Review: Shabbat Shalom, the Trucks Come Home

Shabbat Shalom, the Trucks Come Home

by Sherri Mandell, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli

Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025

Category: Board Books

Reviewer: Julie Ditton

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

 
Welcome Shabbat with your little one with this adorable picture book. Lots of little kids love their toy trucks and Sherri Mandell has created a cute story with construction trucks celebrating the sabbath. Mandell lists several different trucks along with Shabbat elements. Each truck contributes to the celebration and soon we have a Shabbat dinner complete with grape juice, candles, chicken, challah, soup, and dessert. Her catchy rhymes are brought to life with cute colorful illustrations.

This book is perfect for a Jewish child's home library. As the author's note points out, Shabbat is that much more special when everyone helps out. As a bonus the book even has a "Meet the Trucks" section in the back. Although it is aimed specifically at Jewish children, any truck loving toddler or preschooler would love it.

 

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Reviewer Julie Ditton posts reviews on her Storybook Lady Facebook page and on Instagram @story.book.lady. As her name would imply, her favorite genre is Children’s Literature. Most of her reviews are children’s books and about half of those have Jewish themes. She has a shelf on Goodreads specifically for Jewish Children’s Books. She also has individual shelves for each Jewish holiday. She enjoys promoting Jewish Children’s literature. and is an active contributor to the Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook group.