Rising: A Shabbat Baking Story

An Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Honor Book

A quiet, joyful story celebrating a Jewish mother’s tradition of making challah with her child merges a lyrical text with stunning illustrations – and includes the author’s favourite recipe.

“Draws connections between kitchen chemistry, timeless traditions, and the pleasures of everyday life.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Melt into the nooks and crannies of this book’s unhurried pages, offering a place to rest and spend time counting your many blessings – current and imminent. Here, a child and a mother measure, mix, knead, shape, and tuck their dough under a towel like a sleeping baby. Then, as they do every week, they wait while their dough rises, soon to be baked and gratefully shared at a Shabbat gathering with loved ones.

Whatever their background, readers will be happy to find the author’s go-to recipe for challah at the end, along with a glossary and an author’s note describing the personal meaning of her family’s weekly ritual.

“A meditative look at Shabbat preparations. . . . conveying the beauty of taking time to rest and appreciate loved ones.” Kirkus Reviews