________________ CM . . . . Volume XXI Number 2. . . .September 12, 2014

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Chik Chak Shabbat.

Mara Rockliff. Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker.
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House Canada), 2014.
32 pp., hardcover, $18.00.
ISBN 978-0-7636-5528-0.

Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 3-7.

Review by Reesa Cohen.

Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

**** /4

   

excerpt:

One Saturday morning, just like every Saturday morning, a delicious smell wafted from apartment 5-A.

It curled into 4-D, tickling Tommy Santiago’s nose as he played his Tuba.

It slipped into 3-C, tempting Signora Bellagalli as she bustled around, dusting her tea cups.

It crept under the door of 2-B, tantalizing Mr. Moon as he sat typing his new romance novel.

Even the Omar family on the first floor caught a whiff. They sniffed the air and smiled.

 

The smell that permeates this building is Goldie Simcah’s famous “Cholent”, a fragrant meat stew that she prepares every Shabbat. It is a meal prepared lovingly, over many hours, not in a hurried “chik chak” way, before Shabbat actually arrives. From the first page, readers become aware that the smell of this cholent is a joyful experience for Goldie’s neighbours, and all are affected by this Saturday treat, especially because of Goldie’s generosity. The neighbours are invited to partake and share in the special Shabbat meal and to give their opinions on “what makes Goldie’s cholent so delicious”. Goldie explains how the tradition of preparing and getting ready for this holiday was so important for her observant grandparents. And, although she, herself, “doesn’t celebrate Shabbat exactly as her grandma did”, she goes through the preparation to honour her grandmother’s memory. The real secret to this tasty concoction is revealed by Goldie to be the celebration of Shabbat itself!

internal art     One Saturday, the neighbours notice that the wonderful aroma of cholent cooking is missing, and it negatively affects all in the building. They discover that Goldie was too sick to cook the stew. Alas, everyone knows that you can’t make this dish in a chik chak, hurried way. The neighbours come to the rescue in the most collaborative and inspiring way. text

     The book ends with the recipe, a vegetarian version, and some additional suggestions to help make this meal unique.

     Chik Chak Shabbat is a tasty dish, itself, one that emphasizes the importance of tradition in one’s life, the spirit of sharing, and it highlights the relationship with others of diverse ethnic backgrounds, coming together to help. Rich vocabulary and choice descriptions add to the flavour. The text is enhanced by lively and humorously drawn expressive characters done in oil and collage. The emphasis of the smell wafting through the apartment building is whimsically done, and the colourful inhabitants add to the joyfulness of this book.

      It is hoped that parents and teachers will pause to stress the idea of how a community can unite to save the day through cooperation, sharing and connection.

Highly Recommended.

Reesa Cohen is a retired Instructor of Children’s Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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