November 1, 2007
When Noahs family moves from hiscity apartment, he has trouble sleeping in his quiet, suburban house. His mother hopes he isnt too tired to celebrate Hanukkat Habayit, the dedicationof their new Jewish home. Noah is able to help his mother byselecting mezuzahs for their exterior door and for his bedroom, and that evening the family celebrates with former neighbors from the city. Meltzers simple, reassuringstoryintroduces children to mezuzahs andthisspecial celebration, while brightly colored artwork, alight withinteresting patterns and textures, adds to the comforting tone of the text. Additional information about mezuzahs and the prayers associated with them is appended. A good choice for Judaica collections and public libraries where demand for Jewish-themed picture books is high.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2008
When his family moves to the suburbs, Noah misses the clatter of urban life. But at the family's [cf2]Hanukkat Habayit[cf1] (the dedication of a house as a Jewish home), Noah's old friends infuse the space with loving sound. Though the dialogue is stiffly expository, the cheerful mixed-media illustrations reflect the story's warmth. More information about [cf2]mezuzot[cf1] is appended.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)