Description: It's almost Sukkot, and Micah and his family are heading to Farmer Jared's pumpkin patch. Micah wants to find the very best pumpkin to decorate his family's sukkah.
Brief description: Laya Steinberg, author of two other award-winning picture books, teaches art and design to high school students, tends a community garden, and works in her basement pottery studio. She lives near Boston, Massachusetts, with family.
Review Quotes:
Micah visits a pumpkin patch with his family on a mission to find 'the best pumpkin ever' for Sukkot. Upon arrival, he learns from the farmer the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and that the pumpkins he finds can be donated to feed people in need at a soup kitchen. The farmer's words stick with Micah and, as he works hard to find fabulous pumpkins, he overcomes his urge to keep them. Instead, his biggest pumpkin will be a decoration at the soup kitchen, his smallest pumpkin will make soup, and an overripe pumpkin can become compost. But Micah proclaims he has still found 'the best pumpkin, ' revealing a handful of seeds he stashed in his pocket in order to have the best pumpkins ever for next year. This simple tale of selflessness and charitable acts makes a nice addition to a Sukkot collection. The endnotes include brief information on the the Jewish harvest holiday, as well as basic family activities for Tikkun Olam.--Association of Jewish Libraries
-- "Other Print" (9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM)