Challah for Shabbat Tonight

Standing with Grandma at the kitchen counter (with “a little boost” from a step stool), a redheaded child in orange coveralls is poised to help with making challah. Persuading the elder that they’re “bigger now,” they prepare to crack the eggs. With a squint that expresses a blend of concentration and confidence, the child adroitly achieves the desired result, and then it’s on to the rest: “Whirring,/ whirring,/ swiftly stirring,” Ackerman writes, then two rounds of kneading, plus braiding, baking, and, finally, savoring by a houseful of Shabbat guests. In mostly single-plane domestic scenes with touches of whimsy (a bird occasionally dances around the proceedings), Millgram depicts the duo as well-matched collaborators in the kitchen and avid playmates as the dough rests. Given a loving intergenerational connection, delicious homemade bread, and the joy of a traditional family gathering, it’s no wonder the child dreams “a galaxy of challah dreams.” Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)