I SAY SHEHECHIYANU

A little girl experiences a year of joyous events and traditions.     

The Hebrew word “shehechiyanu” is a special blessing for a new experience or one that reoccurs after a long period of time. Beginning with the Jewish New Year in autumn, this happy child savors the special foods of Rosh Hashanah, as well as a new school year, a new baby brother and a meal in the sukkah. In winter, she blesses her baby brother’s first tooth, a beautiful full moon and the cozy warmth of her home as she spins the dreidel, lights a Hanukkah candle and welcomes guests for Shabbat dinner. Spring and summer bring returning birds, flower buds, a Purim costume, matzo at Passover and new accomplishments. Her little brother’s rites of passage as he says her name, takes his first step toward her and reaches his first birthday are even more deserving of blessings. This unnamed girl is warmhearted, generous and utterly charming as she embraces every moment and sees goodness and joy all around her, all expressed, with great enthusiasm, in simply stated declarative sentences. Filipina’s lovely, warmly hued illustrations beautifully complement and greatly enhance the text with detailed depictions of all the happy events. Readers not familiar with the traditions may wish there were a glossary or parenthetical pronunciation guide, though.

A sweet year for all.