The Best Sukkot Pumpkin Ever

September 15, 2017
Preschool-G Micah and his family arrive at Farmer Jared's pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkin for their family's sukkah (a temporary shelter erected for the week-long Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot). Jared explains that many of the pumpkins he grows will be donated to a local soup kitchen, and Dad reminds his son that tikkun olam (helping others) is an important tenant of their faith. Micah has a hard time deciding which pumpkins to donate and which one to keep, but eventually he settles on a few small seeds from a mushy pumpkin in the compost pile, knowing that they will grow into perfect pumpkins next year. Madden's colorful, cartoon-style artwork effectively conveys the story's message and features accurate details. While most young children will likely not be as selfless as Micah, he does leave the farm feeling good about his choice. Appended with a note about Sukkot and a list of tikkun olam activities for families, this will find a niche in religious schools.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)