Something From Nothing

Summary:

When Joseph is a baby, his grandfather makes him a wonderful blanket. After a while

his mother tells him that the blanket is worn out and should be thrown away. Joseph

does not want to give up his blanket and tells his mother that his grandfather can fix

it. Grandpa turns it round and round. His scissors go snip, snip, snip. His needle goes in and out,

in and out, in and out. Sure enough, Grandpa has “just enough material” to make a wonderful jacket.

Over time, Grandpa uses the material to make a vest, then a tie, then a handkerchief,

and finally a button. When Joseph loses the button, his mother declares that even

Grandpa cannot make “something from nothing.” The next day Joseph goes to school

and starts to write. He realizes he has “just enough material” to make a wonderful

story. This warm story was adapted from a Jewish folk tale and offers a loving portrait

of shtetl life in Eastern Europe.