Review: Not So Fast, Max: A Rosh Hashanah Visit With Grandma
Not So Fast, Max: A Rosh Hashanah Visit with Grandma
by Annette Schottenfeld, illustrated by Jennifer Kirkham
Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountain)
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Gigi Perlman Pagliarulo
Family, Jewish traditions, and joyfully celebrating the holiday of Rosh
Hashanah center this familiar-seeming tale. Max and his sister Emily are
spending the day with Savta, their grandmother visiting from Israel.
With the promise of making caramel apples to welcome in a sweet new
year, hasty Max is impatient to get started, but Savta has a day of
apple picking and orchard frolicking planned as well. Grumpy Max needs
to be coaxed into enjoyment, but as the trio picks apples, plays, and
tells stories together, he finally comes around to having fun, and even
helps create a new Rosh Hashanah family tradition—caramel apples on the
first day of the holiday, and apple cake on the second.
The writing and illustration styles are straightforward and accessible. Max’s reluctance to relinquish his sour mood will
ring true to kids and their parents and caregivers, as will his
turnaround when shown love, patience and a chance to take ownership. The
artwork features a fall color palette that compliments the theme and
content, and bold, squiggly lines add a sense of dynamism to the
somewhat static scenes in the orchard. Back matter includes information
on celebrating Rosh Hashanah, a glossary of Hebrew terms used in the
text, and recipes for “Savta’s Apple Cake” and “Max’s Caramel Apples.”
This book shows plenty of positive, authentic, and accurate Jewish religious and cultural content, and is appropriate for the intended grade level for which it was written. While not a standout title, it is uncomplicated and easy to understand and relate to.
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