Why We Chose This Book: Sadie’s Snowy Tu B’Shevat

By Jamie Korngold, illustrations by Julie Fortenberry

PJ Library families may be familiar with Sadie from our Shavuot book Sadie and the Big Mountain. This time Sadie’s at home, and she wants to celebrate Tu B’Shevat by planting a tree. But it’s winter, and her parents and grandfather explain that trees can’t survive if they’re planted in frozen earth. It takes her younger brother and grandmother to help find a great solution to Sadie’s problem.

As ever, the child-friendly style of the font and Julie Fortenberry’s illustrations will appeal to three- and four-year-olds. Children will relate to Sadie’s desire to celebrate the birthday of the trees and will learn something interesting when Grandma explains why the holiday is celebrated at the “wrong” time of year. The book will also introduce many families to the idea of planting parsley, a lovely activity that brings something Jewish into the home, and one that may well become a new family tradition.