Bim and Bom

May 15, 2011
Preschool-G With a shtetl setting, this picture-book version of an old Jewish folktale brings home the message of doing a mitzvah, a good deed. Bim is a carpenter; she builds wonderful homes for the mayor, the grocer, and the rabbi, and the bright, uncluttered artwork shows her at work at the drawing board and on-site with her tools. Her brother, Bom, isnt a skilled builder, but he loves to bake, and everyone in town buys his bread, especially his delicious challah on Friday. On one Friday, Bim builds homes and Bom bakes challah for those who cannot afford to pay, each performing a mitzvah. Then, as evening comes, sister and brother run across town to celebrate Shabbat together in Bims house with Boms delicious bread. Great for sharing on Shabbat, this title concludes with the musical notation and lyrics for Shabbat Shalom. Kids will appreciate the reversal of the traditional gender roles as well as the enduring message.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)