Review Detail

“Challah for Shabbat Tonight” by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Alona Millgram, tells the ages-old story of the baking of challah for Friday night Shabbat dinner, a Jewish tradition. The holiday of Shabbat, which occurs weekly on Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown, is one that has a lot of specific traditions and commandments to consider. In this story, when a grandmother and granddaughter begin baking together, they find solace in each other as they bake challah, a special type of bread, for their weekly Shabbat dinner. The granddaughter is eager to help, and her grandmother gives her tasks to help with the baking.

The simplistic yet vivid imagery supplied by the words that make up the creation of the bread will keep readers on their toes. From cracks and plops to whirring and stirring, there is always something happening to make it just right. Pushing, pulling, stretching, dipping, brushing, and so many more steps help make this grandmother and granddaughter’s experience that much more thoughtful and memorable. The only thing better than making the bread is tasting it as part of the Shabbat meal, and experiencing it with those they love.

A challah recipe appears at the end of the book for those who want to try their hand at making the tasty bread. Tradition is wonderful, and this book showcases well how it is brought about through baking.