Review: The See-You-Soon Spice Box

The See-You-Soon Spice Box

by Pamela Ehrenberg, illustrated by Gabby Grant

Kar-Ben (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Lauren Kasiarz

 

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In this intergenerational story, Silas video calls with Great-Grandma Faye and they use sweet rhyming phrases like “See you soon, Macaroon!” to say goodbye to one another. On one such call, Great-Grandma Faye introduces Silas to Havdalah, the Jewish ceremony that concludes Shabbat on Saturday evening. She shows him a spice box that his Great-Grandpa made many years prior, and with help from his dad, Silas makes his own spice box. They celebrate Havdalah together virtually, and the story concludes with Great-Grandma Faye flying to visit Silas where they perform the Havdalah rituals together in person.

The pacing is well done, switching deftly between dialogue and Silas’ inner thoughts, which brings the reader along as Silas decides to create his own spice box. Gabby Grant’s colorful pen-and-ink illustrations have a youthful quality that exude warmth and heart that complement this text well.

The See-You-Soon Spice Box is a great early primer to the Jewish ritual of Havdalah, introducing young readers to key elements like the traditional braided candle, kiddush cup, and spice box. At the back of the book, readers will also find an “About Havdalah” section and a craft project with instructions to make their own spice box.

While non-Jewish readers can appreciate The See-You-Soon Spice Box for its rhyming dialogue and the universal theme of intergenerational love, the focus on Havdalah makes this a book particularly well suited for Jewish audiences. There is also a wonderful contemporary element to this story where readers will find less common mirrors and windows, such connecting with loved ones virtually, apartment living, and a single parent household with a dad and two sons. This book would be an especially great addition to Jewish preschool classrooms and libraries, where the playful rhymes make this a great book to read aloud.

 

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Reviewer Lauren Kasiarz is a writer and human resources professional who celebrates diverse representation in Jewish kidlit on her Instagram page @diversejewishbooks. She’s been published in Kveller, is a #PBParty 2025 Finalist, and was selected to participate in the PJ Library Picture Book Summer Camp at the Highlights Foundation.