Anna has a very important job at her Aunt Rachel’s wedding. She’s the flower girl, and in her beautiful pale pink dress, matching shoes, and wreath of flowers, she takes her job very seriously. The problem is, as the book’s title suggests, she wakes up on wedding day morning with a tickly nose. Ah-choo! Everyone, from Anna’s parents to the hair stylist to the rabbi, has advice for her, and she repeats their suggestions to herself over and over, to no avail, as it turns out. It’s easy to envision young readers chanting the sneeze-stopping techniques along with Anna in this charming book: press finger to lips, wiggle ear lobe, whisper “pineapple,” tap forehead, pinch nose, hold breath. The illustrations are also sweet and, along the way, Jewish wedding customs and terms (ketubah, chuppah, the seven blessings, and so forth) are simply and seamlessly included. This is a nice way to introduce children to this important life cycle event. Recommended for ages 5 – 9.
Leslie Kimmelman grew up outside Philadelphia and graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont. She is the author of many children’s books, awards for which include Best Children’s Books of the Year from the Bank Street College of Education; Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies; and Sydney Taylor Notable Books. Kimmelman is an editor at Sesame Workshop and lives with her family just north of New York City.
