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A young girl twirls and dances her way through her Ugandan village, much to her family's frustration. She learns to channel her creative spirit and prepares a Sabbath surprise for her family.
About the author
Kerry Olitzky was named one of the fifty leading rabbis in North America by
Newsweek and is well-known for inspiring books that bring Jewish wisdom tradition into everyday life. He is the former longtime executive director of Big Tent Judaism (formerly Jewish Outreach Institute) and served on the faculty/administration of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. His most recent children's book is
The Desert Unicorn (with Bonnie Grubman, Apples and Honey Press). He lives in North Brunswick, NJ.
Summary
"A joyful peek into Jewish life in a place that is likely to be unfamiliar to many American readers." --Booklist
"Young readers’ images of Jewish people will expand with this portrayal of the Abayudaya, Jews of color in contemporary Uganda...This joyful, colorful, and well-designed book will make children and adults want to jump up and join in the dance." --Sydney Taylor Shmooze
"Reminds readers that there are many Jewish communities worldwide, and they all celebrate Shabbat in their own ways." --The Jewish Book Council
Ugandan artist John Baptist Tumuhaise brings a Jewish Ugandan village to life in this story of a young girl who is distracted from her Shabbat preparation chores by the lure of a dance troupe that comes to her village.
Young Miryam wakes to a bright morning and the many chores needed to help get ready for Friday night and Shabbat in her small Ugandan village. As readers follow her through her day, they learn elements of celebrating this weekly Jewish ritual that are both universal in Jewish culture and unique to the Jewish Ugandan community, the Abuyadaya, or Tribe of Judah. A glossary explains the names of ritual foods, Ugandan terms, and landmarks used in the story.
