Review by Booklist Review
Every morning Sara watches the street outside her window, noticing an old man who takes bruised fruit from the free bin. Grandma explains he is probably poor, so Sara begins adding her own donations: sandwiches, drinks, and Hanukkah cookies. Later, after services at their synagogue, Sara and her family are introduced to the man (Morris Berger) and invite him to a Hanukkah Shabbat dinner at their house. Despite the holiday-themed title, Adler's gentle story is mostly about the Jewish custom of tzedakah, giving to the poor. Sara involves her teacher and classmates in her charitable efforts, and Adler subtly makes the point that recipients like to feel that they, too, can contribute, as Morris does when he teaches Sara to juggle. Ebbeler's richly hued artwork is filled with details of Sara's home, classroom, and neighborhood, and a note to families explains more about Hanukkah customs. Pair with Linda Heller's How Dalia Put a Big Yellow Comforter inside a Tiny Blue Box (2011).--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When Sara sees an elderly man scrounging by her neighborhood grocery store, she leaves him small amounts of food to help. And when she realizes that he attends her synagogue ("the man eats some challah. He drinks some grape juice. We all do") she wants to do even more. Soon the man-Mr. Morris Berger, a former circus performer-is regaling Sara, her mother, and her grandmother with his juggling skills at a joyous Shabbat and Hanukkah dinner, the first of many such dinners (and juggling lessons) to come. With straightforward prose and a repertoire of imaginative visual framings (the dinner scene is shown from a perspective high above the boisterous table), Adler and Ebbeler allow the story to unfold at a graceful, measured pace: both Sara's awakening sense of tzedakah and Mr. Berger's innate dignity get their full due. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-When young Sara sees an elderly man taking some free bruised fruit from outside a shop, her grandmother explains that he's probably poor and is willing to eat around the bad spots. This act leads seamlessly into a story that focuses as much on acts of charity (tzedakah) as it does on the celebration of Hanukkah. Sara and her family begin to leave their own offerings where the man can find them, including a menorah, candles, and Hanukkah cookies with sprinkles. As they get to know him, he goes from being a poor stranger to a welcome member of their community, with his own gifts to share. Aside from an abrupt ending, the text is smoothly written and avoids sounding didactic. Large illustrations have a friendly, cartoonish quality that will carry well for group read-alouds. Includes a note about the meaning and celebration of Hanukkah. VERDICT Recommended for anyone looking to spark a discussion about helping those less fortunate, particularly during the holidays.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When Sara sees a hungry man eating rotten fruit, she feels compelled to help him. For Hanukkah, she leaves him a care package that includes a menorah, latkes, and cookies; then he joins her family for a holiday dinner. The well-intentioned but heavy-handed message about helping those who are less fortunate ("giving tzedakah") pairs with animated illustrations that capture Sara's enthusiasm. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little girl watches a poor man take a bruised apple from the market's discard pile and finds a way to help him. Sara's keen observation from her apartment window makes her wonder if the man is hungry all the time and if he might need a friend. In school, she keeps thinking about him, and at snack time, she saves her cookie to leave by the discard fruit bin the next day. At the oneg Shabbat after services on Friday, Sara recognizes the man eating challah and drinking grape juice. She then creates and leaves a Hanukkah goody bag complete with a homemade menorah, latkes, and cookies. When the rabbi tells her that his name is Morris and that he lives alone and helps each Friday with setting up for the reception, Sara then decides to invite him for a Shabbat and Hanukkah dinner. The importance of tzedakah, or giving to those less fortunate, is the overlying theme in this gentle story about generosity and caring for others, something to be mindful of each Shabbat and on Hanukkah. Full-bleed paintings show exaggerated and elongated cartoon-style figures living in an ethnically diverse urban neighborhood. Many scenes are viewed from below, offering a child's perspective, and light and shadows from a sunny window are also some of the many artistic details that give this narrative depth. A sweet and compassionate introduction to an important Jewish custom. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
