The Friday Nights of Nana($24.20Value)

Description

Love and tradition intertwine in a tale which finds grandmother and grandchild making all the preparations for the Sabbath dinner, when the whole family will be gathered together. reS-Gr 1-This nostalgic look at the Jewish holiday of Shabbat, although somewhat message driven, is mostly successful. Young Jennie describes her day with Nana as they prepare for the evening. They bake, cook, shop, and spend time together. Finally, all is ready, the family arrives, the candles are lit, and they celebrate the Sabbath. The story is slight, but Hest captures the child's voice and the little details that a youngster notices, as well as the impatience to do the things she most enjoys. The delicate watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations marry well with the text, and Nivola's use of vibrant blues and purples serves to accentuate specific details and descriptions. The artwork's homey, old-fashioned feel fits perfectly with the tone of the story. The family is clearly Orthodox, but the sentiment speaks to anyone looking for a story that re-creates the ambience of this family-oriented observance. As one of the better books on this largely overlooked topic, this title will certainly fill a need where Jewish-themed stories are in high demand. Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. *Starred Review* Ages 4-7. This satisfying picture book depicts a family's celebration of the Sabbath. Narrating the story is a girl who spends Friday with her grandmother and helps her prepare for the family gathering. The softly shaded watercolor and pen-and-ink pictures are lit with touches of jewel-bright color Their clean, orderly look reflects the child's pleasure in the orderly chain of events with Nana: tidying the house, polishing the candleholders, making the challah bread, enjoying a picnic in the park, preparing dinner. Then the extended family arrives and gathers around the table, where Nana lights the candles and whispers prayers. Everyone eats and talks, enjoying one of many "Friday nights of Nana." The words and pictures are quiet, yet precise and sustaining. Well-chosen details recur. Flowers bought in a shop later grace the dining room table; the park seen through Grandma's window becomes the picnic setting. And the motif of windows recurs throughout the book, ending as the child-narrator looks out at the snowy night, as the reader looks in on the family. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved