuff contained in many children’s books.

This book contains a couple of wordless stories within the story, with different tales playing out within and outside of the three levels of the house. We see the characters age and the family grow (pregnancy then a new baby) as the story progresses. Also fun is the subplot that shows the evolving life of the shtetl mice along the bottom of the page.

In seeing Joseph turn to his grandfather, “Grandpa can fix it,” when things to awry, this book reminds us of the wisdom held by older generations, and how those values and traditions can be beneficial to us now. It also beautifully portrays the love and feeling of family that can stem come in intergenerational relationships.

Finally, the simple but clever ending brings a fitting completion to this warm, evocative tale.

This charming story will delight both parents and children as they read through the book and study the lively illustrations over and over again. Whether you’re looking for a book with concrete sequencing and repetitive phrases, a book that carries the message of conservation, creativity, and resourcefulness, something on Jewish culture, or simply a wonderful story, you will find all of that in Something from Nothing.

You can buy your own copy of Something From Nothing HERE.