Delacorte / Random House (2018)
In the Land of Happy Tears offers access to modern works—translated for the first time into English—for anyone who appreciates a well-told story rich with timeless wisdom. You’ll meet a king who loves honey so much that instead of ruling over his people, he licks honey all day. You’ll ponder the conundrum of the moon, who longs for a playmate—but where to find a child who isn’t fast asleep at night? You’ll enter a forest in which the king of mushrooms and the queen of ants coexist autonomously but face the same threat: the little hands and trampling feet of children at play. And you’ll learn how flavoring food with salt from tears can pose a challenging dilemma. Largely overlooked or forgotten, these hidden treasures from the early twentieth century were written by some of the most respected Yiddish writers of their time—including Jacob Kreplak, Moyshe Nadir, and Rachel Shabad—and remain surprisingly resonant for a contemporary audience.
