A parent might reach for this book when their child is in a silly mood and would enjoy a story about bumbling characters and plans gone wonderfully wrong. It is a perfect lighthearted read for injecting some pure fun and laughter into story time. Based on the Jewish folklore tradition of Chelm, the town of fools, this story follows two demons who, bored with their hometown, decide to stow away to New York City for some real mischief. Their grand plans are foiled by their own foolishness, leading to a hilarious and ironic conclusion. The book’s humor is gentle and accessible for ages 6 to 9, and its themes focus on the joy of a good joke and the silliness that results from making big assumptions. It's a great choice for its clever wit and for introducing children to a classic folkloric tradition.
The protagonists are demons, but the portrayal is entirely folkloric and secular, not religious. They are mischievous and bumbling, akin to cartoon villains, not figures of genuine evil. The tone is consistently humorous and light, so the concept of demons is unlikely to be frightening for the target age range.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 6 to 8-year-old child who loves slapstick, irony, and stories where the characters' plans backfire spectacularly. It's perfect for a child who appreciates trickster tales or is just developing an understanding of ironic humor. It also serves as an excellent, accessible introduction to folklore for a curious child.
Parent Prep
While the book can be read cold, it is enriched by a brief explanation of the Chelm folklore tradition, in which the town and all its inhabitants are known for their endearing foolishness. Explaining this beforehand helps the child grasp the full depth of the final joke: that the demons are just as foolish as the people they mock. No pages require specific previewing. A parent notices their child is enjoying telling silly jokes, playing harmless pranks, or is fascinated by the idea of 'bad guys' who are more funny than scary. The parent is looking for a book that embraces this playful sense of humor in a clever, well-told story.
Age Experience
A younger child (age 6) will primarily enjoy the surface-level humor: the demons eating all the donuts, making mud pies, and the surprise of ending up in the wrong place. An older child (ages 8-9) will better appreciate the sophisticated irony of the ending and the folkloric context. They will understand that the demons' mistake proves they belong in the town of fools after all.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories that pit good against evil, this tale's conflict is internal to the 'villains'. The humor derives from their own incompetence and lack of awareness. By grounding this universal theme of foolishness in the specific, culturally rich tradition of Jewish Chelm stories, it offers a unique blend of slapstick and clever folklore.
Read plot summary
Two demons from the folkloric town of Chelm, Chaim and Fishel, are tired of the predictable foolishness of their neighbors. Believing they are destined for greater mischief, they stow away in a wooden crate labeled for New York City. Inside, they discover the crate is full of donuts. They eat every last one, replace them with mud pies, and eagerly await their arrival. Upon emerging, they discover the crate was not bound for New York at all, but for another family in Chelm. Their grand escape and clever prank have only resulted in them tricking their own foolish neighbors, proving they are as much a part of Chelm as everyone else.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The demons thought the crate was going to New York, but it was really going to another house in Chelm. What mistake did they make when they read the label?
2
When the demons ate all the donuts, they replaced them with mud. Do you think this was a clever trick? What do you think the family who received the crate thought when they opened it?
3
At the end of the story, the demons are right back where they started. Do you think they learned a lesson about being too sure of themselves?
4
If you were one of the demons, what kind of mischief would you try to cause in New York City?
