In time for the start of the Jewish year (Rosh Hashanah begins on September 26), Podwal (The Menorah Story) explores the link between Jewish holidays and the foods associated with them. An imaginative series of paintings faces the brief text; in this book's small, gifty trim size, art and text share equal weight, neither dominating the other. Podwal's visual imagery is as metaphorical as his fans have come to expect: an opening illustration, for example, shows four foods tucked into as many envelopes, peeking out like holiday cards. The writing matches the art in eloquence and in its deceptively straightforward concentration of different ideas; Podwal works in definitions of the given holiday, a bit of folklore and a hint of inspiration as well. On Simchat Torah, Podwal writes, "The year's weekly readings of the Torah are finished. And right away begin again. Round carrot slices. Round sandwiches. Round the synagogue seven times. Everything round is a reminder that the reading of Torah has no end." Endnotes and an afterword give more information about the holidays as well as insights into economic or practical origins of the traditions. Of the targeted age group, children who already observe some of the rituals here are the likeliest to enjoy the poetic presentation, and their adult counterparts will probably enjoy it even more. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
