Review: The Henna Helper
The Henna Helper by Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illustrated by Yinon Ptahia Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rachel J. Fremmer Buy at Bookshop.org The theme of The Henna Helper is summed up by its protagonist, Gali, as she waits for her flower girl dress for her cousin Yael’s wedding to be made. Preempted by the henna ceremony which takes place a week before the wedding, Gali bursts out, “Our family doesn’t live in Yemen anymore. Yael is a modern Israeli! Why is she having a henna?” The age-old push-and-pull of old and new, tradition and reinvention is highlighted here. Her grandmother wisely asks Gali to help her prepare for the henna ceremony. Of course, Gali learns the value of retaining traditions and learning about her heritage, even going so far as to declare that when she gets married, she too will have a henna ceremony. When the flower girl dress which her grandmother has sewn is revealed, it also has Yemenite embroider...