Rising opens in a new tab
By Sidura Ludwig
Illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy
Candlewick Press, 2024
his quiet, joyful story celebrates a tradition of making challah. Told from a child’s perspective, a mom and child share the work and enlighten the reader on the weekly rituals of Shabbat.
We witness how they ready the ingredients for the baking process, measure, mix, knead, shape, and tuck their dough under a towel “like a sleeping baby”. They then wait while their dough rises, is braided and baked. Finally, the bakers gather for their Shabbat with family and friends. Ms. Ludwig’s narration captures the experience of a Jewish family, evoking a lesson in patience, faith, hearth/home and gratefulness.
“Our Challah is crumbs on the table and floor. I am too sleepy to take myself to bed. We are all ready to rest tonight – each of us – all over the world…”
Illustrator Sophia Vincent Guy brings light and warmth to the scene, from a sun-bleached curtain to the rising steam from the bread, all rendered in delicate, decorative patterns and colors. You can almost smell the aroma of the challah as it cools. Notice that the bread isn’t the only thing that is rising; the mother is also about to give birth! Notice the way the pregnancy is shown, but not mentioned.
I appreciated the author’s note, the glossary of eight Hebrew terms and a family recipe for challah in the back of the book, which is easy to follow.
Sidura Ludwig — writer, story finder, strong tea drinker, challah baker - is an award-winning writer for children and adults. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a Master of Journalism from Carleton University. Rising is her debut picture book. Sidura Ludwig lives in Thornhill, Ontario, with her family.
Sophia Vincent Guy holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University in Montreal. Her work includes children’s illustration, editorial art, and surface and graphic design. After growing up in Canada, Sophia Vincent Guy now works from her garden studio in a small city outside Tel Aviv, Israel.
Everything Possible opens in a new tab
By Fred Small
Illustrated by Alison Brown
Nosy Crow, 2023
Strong and bold, or quiet and kind, every child is unique and their future filled with possibilities. Based on Fred Small’s iconic folk song that became an anthem for generations, Everything Possible celebrates love and friendship, gently encouraging children to dream their own dream and choose their own path, wherever it may take them. An inspiring and uplifting picture book for children everywhere.
In the busy day to day hustle, it is easily forgotten the importance of telling our children how wonderful they are. To assure them that their future is lined with endless possibilities and that we will love them no matter what. How amazing it is to come across a book that grounds this busy and anxious parent. Reminding me to slow down, share a lovely book with my babies, and remind them how much they are loved.
Everything Possible started out as a song, written for a friend by Fred Small. A true love letter to every child that no matter where they go in life, who they love, or what they do, they will always have your love.
Fred Small is a singer-songwriter, activist and Unitarian Universalist minister. Fred originally trained as a lawyer but left his job to pursue a successful career in music.He is a passionate advocate for equality, inclusion, and environmental justice. He lives outside Boston.
Alison Brown grew up in Northern Ireland, and developed her early drawing skills by copying “Peanuts” cartoons from her dad’s Sunday newspaper.
Please listen to this free audio recording site of Nosy Crow opens in a new tab. Both song and narration are available in English and Spanish.
Submitted by Karen Kosko
