Review: ABCs of Judaism
ABCs of Judaism
by Rachel Tichauer, illustrated by Isabel Foo
Grosset & Dunlap, 2025
Category: Board Books
Reviewer: Ann Koffsky
The ABC’s of Judaism is cheerful board book that uses the structure of an alphabet book to introduce the youngest readers to basic concepts in Judaism. A is for Afikoman, B is for Bar Mitzvah, C is for Challah, and so on. Each item also gets a brief, two sentence explanation. (I suspect many families will find these explanations useful to grown-up readers too.)
The choices of which concepts should illustrate each letter are sometimes lovely and obvious (I knew before turning the page that S would be for Shabbat! ). The surprises are also just lovely: Z is for Zachor, V is for V’ahavta, and Q is for questioning: because, “Judaism is more about the questioning than it is about the answers.”
The illustrations are authentic, bright and charming. They add additional Jewish content that is not overtly mentioned in the text as well, such as items on the seder plate, Moses at the sea, and Hebrew texts that enhance the concept of the page. They also beautifully show Jews of all shades.
The Jewish representation of this book is completely authentic, with Jewish ideas and symbols represented appropriately throughout. Note that it also sometimes chooses to illustrate progressive Judaism’s practices, (eg: shows a female Rabbi with Tallit and Kippah).
The choices of which concepts should illustrate each letter are sometimes lovely and obvious (I knew before turning the page that S would be for Shabbat! ). The surprises are also just lovely: Z is for Zachor, V is for V’ahavta, and Q is for questioning: because, “Judaism is more about the questioning than it is about the answers.”
The illustrations are authentic, bright and charming. They add additional Jewish content that is not overtly mentioned in the text as well, such as items on the seder plate, Moses at the sea, and Hebrew texts that enhance the concept of the page. They also beautifully show Jews of all shades.
The Jewish representation of this book is completely authentic, with Jewish ideas and symbols represented appropriately throughout. Note that it also sometimes chooses to illustrate progressive Judaism’s practices, (eg: shows a female Rabbi with Tallit and Kippah).
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Reviewer Ann Diament Koffsky is the award-winning author and illustrator of more than fifty picture books for children, including PING PONG SHABBAT (Little Bee Books) and THE PEDDLER AND THE PRESIDENT ( Apples and Honey Press.) Ann also creates free, Jewish coloring pages for kids, that you can print at www.annkoffsky.com.
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