PreS-K—Sadie loves going to preschool at Temple Beth El where she sings songs, climbs on the tall gym outdoors, dresses up in costumes, and plays with her classmates. But on Monday, when her teacher tells the children about the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, Sadie gets nervous. She learns that Moses climbed all the way to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God, and that the children will take their own hike at the end of the week. Sadie hates hiking: her boots always hurt her feet, her backpack always feels too heavy, there are never enough snacks—and she's convinced that she will not make it to the top of the mountain. While she enjoys the activities leading up to the holiday—decorating walking sticks, learning the Ten Commandments, and preparing blintzes—she spends the whole week hoping for a stomachache, chicken pox, or poison ivy to avoid the treacherous hike. On Friday, though, Sadie is delighted to learn that Mount Sinai wasn't actually very big. "God chose a small mountain to teach us that anyone can climb high enough to reach God," explains Rabbi Jamie. Sadie is easily able to join her classmates on the short hike up the hill behind the synagogue, and they enjoy a picnic at the top. The lively, colorful illustrations depict a contemporary Jewish preschool with boys and girls, and the teacher and rabbi, both female, wearing head coverings. One of the most neglected Jewish holidays finally gets its due in this fun, innovative, and charming sequel to Korngold's Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast (Lerner, 2011).—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL
A week-long unit on the holiday of Shavuot has one preschool class excitedly anticipating a planned reenactment of the hike Moses took up Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Resourceful Sadie, of Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast (2011), enjoys attending her temple preschool with its songs, play equipment and teacher, Morah Sarah. But when the idea of a hike is introduced as the culmination of the week's focus, the Shavuot celebration, Sadie hates the idea. "Her hiking boots always hurt her feet. Her backpack was always too heavy. And there were never enough snacks." As the week progresses, the children create their own walking sticks, learn about the Ten Commandments and make the traditional blintzes. Meanwhile, Sadie's anxiety builds. She tells herself she will not have to hike if she comes down with chicken pox, contracts poison ivy or just catches the flu. However, Friday morning delivers a healthy but nervous Sadie, whose reluctance is finally assuaged by Rabbi Jamie with assurances that the small, easy-to-climb hill behind the temple grounds is the perfect place to recreate the symbolic hike. Detailed and colorful illustrations depicting a modern, female-led nursery program and a little girl's fretful qualms artfully flesh out this reasonably intriguing story with its ultimate message of reaching God. There are not many books that treat with this holiday; how fortunate that this is such a strong one. (Picture book. 3-5)