My First Book of Jewish Holidays

Garrison's (Another Celebrated Dancing Bear) handsome collagraphs set the tone for this elegant introduction to major Jewish holidays as well as the Sabbath. From Rosh Hashanah to Purim, Passover and Shavuot, Silverman (The Glass Menorah) delves into Torah and Jewish tradition, neatly distilling the historical background, spiritual significance and present-day rituals associated with commemorating and celebrating each of these special days. Her prose is direct, almost poetic in its simplicity, and it's ably matched by Garrison's unique use of media (a kind of collage that is subsequently printed on a press). She shows families that could be from the '40s or the '90s, and she is equally at ease in depicting Biblical scenes. The timeless air of her illustrations complements the rich fabric of tradition that Silverman recreates so dextrously. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)