What Amazon Says:
An intergenerational friendship between a girl and her older neighbor showcases courage in kindness and the value of building community
Mabel’s Mitzvah is a warm, funny, and deeply relatable picture book that celebrates kindness, empathy, and the courage it takes to reach out. With Mitzvah Day right around the corner, Mabel Maguire is determined to find the perfect good deed to help her class win a prize. She notices her neighbor, Mrs. Horowitz, always seems to be alone. Is Mrs. Horowitz lonely? Mabel thinks befriending the older woman would be the perfect mitzvah.
What follows is an authentic, intergenerational friendship that blossoms slowly and sweetly. Through small acts of care―a gift of baked goods, a scraggly bouquet of flowers, and simple time together― Mabel breaks through Mrs. Horowitz’s defenses. As their afternoons fill with shared stories and chocolate rugelach, both discover that the connection they’re building is far more meaningful than any Mitzvah Day prize.
What I think:
How much we learn when we engage with our cultures! The word “mitzvah” may be new, but the idea of doing something kind is the essence of all our relationships. What a great school to reward that!
Even without the contest, Mable’s attempts to reach her older neighbor are honest, kid-like ideas (and consequences!), making her a very human role model. This book should be read often in preschools, and the term “mitzvah” belongs in all our vocabularies!
Happy publication day this September 22 to Mable and her Mitzvah!
Robin Currie features new picture books on Tuesdays.