About the Book Unable to stand his overcrowded and noisy home any longer, a poor man goes to the Rabbi for advice. Book Synopsis Margot Zemachs It Could Always Be Worse is a 1977 New York Times Book Review Notable Childrens Book of the Year, an Outstanding Book of the Year, and a 1978 Caldecott Honor Book. Once upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut. Because they were so crowded, the children often fought and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man was unable to stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help. As he follows the Rabbis unlikely advice, the poor mans life goes from bad to worse, with increasingly uproarious results. In his little hut, silly calamity follows foolish catastrophe, all memorably depicted in full-color illustrations that are both funnier and lovelier than any this distinguished artist has done in the past. Review Quotes The familiar tale of the simple villager whose house was so crowded and noisy, he went to the Rabbi for help. . .Never has the tale been made into a picture book of such beauty and gusto. -- Starred, The Horn Book About the Author Margot Zemach (1931-89) was born in Los Angeles, California. She began illustrating stories by her husband, Harve, in 1959, and their subsequent collaborations led to many enduring childrens books, including The Judge: An Untrue Tale, a Caldecott Honor Book; A Penny a Look , an ALA Notable Book; and Duffy and the Devil , recipient of the Caldecott Medal.