The Barnes & Noble Review of Yakov and the Seven Thieves

Madonna spins another lesson-teaching yarn in her third picture book for children “(even grown-up ones),” this time drawing inspiration from an 18th-century Ukrainian teacher for a tale about overcoming selfishness to help others.

Paired with ornate, awe-inspiring illustrations by award winner Gennady Spirin, the author’s tale – “dedicated to naughty children everywhere” – centers on a cobbler, Yakov, who looks toward a wise man to help cure his deathly ill son. Although the wise man’s prayers alone cannot help Yakov, the cobbler’s sincerity drives the old man to round up seven of the town’s thieves and scoundrels, including the malodorous Stinky Pasha and a one-legged rascal named Ivan the Arsonist.
When a surprising group effort leads to the son’s recovery, an explanation from the wise man reveals the miraculous reason, giving a jubilant Yakov and us readers plenty to ponder.
In her first children’s book with a pre-20th-century setting, Madonna combines storytelling resourcefulness with a non-Western theme for a read that will sit comfortably alongside her previous two books. Without a doubt, Spirin‘s artwork is the tour de force here, bringing to life Ukrainian landscapes and culture in a way that reflects the artist’s remarkable attention to detail.
For those who enjoyed The English Roses and Mr. Peabody’s Apples, this story, which follows a familiar format of old-fashioned fables, makes a fine addition to your Madonna “literary” collection.

Review by Matt Warner
Source: Barnes & Noble