Review: Shabbat on Mars

Shabbat on Mars

by Jeff Ward, illustrated by Gila von Meisner

Intergalactic Afikoman, 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Julie Ditton

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

"It's not exactly rocket science," but this book is "what happens when a Jewish aerospace engineer marries a Conservative rabbi." Jeff Ward gathers current scientific theories about life in a future Mars colony and applies them to how Jewish Mars colonists would celebrate Shabbat. Readers learn all about life on Mars, from what types of buildings would be created to what food colonists might be able grow or make. Much like vegan "hotdogs" which are not made of meat, the brisket or pishkado might be made from algae instead. By comparing Shabbat on Earth to Shabbat on Mars, this fantastic picture book for older readers teaches science and Jewish culture at the same time.

In the afterward, which asks "What does Jewish look like...On Mars?" the author points out that there are different ways to be Jewish. The Mars synagogue congregation includes both Ashkenazic and Sephardic families. The lively illustrations by Gila Von Meisner include diversity which mirror that message. It includes people of different skin tones and a variety of types of families.

This book would be perfect for any Jewish youngster who likes science. Since the book is aimed at Jewish readers, Shabbat is discussed throughout the book, but not specifically defined. However, since most kids know that Shabbat is the Jewish Sabbath, even non-Jews would find the book fascinating.

 

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Reviewer Julie Ditton, The Storybook Lady, is an active reviewer on social media and on her new book blog storybooklady.net which has featured interviews of several Jewish children’s authors. She reviews a variety of genre, although, as her name would imply, her favorite genre is Children’s Literature. About half of the children’s books that she reviews have Jewish themes. She even has a dedicated shelf on Goodreads, Bubbe’s Bookshelf specifically for Jewish Children’s Books and is an active contributor to the Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook group.