The book is printed in soft cover (13.5 cm x 21 cm) and is 248 pages long.
It is adapted from the original into simplified Hebrew and illustrated. Certain harder words are explained; these words are marked with nikud - the Hebrew vowel system - and for convenience are explained both at the bottom of the relevant page and in the glossary at the back.
There exists a significant gap between written and spoken Hebrew. This pattern also exists in books for children and young adults. While generally unnoticed to Israeli readers, who are used to sophisticated words and complex grammatical structures, it poses a significant challenge to non-native speakers.
The Galgal Series’ focus is to translate our most cherished international classic novels using simplified written Hebrew. Our books are illustrated to provide an enjoyable and relaxed experience. The series is appropriate for readers of all ages, with its intended mission to ease readers, in an enjoyable manner, into more traditional Hebrew-written structures.
Ira Yoshpa has been teaching Hebrew for nearly two decades. She speaks five languages fluently, many of them self-taught. Her practical teaching methods have garnered her praise for their efficiency. 'Simplified translations' is a proven technique used in many languages that Ira believes will further integrate non-native Hebrew speakers into Israeli society.
"The process of translating the book was truly enjoyable; it was something I had wished to do for years! The biggest challenge, in my opinion, was to keep the level of language easy and approachable while remaining sophisticated enough to retain the novel's spirit. It wasn't only about translating for me. I made a conscious decision to keep the book for learning purposes. Certain words are purposefully repeated throughout the book to help the reader remember them."
