Sadie and the Big Mountain

PreS-K—Sadie loves going to preschool at Temple Beth El where she sings songs, climbs on the tall gym outdoors, dresses up in costumes, and plays with her classmates. But on Monday, when her teacher tells the children about the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, Sadie gets nervous. She learns that Moses climbed all the way to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from God, and that the children will take their own hike at the end of the week. Sadie hates hiking: her boots always hurt her feet, her backpack always feels too heavy, there are never enough snacks—and she's convinced that she will not make it to the top of the mountain. While she enjoys the activities leading up to the holiday—decorating walking sticks, learning the Ten Commandments, and preparing blintzes—she spends the whole week hoping for a stomachache, chicken pox, or poison ivy to avoid the treacherous hike. On Friday, though, Sadie is delighted to learn that Mount Sinai wasn't actually very big. "God chose a small mountain to teach us that anyone can climb high enough to reach God," explains Rabbi Jamie. Sadie is easily able to join her classmates on the short hike up the hill behind the synagogue, and they enjoy a picnic at the top. The lively, colorful illustrations depict a contemporary Jewish preschool with boys and girls, and the teacher and rabbi, both female, wearing head coverings. One of the most neglected Jewish holidays finally gets its due in this fun, innovative, and charming sequel to Korngold's Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast (Lerner, 2011).—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL