A TURKISH ROSH HASHANAH

Follow Rafael, Alegra, and León as they help Nona prepare for a wonderful “Anaya buena” in old Istanbul.

At the market, Nona assigns the cousins items to purchase for the upcoming Jewish Rosh Hashanah holiday feast. Pomegranates, leeks, and a whole fish will fill their baskets, while Nona gets apples, beets, pumpkins, and dates. Their characters are revealed as they visit each vendor. Rafael is kind and protective, little León is quiet and shy, and Alegra is brave about everything except creepy cats, whose presence causes her to freeze in place. On the way back to Nona, the cousins encounter a bully, who grabs one of their juicy pomegranates and smashes it against a wall. Alegra stands up to him, and so does León. But the bully is ultimately vanquished by his allergy to the cats that swarm around the nearby fish scraps. The extended family’s holiday proceeds as planned, with each food symbolizing a wish for the new year. The highly descriptive text, generously sprinkled with Ladino phrases, provides the actions and motivations. Brightly hued, beautifully executed, detailed illustrations bring it all to life. The market’s abundant wares, the Ottoman-era clothing, a vendor who sings to his produce, and each character’s expressive individuality appeal to all the senses. The cousins have light brown skin.

A long-ago place, time, and traditions lovingly recalled.