Review: Dancing on Memories

Dancing on Memories

by Freda Lewkowicz, illustrated by Sally Anne Garland

Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Ronda Einbinder

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

 

In her younger years, Nana swirled and twirled across the stage as a prima ballerina. She soared like a swan. But now she is illustrated standing alone in the bottom corner of the page with her gray hair and drooping eyes as the memory thief has come.

The story is told through the voice of her granddaughter, Sarah, who tells the reader about how she and her grandmother once baked challah together for Shabbat. “We’re braided together, just like challah,” Grandma says, hugging Sarah. They once danced together like flickering flames on a Hanukkah menorah—but now the memory thief has stolen bits and pieces of Nana. They no longer dance together.

Sarah asks, “How can I help her remember?” And an idea pirouettes in her thoughts. Nana remembers long ago better than yesterday. Sarah reaches for Nana’s cellphone and finds the music icon, pressing Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. Nana begins to sway. She remembers. Some memories, like a hug, never drift away.

The colorful illustrations make this story pop as young Nana dances and older Nana sways to the music, bringing the art and words together as if it was a song. The story’s audience is very specific: it is a great read for a parent to share with a young child who is confused by the changes an older adult in their life is experiencing. The backmatter explains the Jewish words and the history behind this story, based on ballerina Marta Cinta Gonzalez's struggle with Alzheimer's.

The Jewish theme stands out in this story. Nana and Sarah bake challah for Shabbat; they dance like flickering flames on a Hanukkah menorah; Nana forgets her words and calls “brisket,” when she means “challah,” which are both considered Jewish foods. Sarah tells her that her words are hiding like the Afikomen on Passover. These are all relatable topics for Jewish communities. Jewishness is an integral part of the story, bonding the religion with their daily lives. It may not be as meaningful to non-Jewish readers, but the context of the story is relatable for a child who is experiencing the memory loss of an older relative. The bond is felt in the relationship, and sharing Jewish traditions shows how important they are for this family. 

 

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Reviewer Ronda Einbinder is a teacher/writer currently working on a young adult novel and picture books. She is a reviewer for Goodreadswithronna and a member of SCBWI and 12x12. She is also a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Instructor. She enjoys writing in her yard in the hills of Pasadena, CA listening to the birds chirp, with her constant companion and very handsome mutt rescue by her side.