By
– May 14, 2012
A little boy tells how he received the gift of his name by first introducing King David, then discussing how Adam named all of the living things, listing biblical names and names common in Mexico, Russia, and Israel, and then explaining how he was named after his great-grandfather. Jewish naming customs are briefly explained in an author’s note. The text jumps from King David to Adam to naming customs around the world without any transitions, resulting in a narration that feels random and choppy. The illustrations lack dimension and movement, and the changes in font sizes are distracting. So while the concept of this book is appealing, it is ineffective at showing the reader how truly wonderful the gift of a name can be.
Reading Guide
Rachel Kamin has been a synagogue librarian and Jewish educator for over twenty-five years and has worked at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, IL since 2008, currently serving as the Director of Lifelong Learning. A past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and past editor of Book Reviews for Children & Teens for the Association of Jewish Libraries News & Reviews, her articles and book reviews appear in numerous publications. She has been a member of the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Book Award Committee since 2021.