Review: The Bagel Who Wanted Everything

The Bagel Who Wanted Everything

written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg

Viking Books for Young Readers, 2025

Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Jacqueline Jules
 
 
Once upon a time, all bagels were just one thing. Plain bagels were only plain. Sesame bagels were only sesame. Onion were only onion. So on and so forth. Each type of bagel believed they were the one thing they were meant to be. Until one day a plain bagel questioned this idea. It was boring to be just one thing. What was wrong with being more? When the plain bagel began experimenting, the result was hilarious. All the bagels, including the plain bagel, “roared and rocked and rolled around” laughing. In the process, their crunchy bagel bits fell off. And an entirely new flavor of bagel was born which was very definitely not one thing: the Everything Bagel.

This witty story of self-actualization is delightfully brought to life by Alan Silberberg. His illustrations are wacky, colorful, and just plain fun. The many sizes of bold white fonts contribute to the humor. This picture book will tickle children and adults alike. While the Jewish content is confined to the cultural connection between Jews and bagels, the positive message that it is okay to be one thing or many things makes this book both valuable and universal.
 
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Reviewer Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of fifty books for young readers including The Porridge-Pot Goblin, The Hardest Word, Picnic at Camp Shalom, Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva, Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, and Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger, was a PJ Our Way selection. And her picture book, Moses and the Runaway Lamb, was a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives on Long Island and enjoys talking long walks along the water. Visit her online www.jacquelinejules.com

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