A BRIGHT LIGHT IN BUENOS AIRES

A child's special light shines brightly in the world.

In many ways, Dani, a Jewish boy living in Buenos Aires, is an average kid, but a bright light follows him everywhere. It cheers him when he’s frightened, but sometimes it annoys people, like at the movies or on Shabbat, “when the beauty of the candles’ light [is] impossible to see.” Classmates complain that Dani’s light gets him special attention, and Dani worries that no one will come to his upcoming birthday party. But his mother tells him, “The light of your soul is so big that it overflow[s].” His birthday is the perfect time to remember how special he is and to share himself—and his light—with the world. Dani’s friends arrive for the party, and though the glare of his light initially causes some mayhem when the gang plays a game of futbol, everything changes when Dani blows out his candles. He wishes for his friends to have lights, and they do—albeit temporarily—and are delighted, realizing they also have “something special to share with the world.” Featuring exuberant, loose-lined illustrations, this is a sweetly told, affirming tale, though the philosophical implications of Dani’s light may escape some readers. The backmatter discusses how many Argentinian Jews have incorporated both elements of their identities; the use of flowers throughout the illustrations is one such example.

A tale of a boy coming into his own that also shines a light on Jewish Argentinian culture.