THE US REVIEW OF BOOKS, SARAH POULETTE

"Happy plans are being made–
The Mindels are delighted.
Did I fail to mention it?
Of course, you’re all invited!”"

The Mindel family prepares for and celebrates Sukkot in this festive and fun children’s book. Shelley and Jimmy, the two children in the family, help their parents build the sukkah in which they will eat their holiday meals. They also help decorate and prepare the food for their family’s Sukkot celebration, and both children find their own way to make the festivities special. Shelley writes a song for their gathering, and when four toads find their way to the dinner table, Jimmy becomes the hero of the day. The siblings bond over Jimmy’s first lost tooth before bed, ready to continue celebrating Sukkot when the morning comes. Rounding out the tale, the book’s back matter contains songs, recipes, a glossary, and a simple explanation of Sukkot.

The sweet family story in this book is appropriate for any age. Toddlers can enjoy the sing-songy rhyming text throughout, and smaller side details like jokes will keep older children entertained. The attention to detail is stunning: all of the side text, including the planned menu or Shelley’s music box instructions, is written in rhyme. The busy, cheerful illustrations contain additional fun details. For example, glitter remains on Jimmy’s clothes for several pages after he finishes decorating. The family dog appears on almost every page, participating in the fun.

While the story centers on Sukkot, its real focus seems to be on togetherness and family. Jimmy and Shelley enjoy each other’s company and cooperate with their parents to prepare for the celebration. In the humorous climax of the story, everyone works together to secure the invading toads in a sukkah of their own. This book is certain to delight young readers whether they celebrate Sukkot every year or if this is the first time they have encountered the holiday.

DIANE DONOVAN, SENIOR REVIEWER, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! A Holiday to Crow About is a picture book story ​about the fall festival of Sukkot. It features lively illustrations by Tammie Lyon, which depict the Mindel family. The family's preparations for a "sweet celebration" lunch are presented in appealing rhymes, accompanied by action-packed pictures. 

The activities and excitement command attention as the phone rings with RSVPs, building begins, and the sukkah is decorated. A peppering of riddles engages young readers and provides them with fun, whimsical moments. The result is a lovely presentation of the togetherness and sweetness, physical and spiritual, of Sukkot. 

The holiday's history and a glossary containing the Yiddish and Hebrew words sprinkled throughout are included in the back matter.

Libraries looking for picture book stories about Jewish celebrations will find Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! A Holiday to Crow About an outstanding choice. 

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW, DR. JEN HARRISON

What to Expect: Jewish culture, family, holidays, autumn

What makes a Sukkot to remember? First, you need to build a sukkah—somewhere to celebrate. Then you need to plan for lots of good food—from noodle kugel to matzah balls to mandel bread. And next—good family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate and eat with are very important. But what makes this celebration special is…having lots of surprises! Who will be there? Will everything go as planned? Will four frogs suddenly turn up at the table? Will your first wiggly tooth fall out? With so many unexpected things happening, this will definitely be a sukkot to remember for a long time!

Told from the perspective of the family’s youngest member, Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! is all about the magic of being in the moment when a special time of year rolls around. The emphasis is on family, togetherness, discovery, and joy—reminding readers that holidays are about more than superficial decorations and presents. Beautiful, colorful sketched illustrations reminiscent of the style of Janet and Allen Ahlberg help bring the excitement of autumn to life. At the same time, simple rhyming text adds a festive feel and keeps the story accessible for learning readers. Best of all, there are recipes at the end!

Overall, Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! is both joyous and instructive—sure to get any reader in the sukkah mood.

KIRKUS REVIEWS

A family invites friends to a Sukkot party in this rhyming picture book.

The Mindel family—parents Janet and Adam, children Shelley and Jimmy, and Ruffles the dog—plans a celebration of Sukkot. To commemorate the Jewish holiday, Jimmy and Shelley set out to gather twigs for the partial roof of a temporary shelter that their parents are building. (A sukkah shelter’s roof shows the sky.) After baking and other efforts by the family, the day of the party finally arrives and the guests appear. But when four frogs also show up, Jimmy has to hatch a plan to keep the party going. Following songs, fun, and cheer, Jimmy loses his first tooth to put a cap on the event. Blumberg’s amusing story takes on a lot with a short, rhyming text: a celebration, a nature crisis, and a mission to keep a tooth safe after it falls out (and get a prize from the tooth fairy). These elements almost feel like too much for one tale, but they are also very true to life, when many incidents can intersect at once. While Lyon’s cartoon images depict a pale-skinned Jewish family with a variety of hair colors, the guests show some diversity in hues. The happy tenor of the party shines through in the well-lit art. Alternative lyrics to familiar public domain songs add to the festive feel, and endnotes provide a rhyming context for readers unfamiliar with the holiday.

A humorous, engaging tale of a chaotic and entertaining event.

EMILY-JANE HILLS ORFORD, READERS’ FAVORITE, 5 STARS

'Chag sameach' is Hebrew for happy holiday. A sukkah is a temporary shelter whose roof is mostly covered with branches. When Jewish families celebrate Sukkot every autumn, they are remembering the 40-year journey of the Jewish nation when they searched for the Promised Land after leaving Egypt and slavery behind. It’s a week-long celebration of family, friends and lots of good, traditional foods. The Mindel family is preparing for the special celebration. The two children, Shelley and Jimmy, help and learn more about this special celebration. Shelley, the older sibling, explains things to her younger brother. Everything’s well planned, but sometimes things don't go as planned and that leaves everyone with a myriad of memories, some funny, some sweet. Just ask the rooster, who really has something to crow about.

Margie Blumberg’s picture book, Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! A Holiday to Crow About, is a heartwarming and sometimes humorous family story to help prepare young people for a special holiday celebration. It’s also educational, as not only will Jewish children learn more about their history and traditions but so too will non-Jewish children. The story is told in simple language so young readers can easily follow along. The story is in rhyming verse, which adds a lyrical quality. The illustrations are full of life and color; some of the pages are almost graphic in the layout with multiple pictures and text both in and around the images.

The story covers all the traditional elements of this celebration: having a party for family and friends, preparing good, nourishing traditional foods, construction of the sukkah and learning what it signifies, and lots of conversation, laughter and singing. At the end of the book are two recipes so young readers can learn and enjoy some of the traditional foods served at Sukkot. There are also two songs—music and lyrics. And finally, there is a glossary of terms, complete with​ pronunciations and backgrounds on the words and their origins. Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! is an engaging read as well as educational.

MARTA TANDORI, READERS’ FAVORITE, 5 STARS

Inspired by a story by Kay Kantor Pomerantz, Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! A Holiday to Crow About by Margie Blumberg is a lovely and informative picture book about the Jewish Sukkot celebration. It’s autumn and the Mindel family has sent out invitations to family and friends for a Sukkot celebration of eating, talking, and singing. The parents set about building the outdoor sukkah, while Shelley and her brother, Jimmy, gather leafy twigs that will be used to cover its roof, along with making glittery letters and paper chains, which the children have fun creating. Everyone helps with the baking and the children set the table. When the big day finally arrives and all their guests have assembled, the Mindels suddenly realize that they have a few unexpected—and unwanted—guests!

Children need to learn from an early age that not every person or family is the same, nor are they from the same religion or celebrating the same holidays and traditions. While family traditions may be different, they are nevertheless special as each is associated with certain foods and ceremonies, commemorated with family and friends. Margie Blumberg provides a wonderful insight into the Jewish Sukkot celebration in which even the youngest members of the family are encouraged to participate. The back of the book includes a helpful glossary of some Hebrew and Yiddish words that are relevant to the story, information about Sukkot, NEW lyrics to the tunes of "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," and even recipes for Shelley’s noodle kugel and Nana Sarah Mindel's mandel bread.

This story serves to demonstrate how traditions become enduring, passed down from generation to generation. Lyon's colorful illustrations bring Blumberg’s story to life, giving it a three-dimensional vibrancy. You can’t help but become caught up in the Mindel family’s preparations as they build and decorate their sukkah and then bake and cook for their guests. Sukkah-Doodle-Doo! enriches our understanding of the traditions we all hold dear while celebrating the diversity of other cultures.

NETGALLEY

Abe Carnow (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Very sweet children's book about the Jewish Holiday Sukkot (coming up very soon!). Good story, illustrations, and recipes. A welcome addition to a Jewish school, secular library, and home library. There are also songs to sing, with new lyrics to two old, familiar songs. There is also a glossary. The book is accurate and respectful in regards to Jewish law, custom, and practice. It was a delightful read. And the menu served in the Sukkah includes my favorite, Kasha Knishes. Wish I was invited over to make a blessing over the lulav and etrog and dine with the family!

Emily Newton (Reviewer)
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is such a great kids book on Sukkot! Love the story and illustrations. It works well for younger and older children. Also love the additions at the end. If this came as our PJLibrary book of the month, I would be delighted!

Susan Kaplan (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is an adorable book about a family who builds their sukkah and invites friends over to celebrate Sukkot. The rhyming story is cute, the pictures are precious, and the addition of a recipe and music for the song ””[Let’s Go] Out to the Sukkah,” as well as the glossary, are worthy additions to the book. If I had children or grandchildren I would definitely get them this book and read it to them.

Elyse Rhodes (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is such a fun rhyming book with a Sukkot theme throughout. I love finding new books about Jewish holidays to read with my daughter. I absolutely love the recipes, songs and information about the holiday at the end of the book! This will be so helpful for people who are not as familiar with Sukkot. Overall, a super cute and quick read aloud about a fun Jewish holiday!

Emily Wolf (Librarian)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A fun book for Sukkot! The title is what drew me in and made me laugh and the rhymes in the the book are quite funny as well. I like that there are more and more children's books for different Jewish holidays and not just for Hanukkah and maybe even Passover.

The rhyming and songs and collection of information about Jewish foods and words was a great addition as well!

Katie McEntyre (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot has arrived, and little Shelley and Jimmy are all in, helping to build and decorate a sukkah, preparing food for a lunch with family and friends, and – if that wasn’t enough – have some unexpected things thrown in, too, such as a first lost tooth and a note from the tooth fairy. This one is educational as well as fun, with a glossary in the back that is filled with definitions and pronunciations of Hebrew words included in the story and what they mean. This one has all of the family and spiritual holiday feels, and is pitch perfect!

Carmela Enriquez (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book has very cute illustrations and helped me learn what Sukkot is! I love how this depicts the beautiful celebration!

Lisa Berard (Educator)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Upon picking this book, I had no idea what [Sukkot] was, but the book seemed like an opportunity to learn.

It was an amazing introduction to this beautiful celebration that connects with nature and tradition.
I especially loved the glossary where I could find out how to properly pronounce the Hebrew and Yiddish words along with a meaning. My favorite is l'dor va'dor.

Suzy Card (Librarian)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I liked this one a lot and can't wait to share it with my children during Sukkot this year.
A fun book about the Sukkah and learning more about Sukkot.

Jacqueline DwigansMerritt (Librarian)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

There always is a need and a place for more Sukkah books!! This one was so cute and adorable!!!! Loved loved loved!!

Bella Haver (Reviewer)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was a very cute kids book! i am not Jewish so this was a very cool book full of knowledge for me to learn! would buy!

Jennifer Reilly (Reviewer)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My kids and I really enjoyed reading this story together and learning more about the Jewish Holiday Sukkot. The illustrations were beautiful and really added something special!