Although this is superficially a simple morality tale in which a child learns a lesson about respect, it is really about a child's fear of old people, especially old people from another culture.
The main character is Joel, and he wonders why the elderly Gugelhupfs who live in his building are sadly shy and why Mr. Gugelhupf carries a black bag with him wherever he goes. This bag seems sinister, and Joel has nightmares about it. One of his other neighbours, Howie, makes the other children laugh by making fun of the Gugelhupfs -- until he hurts himself trying to disrupt their time in the park, and Mr. Gugelhupf reveals that he is a retired doctor, and that his bag is full of medical supplies. Mr. Gugelhupf treats Howie's injuries and then the couple invite all the children into their apartment for cocoa and cookies. The children realize that this scary old couple is actually quite kind, and Joel, who gets to carefully carry Mr. Gugelhupf's important bag for him, decides that he wants to be a doctor too when he grows up.
Adults reading this book will probably get even more out of it, realizing that the Gugelhupfs are not only immigrants, but possibly also Jews who came to New York City to escape the Nazis, as Weil herself did in 1939.
The main character is Joel, and he wonders why the elderly Gugelhupfs who live in his building are sadly shy and why Mr. Gugelhupf carries a black bag with him wherever he goes. This bag seems sinister, and Joel has nightmares about it. One of his other neighbours, Howie, makes the other children laugh by making fun of the Gugelhupfs -- until he hurts himself trying to disrupt their time in the park, and Mr. Gugelhupf reveals that he is a retired doctor, and that his bag is full of medical supplies. Mr. Gugelhupf treats Howie's injuries and then the couple invite all the children into their apartment for cocoa and cookies. The children realize that this scary old couple is actually quite kind, and Joel, who gets to carefully carry Mr. Gugelhupf's important bag for him, decides that he wants to be a doctor too when he grows up.
Adults reading this book will probably get even more out of it, realizing that the Gugelhupfs are not only immigrants, but possibly also Jews who came to New York City to escape the Nazis, as Weil herself did in 1939.
