Review: Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) Shake Up Shabbat

Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) Shake Up Shabbat

by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Mike Deas

PJ Publishing, 2025

Category: Early Chapter Books

Reviewer: Ellen Scolnic

This early chapter book is a continuation of Kimmelman's series about a boy named Sam, his best friend: a girl named Charlie, and Charlie's little sister who is named Sam too (Sam Too). 

In a series of brief chapters, these gently humorous stories show how kids, parents, and their friends get together to celebrate Shabbat in various creative ways. Cheerful, colorful illustrations of contemporary families make the ideas in the books relatable and entertaining. The illustrations compliment and enhance the text - depicting families, clothing, toys and rituals that everyone can understand.

The book integrates Jewish concepts like tzedakah, tikkun olam, and resting on Shabbat in a fluid easy way that children and families (Jewish and not) will connect with. The traditions, songs, and foods illustrated are familiar - and those that are not are explained in a fun, understandable way. For families that celebrate Shabbat - or those who are thinking about expanding their Shabbat observance - the book offers some easy, concrete, child-centered ideas to try, embedded in a cheerful story. With the dearth of Jewish early chapter books, this title will be welcome, indeed.

Editor's Note: This book was included on the Association of Jewish Libraries' Spring 2025 Holiday Highlights list.

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Reviewer Ellen Scolnic has been a writer for more than 20 years. Her personal essays and features have appeared in The Jerusalem Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Parents Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor and more. With her writing partner, Joyce Eisenberg, they are known as The Word Mavens. They're the authors of three books including the ground-breaking Dictionary of Jewish Words. They speak, blog and write for The Forward, Kveller, The Times of Israel and many other Jewish publications.