Bubbe's Belated Bat Mitzvah

Naomi's 95-year-old great-grandmother Bubbe never had a Bat Mitzvah; she grew up in an era when "girls didn't study Hebrew and weren't called to the Torah." Determined to set that to rights, Naomi persuades Bubbe to celebrate an adult Bat Mitzvah, and she mobilizes all her cousins across the country to lend their talents and ensure that Bubbe's bima appearance garners a resounding "Mazel Tov!" Naomi helps Bubbe practice the Hebrew of her Torah portion and quells the older woman's last-minute nerves, another cousin plays writing coach for the obligatory speech, and so on. Pinson makes an assured authorial debut with a much-needed story about an increasingly common Jewish life cycle ritual. The concise, straightforward prose sidesteps sentimentality while emphasizing Naomi's calm, focused, take-charge style; this girl has future CEO written all over her. Cis's (A Tale of Two Seders) warmhearted acrylic illustrations have na%C3%AFve touches and recurring circular elements that convey an extended but close-knit family rolling up its collective sleeves on behalf of a beloved matriarch. Ages 3%E2%80%939. Illustrator's agent: Mela Bolinao, MB Artists. (Sept.)