(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy. A young first-person narrator describes the steps of making challah with Ima (mother) and preparing for and enjoying Shabbat. The gentle text provides a welcome positive portrayal of the weekly family ritual of the Jewish day of rest. The soft palette of the mixed-media illustrations shifts gradually from pale purples to moonlit blues, creating a sense of Shabbat descending. An author’s note, challah recipe (of course!), and glossary of the Hebrew terms used throughout are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Gal. It's Zachary's baby sister's first Shabbat, and the whole family is on their way to the synagogue for her naming ceremony. As they bump into people throughout their diverse neighborhood, a sweet pattern emerges: a neighbor asks the baby's name; Zachary is bursting to tell, but the family answers with a nickname (e.g., "Little Babka"), since her real name won't be announced until the ceremony; the neighbor is then invited along. At the ceremony itself, in which Zachary plays an active role, the happy suspense culminates in the reveal of an aptly chosen name. This welcome, positive, inclusive story (the family is interracial and has two mothers) portrays a child infectiously excited about a new sister and about a Jewish ritual. Vibrant illustrations depict a synagogue bathed in warmth and light through stained-glass windows and a cheerful neighborhood complete with palm trees and colorful flora; even a rainstorm doesn't break the joyful mood. An author's note discusses the varied traditions around Jewish baby-naming ceremonies.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) PS Illustrated by Christine Grove. "Today is Friday. On Fridays I wait...and wait...and wait." A boy eagerly anticipates the arrival of Shabbat as his family members grocery shop, buy flowers, do laundry, and cook. Finally, when the sun goes down and everyone sits down for a festive meal, "Shabbat is here." The cheery illustrations depict a perpetually smiling, interracial family enjoying their holiday preparations.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Mola. Youngest child Lila tries to help her koala family prepare for Shabbat, but she keeps making a mess. Finally, she offers to make the challah; she practices all week, and after several failed attempts, Lila bakes a delicious challah with a special koala-perfect ingredient: eucalyptus. Gehl's story offers a unique perspective on a weekly ritual, and Mola's textured illustrations reinforce the warm, supportive family environment.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alida Massari. An old tradition of lighting an oil lamp instead of candles for Shabbat is recounted in this modern-day tale of suburban neighbors gathering for the traditional Sabbath meal and sharing stories about Jewish heirlooms and family rituals. A storyteller's cadence and gouache paintings in auburn tones reflect the spirit of the Friday night celebration.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon Harmer. Monty Nudelman helps his neighbors shovel after a snowstorm and injures his back. On Shabbat afternoon, the neighborhood kids bring the man cholent (Jewish stew), and they share a communal feast. The story highlights themes of community within the traditions of the Jewish sabbath. The friendly illustrations show happy kids and adults in a suburban setting with some nods toward diversity. A cholent recipe is appended.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Translated by Nancy Wellins. Illustrated by Shahar Kober. In an Israeli retelling of "The Ant and the Grasshopper," Cricket plays music all week and leaves little time to prepare for Shabbat, while Ant works so hard that she oversleeps and burns her cake. Luckily, neighbor Cricket has borrowed enough ingredients to bake a cake. The rhyming text (translated from the Hebrew) is uneven, but the art adds nice cultural specificity.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ilana Exelby. Jonah loves Shabbat, but one week hiccups interrupt his day of rest. As his relatives try to help, their hiccup "cures" are interspersed with descriptions of their Shabbat celebration. The book offers a detailed, happy portrayal of the family's observance of the Jewish Sabbath, but the hiccups are oddly incidental to the holiday plot. Colorful, cheerful illustrations pair smoothly with the text.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker. Every Saturday Goldie Simcha prepares cholent (stew) to share with her neighbors on the Sabbath. When Goldie is sick, her neighbors create their own (somewhat stereotypical) multicultural feast. It's the embodiment of community, warmth, memory, and tradition--i.e., the Jewish observance of Shabbat. Oil and collage pictures evoke a cheerful urban setting through small details about the apartment dwellers. Recipe appended.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Natalia Vasquez. Max describes for his mother his camp activities, repeatedly declaring, "There are no baths at camp." The eye-pleasing mixed-media illustrations, however, show the different ways the children got (sort of) clean. Finally, before Shabbat dinner, the campers take showers. The slight but lightly humorous story will be enjoyed by Jewish campers.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. Lonely Hannah's new school is having a class picnic on a Saturday, but Orthodox Jews can't ride in cars on the Sabbath. When the whole class volunteers to walk with her, Hannah knows that she's made friends. The straightforward text and the painterly illustrations are stiff, but the Depression-era rural Minnesota setting is vivid and the message of acceptance universal.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jaime Zollars. Noah wishes Mazel the dog could come along on his Shabbat walks with Grampa, but Grampa thinks he's too noisy. Finally he relents and concedes that "even a wiggly, jiggly, barking, bouncing dog" can find Shabbat peace. While Grampa's change of heart seems arbitrary, the book's playful text and endearing graphite/digital illustrations (Mazel is delightful) make it a good read-aloud choice.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paul Meisel. A family happily wallows in swamps, paints the walls, and brings frogs into the house. Mama Schmutzy encourages it all but then asks everyone to prepare for an equally joyous--and clean--Shabbos. Differences between the Jewish Sabbath and the weekdays are humorously made clear. The madcap adventures are fully detailed in pencil, ink, watercolor, acrylic, and pastel full-bleed illustrations.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. A boy and his grandparents lose power after lighting the Shabbat candles--but they nevertheless enjoy a holiday that includes a special meal, playing in the snow, and stargazing. When electricity is restored, the boy concludes that "even the lights needed a Shabbat rest." Accompanied by richly colored illustrations (that depict a particularly unattractive Nana), the story is bland but amiable.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) PS Photographs by Tod Cohen. While their parents are in services on Saturday mornings, preschoolers enjoy having fun at "Shabbat Club." They play with toys, listen to stories, hold stuffed-toy Torahs, and say the blessings over a Shabbat snack. Clear photographs of adorable children accompany the text. The book's joyful portrayal of Judaism makes it a good choice for inclusion in a synagogue or home library. Glos.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Martina Peluso. Joseph is a generous, humble man who always helps his neighbors and shares his Sabbath meal. In contrast, his neighbor Judah is selfish and closed-off. This Jewish folktale's lessons about the benefits of sharing and the detriment of greed are evident without resorting to preachiness. Warm, rich-hued illustrations flow elegantly from page to page.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS Illustrated by Maria Monescillo. A family's preparation for Shabbat is told through simple pairs of two-word sentences: "One house. Many rooms" (as the family cleans); "One car. Many people" (as visitors arrive). The repetitive, gentle text conveys the family members' love for one another--the day begins and ends with kisses--and the watercolor and digital illustrations bring out the warmth of celebration.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Martha Avilés. Tradition says that Jewish families welcome the Shabbat Queen into their homes on Friday nights. Rosie decides to create her own tradition by dressing as the Shabbat Princess. The story is slight but mildly informative. Double-page-spread illustrations are dominated by pinks, purples, and browns.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Goldin. Pig Baxter, excluded from Shabbat dinner, tries to become kosher. Baxter's misunderstanding is exposed when Rabbi Rosen asks: "Why would you want to get eaten?" (Baxter's response: "Eaten?! Me?"), then invites Baxter to be a guest rather than the main course. Digital pen-and-ink and collage cartoons are enhanced by photographs of important Shabbat items in this lighthearted introduction to the tradition.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2010

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jessica Schiffman. In old Baghdad, Miriam and Schlomo are sad because they don't have a guest for Shabbat. When an old stranger arrives, they welcome him into their home for the sabbath meal. Although the couple never finds out, the man is the prophet Elijah in disguise, and he blesses them with a baby boy. The colorful framed paintings add playfulness to the tale.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman