Happy Birthday, World: A Rosh Hashanah Celebration (Very First Board Books)

PreS–Kropf's simple text compares a child's typical birthday celebration with the rituals of Rosh Hashanah. Instead of eating a birthday cake, apples are dipped in honey; instead of party horns, the shofar is blown; and instead of getting presents, tzedakah, or charity, is given to people in need. Each spread shows a small image of the birthday ritual and a much larger image of a contemporary family observing Rosh Hashanah. The soft-focus art is bright and cheerful. The second book begins, Grab a shovel./Pick a spot./Plant a tree,/It's Tu B'Shevat! and continues as a boy and his family plant a tree; say a blessing; enjoy the shade, the fruit, and the birds; and watch the sapling grow. The delightful, sophisticated illustrations aptly depict the beauty of nature.