A young boy celebrates Shabbat with his extended, multiracial family in this adorable rhyming board book. “Bubbe’s in the kitchen, chicken’s in the pot. Know what I’m sayin’? Time for Shabbat!” The little boy helps Bubbe bake the challah, and there’s kugel with raisins on the table. Mommy blesses the candles, Zayde says the Kiddush, and Daddy recites the Motzi.
While participating in the traditional Shabbat preparations and rituals, this Bubbe is styling with a chic haircut, hip glasses, dangly earrings, and red sneakers. How refreshing to see a modern Jewish grandmother portrayed in a children’s book! A fun read-aloud, this book will certainly be enjoyed by grandparents and their young grandchildren.
Recommended for ages 1 to 4.
Rachel Kamin is the Director of the Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, Illinois. A past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, Rachel is currently the co-editor of Book Reviews for Children & Teens for the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter. She holds a BA in history from Grinnell College and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Michigan.