The Language of Angels

Written by Richard Michelson · Illustrated by Karla Gudeon

A boy and his father strive to revive a fading language in 1885 Israel.

3.9 Goodreads · 149 ratings

32 pages· 1,215 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud· 690L

$16.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1885, Hebrew teeters on the brink of extinction in Israel. Young Ben Zion and his father embark on a mission to breathe life into the ancient tongue. With the help of a community of children, they craft a modern lexicon, transforming Hebrew into a living language once more. As they navigate this linguistic journey, their perseverance becomes a beacon of hope for an entire culture. Will their efforts be enough to save a language from oblivion? Discover the power of words and determination in this vibrant tale of cultural revival.

From the publisher

In 1885, few Jews in Israel used the holy language of their ancestors, and Hebrew was in danger of being lost—until Ben Zion and his father got involved. Through the help of his father and a community of children, Ben modernized the ancient language, creating a lexicon of new, modern words to bring Hebrew back into common usage. Historically influenced dialogue, engaging characters, and colorful art offer a linguistic journey about how language develops and how one person’s perseverance can make a real difference.

Influenced by illuminated manuscripts, Karla Gudeon’s illustrations bring Ben Zion—and the rebirth of Hebrew—to life.