Videos & Songs
The Caps for Sale Song (ASL)
The Peddler and the Monkeys dance to the Caps for Sale Song, sung by Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer.
Author Esphyr Slobodkina’s sister Tamara Schildkraut wrote the original Caps for Sale song in 1991. In 1996 the song was reworked, arranged, produced, and recorded by Ann Marie and Ronald Pronovost. Ann Marie (who has co-authored two more books in the "Caps" series) has performed this song and the Caps for Sale musical for over 20 years.
This sign language video was produced with the Caps for Sale author and her sister in mind. It is a little tribute to two women who understood hearing impairment and deafness.
More Caps for Sale
Hear co-author Ann Marie read More Caps for Sale (with animation).
More Caps for Sale is the first monkey sequel to the Caps for Sale series. When the story begins, it is later that same day and the Peddler starts his walk home. He does not look back. He does not notice monkeys following him. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. All in step. Now they are sitting in the tree in the peddler’s backyard. Oh, those monkeys!
The Caps for Sale stories began over 75 years ago. And the sixteen monkeys in the tales get into much mischief together. But the mimicking monkeys also learn a lot about good behavior and manners.
Caps for Sale and the Mindful Monkeys
Hear co-author Ann Marie read Caps for Sale and the Mindful Monkeys (with animation).
In the same folklore tradition as the classic Caps for Sale comes the fourth book in the Caps series. In Caps for Sale and the Mindful Monkeys the mischievous monkeys who wore the Peddler’s wares in Caps for Sale just won’t leave him alone. As he walks through the streets selling his caps, the monkeys walk right behind him. Right foot, left foot. Right foot, left foot. As he walks back home at the end of the day, they follow, all in step. Those monkeys!
The Peddler is tired of their trouble and asks his friend Essie for advice. But Essie thinks the Peddler should give them one more chance before he decides they’re no good. Will the Peddler listen to Essie? And if he does, will he discover that she’s right?
The mindfulness of the monkeys in this story really save the day.
Interview with ABC
Art McFarland from ABC news Long Island interviews Esphyr Slobodkina (age 92) at the Great Neck Art Center, NY during a retrospective exhibition of her art. In this video McFarland speaks to her about her children’s book classic Caps for Sale.
When asked why Slobodkina wrote about monkeys, Slobodkina replies, “Everybody loves monkeys, unless, of course, you have to live with them.”
Excerpt 1 from American Abstraction 1930 -1945
Slobodkina relates how Artist Ilya Bolotowsky influenced her work; conversation of art was way above her understanding of how in the early years; Bolotowsky presented her to a group of artists he was organizing to form an abstract artist group and wanted her to belong to it. Slobodkina on fashion: “Dressmaking was not a trade, it was always an art.”
“Inspiration: there is no such thing as inspiration, for me it is concentration, dedication, and interest in your work.”
Excerpt 2 from American Abstraction 1930 -1945
Slobodkina speaks about her transition to abstract art followed by a portfolio: slide show of works.
