November 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-In this brief photo essay, Ofanansky aims to explain the phases of the moon and the ancient Jewish celebration of the new moon, Rosh Chodesh. The story is narrated by a boy whose family is on an overnight camping trip in Israel with a guide who has a telescope. The brief text is poorly organized and ultimately fails to shed light on either topic. The level of explanation devoted to the phases of the moon is more suitable to older children, and the information on Rosh Chodesh is too scattered throughout. The ancient importance of the holiday is not fully discussed, even in the back matter, which offers instructions for making a papier mache moon and an illustration of the phases of the moon. The attractive, full-color photos largely serve to document the text. Though there are few titles on Rosh Chodesh for this audience, this one doesn't make the grade. Meanwhile, there are many relatively recent books on the phases of the moon that do a better job.-Nancy Silverrod, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2014
The beginning of a new month, known in the Jewish calendar as Rosh Chodesh, is explained via a family's camping trip in the Negev Desert.A young Jewish boy named Ira narrates his family's purposeful outing to learn about the phases of the moon through a guide's instruction and demonstrations of the Jewish lunar calendar. Clear, distinct color photography modulates from sunny, sandy desert scenes to dark, campfire-illuminated ones to highlight the essential elements of the experience. Family members hold a globe-patterned inflatable beach ball, a papier-mache moon and a lantern as they move around one another to illustrate each phase of the moon and how each new month begins with the first sliver of the crescent moon. Of course, the clear night sky and a look through a telescope to see the stars, constellations and planets are also quite intriguing. As a final sweet culmination to the lesson, baking round pita bread over an open flame and then creating "pita-moons" with chocolate spread allows Ira a chance to synthesize what he has learned before he enjoys a big bite. The story concludes with a papier-mache-moon craft activity. A nice blend of planetary science and religious observance. (author's note) (Picture book/religion. 5-8)

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January 1, 2015
A family goes camping in Israel to celebrate Rosh Chodesh, the new month. Clear text explains the significance of the new moon in Jewish tradition and delves quite deeply into an age-appropriate scientific explanation; food, culture, and geography are also incorporated. Intimate family photographs are interspersed with nature shots. A craft activity and further information are appended. A glossary would have been helpful.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)