THE SHABBAT PUPPY

The peaceful respite offered by Shabbat is celebrated in the nature walks a boy and his grandfather enjoy.

Grampa’s weekly ritual encourages Noah to find Shabbat shalom, or Sabbath peace, in the beauty of the natural world. Summer offers a fluttering butterfly and ducks on a lake. Autumn’s falling leaves reflect the sun’s "dancing dots of light," along with a glistening spider web and sweet raspberries. Softly falling snowflakes in the quiet atmosphere of winter are perfect exemplars of Shabbat shalom. But Noah wishes to share all this with his dog Mazel, quite the rambunctious puppy, whose exuberance, according to Grampa, would spoil the tranquility and purpose of outings on the day of rest. But once a year has passed, Mazel, a bit older and less feisty, joins Noah and Grampa on the weekly stroll to find their Shabbat shalom together. Double-page graphite drawings digitally colored in muted shades provide an array of unassuming urban scenes. Numerous examples in the text flesh out Grampa's exhortation to appreciate life in the observance of the day of rest.

An effective presentation of the weekly religious observance as a personal reflection on life’s simple pleasures.