Young Aaron wants to learn how to speak to the chickens like his Zayde
(grandfather). Zayde's stories and his many books, with their mysterious
worlds and their guarded secrets, fascinate Aaron. But always Aaron is
too young to learn Yiddish. Zayde thinks that Aaron, and all the new
generation of American Jews, should speak English and play baseball-just
like all Americans do. When Zayde becomes very old and can no longer see
well enough to read his precious books, Aaron decides it is time that
Zayde teach him to speak to the chickens before it's too late. This
poignant tale about preserving a dying language and the memories of the
people who spoke it is also an eloquent tale of America. The importance
of heritage and culture, and of honoring the past while building a
future, is instilled in young minds through this touching story.