Koala Challah - Hardcover

Gehl, Laura

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1512420875 ISBN 13: 9781512420876

Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®, 2017

Synopsis

Lila's older sisters both have jobs to help their family get ready for Shabbat.  Lila wants to help too, but she can't figure out the perfect job, and everything she tries just ends in a gigantic mess. Then Lila has an idea.  Maybe she can make the most beautiful, most special, most delicious challah ever!  At least she can try....

About this title

About the Author:

Laura Gehl loves koalas and challah. She recently traveled to Australia with her family and had the chance to see koalas in the wild. Laura's previous picture books include One Big Pair of Underwear, Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel, And Then Another Sheep Turned Up, and the Peep and Egg series. She lives in Chevy Chase, MD.
Maria Mola loves Saturdays and coffee. Born in Barcelona, she trained at the Francesca Bonnemaison School in Barcelona and the Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. She works in both traditional and digital media, often combining both. She lives in Chicago.

Review:

Set in Australia, this take on baking a traditional Jewish food focuseson a family of koalas.Little sister Lila is eager to help her koalafamily prepare for the Friday night Shabbat celebration, but her efforts are more messy than useful. "Koala bears love eucalyptus!" and so Lila tries to make eucalyptus candles,unsuccessfully. Her attempts to make wine with eucalyptus leave a messykitchen, as does her craft project to adorn the dinner table. Finally,Lila gets permission to bake a challah, the traditional braided egg bread served for the Sabbath, provided she practices. Eachnight, starting on Sunday, she bakes but puts in too much or too littlefrom the ingredient list. On Friday, she finally succeeds in baking adelicious bread with the addition of that very special koala favorite, and the family sits down to a wonderful holiday dinner. Lila's father wears a kippah on his head, showing that they are observant. Both families who hold Sabbath dinners and those who do notwill enjoy Lila's efforts to contribute. Placing the story in an unusual setting should lead to discussionsabout variations in food preparation and long-cherished customs. Mola'scolorful, full-bleed illustrations fill in some of the details of therecipe not in the text and add to the enjoyment. Warm-spirited family holiday togetherness. (Picture book. 3-6) -Kirkus Reviews

Set in Australia, this take on baking a traditional Jewish food focuses on a family of koalas.Little sister Lila is eager to help her koala family prepare for the Friday night Shabbat celebration, but her efforts are more messy than useful. "Koala bears love eucalyptus!" and so Lila tries to make eucalyptus candles,unsuccessfully. Her attempts to make wine with eucalyptus leave a messykitchen, as does her craft project to adorn the dinner table. Finally,Lila gets permission to bake a challah, thetraditional braided egg bread served for the Sabbath, provided she practices. Eachnight, starting on Sunday, she bakes but puts in too much or too littlefrom the ingredient list. On Friday, she finally succeeds in baking adelicious bread with the addition of that very special koala favorite, and the family sitsdown to a wonderful holiday dinner. Lila's father wears a kippah on hishead, showing that they are observant. Both families who hold Sabbathdinners and those who do not will enjoy Lila's efforts to contribute. Placing the story in an unusual setting should lead to discussionsabout variations in food preparation and long-cherished customs. Mola'scolorful, full-bleed illustrations fill in some of the details of therecipe not in the text and add to the enjoyment. Warm-spirited family holiday togetherness. -Kirkus

About this edition

• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1512420875
• ISBN 13: 9781512420876
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Mola Maria