Sitting Shiva

March 15, 2022
A child's grief is given serious, poignant treatment in this timely story of healing in community. Jenny's mother has died. This would be shocking and upsetting to any child and is no less staggering a loss for the book's young protagonist. While Jenny wants to be alone, the Jewish ritual of sitting shiva dictates that family and friends will come to her home to offer food, solace, and support. Jenny only wants her mother, but when she opens herself to the company of loved ones, she finds comfort and safety. The practice of sitting shiva is generally poorly understood, especially outside of Jewish communities; the rituals might even be frightening to the uninitiated. However, this picture book, with its lovely, warm illustrations and perfectly pitched storyline, provides an accessible introduction to shiva for readers of all ages. While the images of mourning are dark, they promote a deep understanding that unfolds gently in tandem with the text. In addition to being a story about Jewish ritual, this book is also a sensitive, powerful treatment of a child's grief, with resonant but developmentally appropriate language that will appeal to a broad audience. Jenny and her dad are White. Most background characters have pale skin, and two of them are Black-presenting. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A worthy addition to the growing shelf of picture books about loss, death, and bereavement. (Picture book. 5-12)

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May 15, 2022
Preschool-Grade 3 A young girl copes with the death of her mother by sitting shiva, a Jewish seven-day mourning period where the bereaved stay at home and receive solace from friends, neighbors, and family. Initially, Jenny retreats to her bedroom and wants to be alone. The simply stated, first-person narration is immediate and cuts to the heart: "There is only one person's food I want to eat. One face I want to see." When the grieving child does open her door, the visitors' love and support wrap warmly around her like a cherished hand-knit blanket. In Theodore's realistic, emotionally resonant ink-and-gouache illustrations, shafts of sunlight break through the darkness. Traditions associated with shiva are explained, such as removing couch cushions and sitting on the wooden frame ("It's uncomfortable on purpose--so we're as low to the ground as we feel"). An author's note about grief provides more information on how loss is honored in many cultures. This poignant story about mourning and finding comfort in community is universally relatable.

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