Celebrate Sukkot
The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. The name of the holiday is frequently translated "The Feast of Tabernacles," which, like many translations of technical Jewish terms, isn't terribly useful unless you already know what the term is referring to. The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is "Sue COAT," but is often pronounced as in Yiddish, to rhyme with "BOOK us."
Like Passover and Shavu'ot, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is also a harvest festival, and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering.
Reviews
Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot Cake
Kelly Terwilliger
Illustrations by Phyllis Hornung
This is a most appealing book, both because of the charming pictures and because of the delicious story. On Sukkot, Jewish families build a temporary booth outside to recall the ancient days when farmers lived in their fields while they harvested their crops. The main mitzvah, commandment, is to eat in the sukkah, so Bubbe Isabella decides to build one and use her delicious lemon cake to attract guests. However, the guests she gets aren't quite the ones she has in mind, and the lemon cake isn't what gets their attention. What will happen to the sukkah? What will happen to the cake? How will Bubbe Isabella weather the unexpected turn of events? Of course everything turns out better than could be expected, else what kind of a story would this be? With wonderfully executed pictures, done in beautiful colorations and details, this softcover book could be subtitled, "How to Laugh Through Anything and Come Out Ahead" and will be a welcome addition to the fall holiday literature for little ones. 2005, Kar-Ben, Ages 3 to 8, $6.95. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58013-128-X
It's Sukkah Time!
Latifa Berry Kropf
Photographs by Tod Cohen
The cutest bunch of pre-schoolers you have ever seen has a wonderful time preparing for the fall harvest festival of Sukkot. First, the scene is set with pictures of them frolicking in fallen leaves, picking apples and hiding among pumpkins. At school, they join in building various types of sukkahs (Hebrew: Sukkot): a child-size one from wood and screws, and toy people-size ones from a green plastic berry box. The children are full participants here, making decorations to hang in their sukkahs, sniffing the fragrant etrog (a lemon-like fruit that's one of the symbols of the holiday), waving the lulav (palm branches, the other holiday symbol), singing and dancing. Blessings in both Hebrew and English are included for both sitting in a sukkah and using the lulav and etrog. Their delight is evident in the wonderful photographs by the Tod Cohen, who also worked with author Kropf on It's Challah Time! for the celebration of Shabbat. 2003, Kar-Ben, $10.95. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Notable Children's Books of Jewish Content, 2004; Association of Jewish Librarians; United States
ISBN: 1580130844
Night Lights: A Sukkot Story
Barbara Diamond Goldin
Illustrated by Louise August
Ms. Goldin has written some treasured classics-in-the-making about the Jewish holidays; The World's Birthday and Just Enough is Plenty, for example. While Night Lights about the holiday known as Sukkot may not be in that class, it does inform readers about the origins and practices of this celebration of nature and survival. And while doing so, it also paints a family portrait that is loving and supportive, but not overly sentimental or sweet, 1995, Harcourt Brace, Ages 4 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh
ISBN: 0-15-200536-6
Sammy Spider's First Sukkot
Sylvia Rouss
Illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
Your favorite spider learns about building a sukkah, an outdoor house, for the holiday of Sukkot--the latest book in this winning series from Kar-Ben. Add to that the fact that this is a directional concept book and you will agree--this is likely to become a must for the young story lovers in your life. From inside the house, Sammy notices that squirrels are scampering up and down the trees, from above to below, and that Josh and his father are hammering wooden beams together. Of course Sammy asks his mother: "What are they making?" and then "Can we celebrate Sukkot, too?" And of course his mother answers the beloved refrain, "Silly little Sammy...Spiders don't celebrate Sukkot. Spiders spin webs." So we are off on another romp with the clever arachnid as we learn about the holiday when the ancient Israelites gathered in their harvest while dwelling in temporary huts in the field. The colorful fabric and paper collage pictures are irresistible and fully enjoyed because we are constantly searching for Sammy up or down, inside or outside, above or below as the sukkah takes shape. Good for any time of the year, but definitely a must for the Sukkot holiday. 2004, Kar-Ben, $7.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1580131425
ISBN: 1580130836
The Sukkah That I Built
Rochel Groner Vorst
Illustrated by Elizabeth Victor-Elsby
A delightful story told as a progressive rhyme, a la "The House That Jack Built," this is a must-have for every parent of young Jewish children, and for librarians and lower-elementary teachers, if they are smart. A page in the back of the book explains that the story is a celebration of Sukkot (or Sukkos), the autumn "festival of ingathering," or harvest celebration. At this time, Jews are supposed to build sukkahs, small booths or temporary dwellings covered with natural objects such as pine branches, and have meals in them whenever possible. It is fun for children to hear the repetitive lines that build up to one finished project. They will doubtless identify with the young protagonist who is so anxious to help his family construct the sukkah, and so proud of his role that he forgets this is a team effort. But all ends in smiles when he concludes, "...that helped with the sukkah that WE built!" 2002, Hachai Publishing, $9.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Donna Freedman
ISBN: 1-929628-07-2
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