Review: The Midnight Mitzvah
The Midnight Mitzvah
by Ruth Horowitz, illustrated by Jenny Meilihove
Barefoot Books, 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Ann D. Koffsky
Buy at Bookshop.org
Ruth Horowitz has done a beautiful job of sharing the idea of giving tzedakah, charity, with embarrassing the recipient. The Midnight Mitzvah follows Hanina Chipmunk, who loves to share the nuts she gathers with friends. The only one who doesn’t like accepting her generous gifts is Mathilda Squirrel. Mathilda, we are told, used to be a champion nut gatherer herself. But now that she’s too elderly to continue, she’s embarrassed to accept help.
Kind hearted Hanina solves this problem by deciding to share her nuts with Mathilda secretly, at night. She has to journey out into the dark and face an intimidating owl—but ultimately is successful in her mission. Mathilda receives her nuts and will be hungry no more—all without embarrassment.
The illustrations are vivid and evocative. The nighttime pictures especially are beautiful combinations of flat decorative elements with impactful silhouettes that are sure to enchant readers both old and young.
Ruth Horowitz has done a beautiful job of sharing the idea of giving tzedakah, charity, with embarrassing the recipient. The Midnight Mitzvah follows Hanina Chipmunk, who loves to share the nuts she gathers with friends. The only one who doesn’t like accepting her generous gifts is Mathilda Squirrel. Mathilda, we are told, used to be a champion nut gatherer herself. But now that she’s too elderly to continue, she’s embarrassed to accept help.
Kind hearted Hanina solves this problem by deciding to share her nuts with Mathilda secretly, at night. She has to journey out into the dark and face an intimidating owl—but ultimately is successful in her mission. Mathilda receives her nuts and will be hungry no more—all without embarrassment.
The illustrations are vivid and evocative. The nighttime pictures especially are beautiful combinations of flat decorative elements with impactful silhouettes that are sure to enchant readers both old and young.
The story leans into its Jewish values, and the word “mitzvah” is introduced and used regularly, giving it an authentic flair. Additionally, in the backmatter we learn that Hanina’s story was inspired by the Talmudic tale of Rabbi Hanina bar Pappa, which gives it an additional rich and Jewish lens.
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