Yakov and the Seven Thieves facts for kids
Book cover for Yakov and the Seven Thieves
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| Author | Madonna |
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| Illustrator | Gennady Spirin |
| Cover artist | Gennady Spirin |
| Country | United States |
| Subject | Moral |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Set in | 18th century |
| Publisher | Callaway |
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Publication date
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June 21, 2004 |
| Media type |
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| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-05887-7 |
| OCLC | 54852649 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M26573 |
Yakov and the Seven Thieves is a picture book written by the famous American entertainer Madonna. It was released on June 21, 2004, by Callaway Arts & Entertainment. The book came out in many countries and languages, even a special Braille version for people who are blind.
This book tells a moral story, which means it teaches an important lesson. Madonna was inspired by an old tale from a rabbi named Baal Shem Tov, which she heard from her Kabbalah teacher. The story takes place in a small town in Eastern Europe during the 1700s. It shares a message that anyone can connect with heaven, no matter how they are seen by others.
The beautiful pictures in the book were painted by Russian artist Gennady Spirin. He used a style called Baroque painting to create the characters and scenes. Madonna helped promote the book by appearing on TV shows and reading to children in a hospital. Critics had mixed feelings about the book. They often praised Spirin's artwork but were less positive about Madonna's writing. Still, Yakov and the Seven Thieves became a success, reaching number seven on The New York Times Best Seller list for children's picture books just three weeks after it was released.
Contents
The Story of Yakov and the Seven Thieves
This section tells you what happens in the book. It's a tale about hope and unexpected heroes.
Yakov's Son Needs Help
The story begins with a cobbler named Yakov and his wife, Olga. They are very worried because their son, Mikhail, is seriously ill and might be dying. Yakov hears about a wise man in their village who can heal people. He decides to go to this man for help.
When Yakov meets the healer, he offers him money. But the wise man refuses it. Instead, he says that if he can save Mikhail, Yakov can repay him by making a new pair of shoes for his grandson.
A Prayer for Mikhail
The next day, Yakov visits the healer again. The wise man tells Yakov that his prayers for Mikhail did not work; the "gates of heaven" would not open. Yakov is very upset and begs the healer to try one more time.
The healer then asks his grandson to go into the village. His task is to find all the thieves, pickpockets, and criminals and bring them back to the house. Soon, a large group of these "ne'er-do-wells" arrives. They include characters like Vladimir the Villain, who could bend metal, and Boris the Barefoot Midget, who stole from old ladies. There was also Ivan the Arsonist, Petra the Pickpocket, Stinky Pasha, Sadko the Snake, and Igor the Tiger.
Unexpected Heroes
Following the healer's instructions, all the thieves get down on their knees and begin to pray. A wonderful thing happens! The prayers of these men, who were known for "opening gates" to steal, somehow helped to open the gates of heaven.
Because of their prayers, Yakov's son, Mikhail, was healed! The very next day, Yakov returned to the healer's house with a new pair of shoes for the grandson. He happily announced that Mikhail was alive and well. It was the prayers of this unlikely group of "crooks" that made all the difference.
See also
- In Spanish: Yakov and the Seven Thieves para niños
