This is a picture book more for adults than children, and most of the jokes are directed to a Jewish audience. If you fit that demographic profile, you may find this book quite amusing.

Giuseppe Giaweeni sets sail from Italy in search of China with the king and queen telling him, “Don’t be a stranger!” He veered off course and ended up in Miami. There Giuseppe encountered the Mishbooker family of giants. (Mishbooker is an obvious reference to the Yiddish word for family, mishpokhe.)

Yorinks writes:

“Left to themselves for centuries, the Mishbookers led a simple, primitive life. They ate. They slept. They went bowling. What a find!”

They showed Giuiseppe their achievements: beads, coconut heads, comfortable beach chairs…

Giuseppe convinced Joe Mishbooker to come back with him - “You’d be big in Europe! “I’ll make you a star!”

In Paris, Giuseppe proudly unveiled the Miami giant, billed as “The 8th Wonder of the World! Discovered in a Remote Section of Miami!”

When Joe began to dance, the crowd, reminiscent of the crowd gawking at King Kong in New York, stampeded out in fear. So Giuseppe took Joe back home.

“Then the great explorer bid his friend farewell and went on to discover Boca.”

Evaluation: The story is weird, full of Jewish in-jokes and references, and so will have limited appeal. But the illustrations by Maurice Sendak make it all worthwhile. They are, as usual, humorous, poignant, colorful, and superb. ( )

Giuseppe Giaweeni left Italy for China with the blessing of the King and Queen. Taking a wrong turn, he landed in Florida where he discovered a tribe of giants named the Mishbookers of Miami.

Convincing one of the giants to return to Italy with him in the hope of staging a song and dance routine which would make Guiseppe rich, became a disaster.

Dancing and turning, the giant made those who bought tickets very afraid.

Alas, the giant returned where years later it was rumored that the Mishbookers moved to Long Island!

While the story line was creative, I didn't care for the garish illustrations. Everything seemed way too over the top and unappealing.