Our Spectacular Sukkah by Sidura Ludwig, Sophia Vincent Guy
ISBN: 1536235105
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Our Spectacular Sukkah is about a family who is celebrating the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot by making a temporary dwelling to represent the exodus from Egypt. Throughout the story, we see the family work hard to build it and make it a beautiful place. Then, a windstorm blows in and destroys the Sukkah. The community comes together to help rebuild it and celebrate the holiday, showing readers the power of community care. Readers will also be charmed by the beautiful illustrations that help readers understand the story and the emotional impact of the storm and the community’s help. The illustrations are colorful, expressive, lively, and engaging. 

Readers will appreciate the emotional rollercoaster and suspense of what happens with the Sukkah. Educators, librarians, and caregivers will appreciate the accessible introduction to a Jewish holiday, the vocabulary words like spectacular and distinctive, as well as the holiday-specific vocabulary, like sukkah. They will also appreciate the diverse character representations in the community and the author’s note at the end that helps us understand more about the holiday for those who are older or looking to learn more about the holiday. 

This would be a strong addition to any library serving readers in first through fifth grade, those who want to expand their holiday titles, or those looking for titles about community or community helpers. This was a four-star read for me.Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner