A uniquely inclusive celebration of the Jewish day of rest.
A look at the rituals that make Shabbat special to a wide variety of communities.
Three families each observe the day in their own way. One child walks to temple with Mommy and Daddy. Another watches a sibling’s basketball game with Mama and Mommy; the family then shops and cooks a meal while singing along to their favorite songs. A third child gathers with a large extended family for a meal and games at home. Each family is different. Some are big, while others are small. Some observe traditional religious practices; others make their own. Featuring cheerful colors and patterns, smiling faces, and moments of quiet connection, Kelner’s thickly outlined artwork has a scribbly, intimate feeling, reinforcing a sense of joy in rituals that include eating, dancing, and reading Torah. Characters vary in skin tone and hair style and texture. Some wear kippot (skullcaps) and tallitot (prayer shawls), including some who present female or who are nonbinary. One Shabbat finds all the families gathered at the synagogue to celebrate a b’nai mitzvah—notably, a gender nonbinary celebration rarely represented in picture books. Sass’ flowing text is punctuated by the refrain “Shabbat is unique and beautiful for every person”; this loving message is made abundantly clear throughout and echoed in the author’s note.
A uniquely inclusive celebration of the Jewish day of rest. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780316446716
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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