Zayde Comes to Live

PreS-Gr 1–Rachel’s grandpa has come to live out his final days with her family, and the girl worries about what will happen to him next. Predictions from her non-Jewish friends don’t quite fit, but she is satisfied when her rabbi says that Zayde will join his ancestors and points out that the man is living until the moment he dies. Rachel focuses on making a few final memories and treasuring Zayde’s remaining time. There are many stories for young children about grandparents passing away, but this one is unique in that it centers on the time leading up to death instead of its aftermath. The beautifully sensitive storytelling comforts readers by showing the inevitability of the circle of life in the context of strong family love. Although the book is aimed at Jewish audiences, the emotions ring true universally.  Swarner’s gentle, softly colored linoleum prints suit the story perfectly, both in the household scenes and the spiritual ones. The artist has illustrated Howard Schwartz’s Before You Were Born (Roaring Brook, 2005), an excellent companion piece to this story. Pitch-perfect text and illustrations combine to create a story that will touch readers’ hearts.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B’nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL