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(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Elissambura.
In this joyously colorful, culturally specific cumulative book featuring Ugandan Jews, Auntie Sanyu prepares for Sukkot: "It was time to build the sukkah. It took her three long days. / She hung plantains and paper chains and asked her friends to stay." Lion, Parrot, Camel, and others celebrate appropriately, but Warthog hogs the etrog--until Auntie's niece, Sara, arrives. A paragraph about Jews in Uganda is appended. Glos.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Colleen Madden.
As Micah helps his synagogue pick pumpkins for a soup kitchen, he's also on the lookout for a perfect one to bring home to decorate his family's sukkah. A truck full of pumpkins seems an odd donation, but the story's messages about generosity, selflessness, and pumpkins' life cycle are clear. The genial illustrations show nature scenes, friends and family, and Micah's imaginings.
32 pp.
| Whitman
| August, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-3388-8$16.99
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Alessandra Psacharopulo.
A simple rhyming text lists signs that Sukkot is coming, including the change in seasons, and the steps of building a sukkah; warm, spacious illustrations show a multiracial family decorating and celebrating. The text encourages excitement about Sukkot and gives plenty of details about the what of the holiday, though readers may need to turn elsewhere for the why.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Deborah Zemke.
Friends Leah and Ari long for a sukkah and then win one through a contest at Hebrew school. It takes their whole neighborhood to build, decorate, and use it for Sukkot, including the non-Jewish owner of the local fruit market. The pleasant story emphasizes community, adaptability, and sharing. Warm illustrations show the friends and their families in a variety of city settings.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ana Ochoa.
Everyone in Maya's neighborhood is outdoors enjoying the weather. When Maya discovers it is Shemini Atzeret, a holiday when Jews pray for rain, she's afraid everyone's day will be ruined until her rabbi explains the prayers are for rain in Israel. The somewhat dull story with blandly cheerful illustrations nevertheless presents an age-appropriate explanation of the underrepresented holiday.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jing Jing Tsong.
No longer safe in Berlin during WWII, Marcus and his Jewish family settle in Shanghai. For the holiday of Sukkot, Marcus and his new Chinese friend build a sukkah that also brings in traditions from the Chinese Moon Festival. Though the moral is sentimental and the illustrations occasionally stiff, the story's unusual backdrop--discussed further in the appended historical note--adds interest.
32 pp.
| Amazon
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1477817162$17.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Bob McMahon.
When it starts raining, a family covers their sukkah and goes inside. The sukkah then becomes refuge for some wild animals; when the sun appears, the humans return to it to eat. The concept is bland and the digital chalk illustrations look unfinished, but rhythmic language ("the rain dripped...and dropped...and stopped") makes this an enjoyable holiday read-aloud. Includes a note about Sukkot.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ann Iosa.
On Sukkot, Michael's classmates hang up their favorite fruits in the sukkah. But Michael is disappointed when no one can figure out how to suspend his contribution: a watermelon. A glance at the playground inspires Michael to think of a solution. Cartoon illustrations, with an appropriately earth-toned palette, accompany this insubstantial but creative story. A brief explanation of the holiday is appended.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Marta Monelli.
Sara loves Sukkot, the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest, but she's upset when the gourds she lovingly picked out for the sukkah disappear. When she discovers the culprit--squirrels--Sara forgives and feeds them, and is rewarded the following year. Expressive but amateurish illustrations add liveliness to a mechanical story; the lack of an explanatory note limits its usefulness.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Julie Fortenberry.
Excited for Sukkot, siblings Sadie and Ori wake up early and bring breakfast out to their sukkah. After some (very minor) mishaps, breakfast is ready, and a few stuffed-animal friends help share the special meal. The somewhat dull story is buoyed by peaceful, slightly blurred illustrations. An explanatory note about Sukkot is appended.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Shahar Kober.
Engineer Ari travels all over Israel gathering materials to build his sukkah. He's sad that his faraway friends can't be with him, until his neighborhood pals solve the problem (though it's questionable whether Ari's traditional community would dismantle a sukkah or travel during the holiday). Inviting pictures introduce readers to Ari's tight-knit group. An author's note discusses the Israeli railway. Glos.
32 pp.
| Kar-Ben
| August, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8225-8763-7$15.95
(3)
K-3
Photographs by
Eliyahu Alpern.
With her parents, a little girl in Israel sets out to find the "four species" of Sukkot for the holiday celebration. Straightforward first-person text and clear photographs encourage readers to join the family on their search for palm, willow, myrtle, and etrog. A brief explanation of Sukkot and "Fun Facts" explaining the significance of each item are appended.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| September, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-1893-0$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Katya Krenina.
"Two brothers once lived in the land of Israel." Eben is wealthy but selfish; Ezra, poor but generous. When patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob return to earth, in disguise, for Sukkot, the harvest festival, they visit the brothers and reward each one according to his welcome. The gracefully told tale is illustrated with glowing acrylics.
32 pp.
| Kar-Ben
| September, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 1-58013-165-4$17.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Melanie Hall.
Fishman's lyrical text and Hall's colorful drawings display a family's celebration of the holidays following "the thoughtful stillness" of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Together they build a sukkah, in which they gather for meals and study. At the end of the week they go to synagogue to celebrate Simchat Torah, then the sukkah is taken down until next year. Glos.
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Katherine Janus Kahn.
Young spider Sammy continues to learn about Jewish holidays, and in this book watches a human family prepare for the harvest holiday of Sukkot, eventually taking part himself. Reminiscent of the work of Eric Carle, the illustrations work with the text to explore directional words such as inside and outside, which fits with the holiday's reminder that "God is everywhere."
24 pp.
| Kar-Ben
| August, 2003
|
TradeISBN 1-58013-084-4$$10.95
(4)
PS
Photographs by
Tod Cohen.
In this companion to It's Challah Time!, clear color photographs show preschoolers helping to build and decorate a sukkah--the traditional harvest booth--at their school and making miniature sukkahs to take home (directions included). The large-print text is minimal and rather bland. Hebrew blessings for the sukkah are appended.