Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Book Review - Bubbe's Belated Bat Mitzvah


Bubbe's Belated Bat Mitzvah

By: Isabel Pinson
Illustrated by: Valeria Cis
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication Date: August 2014
ISBN: 978-1467719506
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: January 7, 2015

Bubbe sat on the couch as her granddaughter Naomi watched her crochet yet another kippot. Undoubtedly her great-grandmother had made a “gazillion” of those things. Naomi held a hook and a strand of blue yarn in her hands because she too was going to learn to crochet. Bubbe had made her first kippot for her brother Charlie to wear at his Bar Mitzvah, but there were many more to come. “Did you make a kippot for your own Bat Mitzvah?” Naomi asked her Bubbe. Oh, no because girls didn’t learn to read Hebrew way back when.

Naomi nestled in her bed that night and dreamed that Bubbe was “standing on the bimah reading from the Torah.” Her lips moved as her pointer moved across the words, but it was only a dream. No, girls didn’t learn to read Hebrew back then. Grandma Rachel didn’t read from the Torah, but did give a speech in the synagogue. No, girls didn’t learn to read Hebrew back then either, but Naomi had a big idea. Bubbe could read Yiddish so maybe, just maybe there was a chance she could have a Bat Mitzvah. Would Naomi be able to turn that dream into a reality?

This is a charming tale of Naomi, a young girl who really knew how to dream. The tale, based in part on the real story of the author’s grandmother, Esther, is quite inspirational. The flow of the tale will generate excitement in young readers, making them hope that Bubbe will be able to actually stand at the bimah and read from the Torah. I definitely like the group effort that Bubbe’s great-grandchildren make to enable Bubbe to do just that. It’s especially nice that Naomi’s part is none other than that of crocheting kippot. A lovely tale that multiple generations will enjoy and learn from.

Quill says: This is a charming tale of Naomi, a young girl who knew how to make dreams come true, that readers will love!




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