DO NOT EAT THIS BOOK!

Mouths will be watering as soon as readers open this book.

Lilting, humorous, four-line verses on each page introduce Shabbat, Purim, Hanukkah, Passover, Shavuot, and Tu B’Shevat, providing a hint at their themes and showcasing some delicious foods, described lovingly. Several verses use the loving Yiddish endearment “bubbeleh,” ending with the title admonition, “But please remember, bubbeleh, / DO NOT EAT THIS BOOK!”—no matter how enticing the tasty treats mentioned within may be. An image of a child overcome with the array of fabulous fare, ignoring all the warnings and hungrily about to devour the book, will elicit laughter. Large-scale illustrations set among the text depict joyful children, diverse in skin tone, licking their lips, sampling these wonderful delicacies, and sharing them with family and friends. Several male-presenting characters, one of whom uses a wheelchair, are seen wearing yarmulkes. Except for challah and Hanukkah latkes, the displayed foods are not specifically named, although more facts about the holidays and their associated cuisines appear in the backmatter along with crafts and recipes. An author’s note emphasizes that every culture has its own holidays with festive foods that reflect its history and beliefs. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A lighthearted introduction to traditional Jewish holiday foods.