Rising

"I rise with Ima in the early morning," begins the child narrator of this intentionally paced work, and as the light streams into their kitchen, the two begin making dough for two loaves of challah, "steam from both our cups/ rising." Mixed-media illustrations from Vincent Guy, which incorporate patterns, printing textures, and spatters, show how challah-making can't be rushed. "Ima says everything grows in its own time," notes the child as the pale-skinned duo wait for the dough to rise, and Ima's hand on her own rounded stomach suggests that she knows whereof she speaks. An instructional inset that appears on a towel covering the dough shows how, after rising, it is turned into braids. And once it's in the oven, "rising with the heat," Abba helps Ima and the child prep the table for a festive outdoor Shabbat meal with guests. Drawing connections between kitchen chemistry, timeless traditions, and the pleasures of everyday life, Ludwig, making a picture book debut, establishes a subtly enthralling, adagio-like rhythm aptly punctuated with the word rising. Background characters are portrayed with a variety of skin tones. An author's note, challah recipe, and Hebrew glossary conclude. Ages 4--8. (May)

A meditative look at Shabbat preparations. A pregnant mother--referred to as Ima--and a child, both with light skin and voluminous black hair, wake early to begin making challah dough before sitting down to enjoy Shabbat dinner with the rest of the family. Carefully laying out each step of the baking process, from mixing ingredients to braiding the loaves, the book evokes Shabbat itself, conveying the beauty of taking time to rest and appreciate loved ones. The text highlights minutiae of the characters' day--steam rising from morning tea, sun shining through the kitchen window, the slow expansion of the proofing dough--encouraging readers to notice the small details in their own lives. Though the figures' faces are too simple to carry much expression, the mixed-media illustrations depict a precisely curated home with a luxuriant garden, another subtle reminder of the importance of devoting time and attention to the things we love. Line breaks in the text suggest a slow, lyrical reading tempo, congruent with the ruminative content. After the close of Shabbat, the book gestures toward the future and implies the passing of time; as the book ends, a new day begins, with the family ready to make more challah and Ima holding the new baby. Intertwining the tactile rituals of baking with the religious and cultural heft of Shabbat, a contemplative paean to challah. (author's note, recipe for challah, Hebrew glossary) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.