Review: Challah for Shabbat Tonight
Challah for Shabbat Tonight
by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Alona Millgram
Algonquin Young Readers (imprint of Workman Publishing), 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Dena Bach
Buy at Bookshop.org
A warm connection between a girl and her grandmother is revealed, as they bake challah together and prepare for a diverse gathering of Shabbat dinner guests. Using simple rhymes and action words, the lively activities of the girl and her grandmother are mirrored in the dynamic movement of Alona Millgrim's illustrations, skillfully propelling the reader from one page to the next. The retro colors and details of the illustrations give the story an old-timey yet timeless feel. The action is enhanced by the addition of an equally lively cat and bird, that the child reader can follow through the pages.
In this portrayal of the preparation and rituals for a Shabbat meal, Jewish content is central to the narrative, and works well across the wide spectrum of Jewish observance. The illustrations show a non-Orthodox frame, with both men and women wearing kippot, and the child breaking the eggs directly into the dough rather than into a cup first, as a more Jewishly observant baker might do.
A warm connection between a girl and her grandmother is revealed, as they bake challah together and prepare for a diverse gathering of Shabbat dinner guests. Using simple rhymes and action words, the lively activities of the girl and her grandmother are mirrored in the dynamic movement of Alona Millgrim's illustrations, skillfully propelling the reader from one page to the next. The retro colors and details of the illustrations give the story an old-timey yet timeless feel. The action is enhanced by the addition of an equally lively cat and bird, that the child reader can follow through the pages.
In this portrayal of the preparation and rituals for a Shabbat meal, Jewish content is central to the narrative, and works well across the wide spectrum of Jewish observance. The illustrations show a non-Orthodox frame, with both men and women wearing kippot, and the child breaking the eggs directly into the dough rather than into a cup first, as a more Jewishly observant baker might do.
Overall, the story is a positive and joyful presentation of the inter-generational connections that can be created through Jewish tradition.
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