Sunday, March 21, 2021

SOL 21/31 and Sharing Our Stories: Sometimes a book arrives at the perfect time!

 I open my Libby account to find an e-book has arrived. I rarely request e-books, but I open this picture book and fall in love. It's the perfect book for Shelly, my friend who just spoke to her scholarship group about Passover. I wish it had arrived sooner, so I could have shared it with her before her Passover presentation. 

I wonder how I knew to request this book from the library. Later that day, I'm searching the ALA (American Library Association) Youth Media Awards page and discover why I requested this particular book from the library. It won the picture book category for the 2021 Sydney Taylor Book Award, an award recognizing titles for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. 

Shelly's birthday is next week. I call Island Books and they have a copy in stock. I pick it up on Friday, share it with my daughter on Saturday, and find it impossible to wait for Shelly's birthday. I drive to her place on Monday, give her the book, and then proceed to read it to her. She loves it! You will too! The illustrations are gorgeous and the text captures the warmth of a family gathering, the light inside juxtaposed against the darkness outside.

Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tale

by Lesléa Newman and illustrated by Susan Gal

Have you had a book arrive in your life at a just-right time like Welcoming Elijah did for me? 

10 comments:

  1. I love when this happens! This looks like a good book. Thanks for sharing it.

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  2. Love the perfect timing... but even more, perfect book!

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  3. Perfect timing! I love when this happens! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Thanks for the recommendation, it looks great and the cover is beautiful. Such good timing!

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  5. I can't wait to check it out!

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  6. Serendipity is how that book appeared at the right time! When I read about a book, I will request it from the library. Sometimes I am like you and can't remember why I asked for that book. Glad I'm not alone in that.

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  7. I love using Libby. Although I usually find that I like a physical book, it is magical when I get a digital copy. This sounds like a great book!

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  8. I love this kind of experience! The right book at the right time is such a gift!

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  9. Thank you for this treasure, Ramona! I loved all the Sidney Taylor books as a child. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. I'm a big fan of Bible stories. XO

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