Kayla and Kugel’s ­Playful ­Purim

PreS-Gr 2–The next book in the series featuring Kayla and her puppy, Kugel, showcases the very child-friendly Jewish holiday of Purim. Kayla explains the meaning behind the holiday to readers in simple but clear language. Accompanying illustrations help provide understanding and context without an excessive word count. The inclusion of the sweet, bouncy puppy helps hold young readers’ attention, as they will be enchanted by his floppy ears, panting grin, and wagging tail in vibrant illustrations that leap off the page. Kayla deftly describes how she celebrates the holiday, from the baking of hamantaschen cookies to choosing costumes and ending with a festive meal for friends and family. The author summarizes the biblical story of Esther and the holiday’s main theme of advocacy and justice in child-appropriate language. The book is not text-heavy and the details in the simple but colorful drawings will inspire curious readers to point and ask questions; the costume choices by Kayla and Kugel aren’t explained in the text, but can be inferred from the drawings and are a discussion question in the back matter. The book concludes with a thoughtful note that seeks to draw connections between other communities and rituals beyond Judaism.