Title: Here Comes Shabbos!
Author: Ilana H. Keilson
Illustrator: Nechama Leibler
Publisher: Artscroll Youth Series
The book Here Comes Shabbos! is about a family baking, cooking, polishing silver, shining shoes, shopping and cleaning for Shabbos. The activities begin on Friday morning and only conclude shortly before lighting the Shabbos candles. During that time span, it covers everything you need to do in order to get ready for Shabbos. It is especially nice how the children call their grandparents on Friday to wish them a good Shabbos. The book shows the mother making a delectable feast, and from the vivid illustrations, it looks good enough to eat straight off of the pages. It is also nice to look at three or four-year-old children helping their mother get ready for Shabbos. The book can also serve as a preparation checklist.
As it has been a while since I enjoyed an illustrated children’s book, I enlisted the help of my two brothers, ages 5 and 8. They both sat enthralled (especially the 5-year-old) as I read it to them slowly, asking them what they observed on the pages before I read it to them. They always knew exactly what was described due to the life-like illustrations. In addition to the illustrations, they also liked the clever rhyming phrases. Their favorite illustration was the one in the grocery store, and it made us all hungry. After listening to both of my brothers’ opinions, I think Here Comes Shabbos! is ideal for 3 – 6-year-olds.
Here Comes Shabbos! is a book all young children will love and beg to be read to them over and over again – on any day of the week. Also, children will be inspired by the children in the story to help out for Shabbos as well. This book would be perfect in any playgroup, kindergarten or Pre-1A classroom. Parents and teachers may also be able to teach children to perform some of the simpler tasks in the story.
Shmuel Holczer is a seventh grader. He is an avid reader of interesting books. He can be reached at [email protected]
