On Friday Afternoon
A Shabbat Celebration
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Friday afternoon turns into a rambunctious adventure, filled with mitzvot and mayhem, as Leelee and Pickles help their family prepare for Shabbat.
There's only three hours until Shabbat, and there's still a lot to be done! But Friday afternoon's plans of cleaning the house and collecting donations go sideways with Leelee and her dog, Pickles, at the helm. With so much to do - and so many distractions - will the family be ready in time for candle lighting?
A rhythmic, silly, and heartwarming glimpse inside a Jewish home as they prepare for Shabbat.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sundown is only a few hours away, and young Leelee and dog Pickles are theoretically helping their family prepare for Shabbat. Animation-style digital artwork by Halberstadt (A Basket Full of Figs) tells a different story, however. As the pair moves from room to room, they leave a mess in their wake—crumbs from taste-tested challah rolls, and detritus around a newly decorated tzedakah container. But between the time crunch and the anticipation (soon, "there are only ten minutes until candle lighting"), arriving guests—led into the house via procession by Leelee and Pickles—immediately lend a hand. "A cousin adds flavorful food to the table.... Friends dig up extra chairs, plates, and glasses.... Mom watches over the roast and the kugel, and everyone watches the clock," writes Babay (The Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom). At last, sundown arrives, and with Leelee at her side, Mom strikes a match to light the Shabbat candles, and text wishes "Shabbat Shalom." While the reason why all the preparations must be completed by sundown is never fully explained, the eager-eyed characters, portrayed with various skin tones, sweetly convey gifts of shared ritual, connection, and gratitude. An author's note concludes. Ages 5–8. Author's agent: Laurel Symonds, Bent Agency.
