In this new picture book, Kayla and her lively pup Kugel return for another delightful romp filled with holiday spirit. This time, the two young charmers are preparing for Sukkot: they build a sukkah, set the table, make decorations, and welcome guests. As the holiday arrangements come together, Kayla and Kugel share many important details, all of which are important to know when building a sukkah. They present the history of Sukkot in accessible, easy-to-understand language and instill in the reader a sense of holiday excitement and fun.
In an authors note, Koffsky presents some topics to think about and discuss during the holiday celebrations and suggests ways to enhance the experience.
The art is, as always, a delight. Through captivating colors, Kayla, Kugel, and their family come to life. This is a wonderful book about a holiday that is filled to the brim with joy. --Jewish Book Council
Kayla and her parents are preparing for the holiday of Sukkot. Mom and Dad are building the sukkah, and Kayla, joined by her playful pup Kugel, join in the action, gathering items for the roof and making decorations.
Woven in between the sukkah-building and Kugels silly antics are important mini-lessons about Sukkot, told with love and humor. For example, when Kugel offers a baseball bat he dug out from behind a bush for the sukkah roof, Kayla teaches him with gentleness that we only use things that grow. The affectionate tone grows along with the story, as when Kayla tells Kugel about her ancestors building and living in huts, and that we build a sukkah to remind us to be grateful for our homes. Kayla is a compassionate main character who models patience and compassion.
Koffskys centering of the story on Kayla and Kugel highlights the message that everyone, including a young girl and a little dog, can play an important role in Jewish traditions. Employing sparse and precise language, coupled with active and playful illustrations, Sukkot comes alive on the page. The reader will feel as if they have been invited into Kayla and Kugels sukkah.
Kayla and Kugels Silly Sukkot is perfect for young readers who will fall in love with Kugel, a pup who jumps off the page and into our hearts. The book will appeal to Jewish, Interfaith, and non-Jewish readers.
Illustration Editor Dena Bach adds: The loose line quality gives energy to the illustrations that bring in Judaic images where possible - a mezuzah on the house door, a drawing of a lulav and etrog on the sukkah decorations, challah on the dinner table - making the home feel specifically like a Jewish home. The sukkah guests add a note of ethnic diversity. --The Sydney Taylor Shmooze
A cheery child, Kayla, and her exuberant dog, Kugel, construct a backyard sukkah for the familys celebration of Sukkot in the fourth of this upbeat and culturally informative picture-book series. Kugel "helps" pigtailed Kayla collect the necessary items, including "fancy shmancy paper plates" and sticks, because a "sukkahs roof needs to be made from things that grow." Kugel listens attentively to Kaylas telling of the historical origin story of Sukkot, a weeklong Jewish holiday celebrating the fall harvest. Bold colors and lively images pair well with the playful font, and the minimal text is mostly Kayla cheerfully redirecting Kugels efforts in service of the preparations. It will help readers to have existing knowledge of the celebration, as the festival isnt really explained until an authors note. That note also includes questions and additional context and functions as a helpful teaching guide for families or educators. Pair with other Sukkot stories or those introducing holiday preparations in various cultures, such as Hena Khans Night of the Moon (2008) and Raakhee Mirchandanis My Diwali Light (2022). --Kit Ballenger, Booklist
Fourth in the Kayla and Kugel holiday series, Kayla helps her family build and decorate their sukkah in the backyard. Kayla enthusiastically helps with the decorating and simple sentences describe what is occurring on each page. Kugel, her dog, often interferes and Kayla patiently explains to Kugel each part of the preparations of getting a sukkah ready for Sukkot. Koffsky provides the background story of Sukkot and uses two pages to provide a side-by-side comparison of an illustration of an ancient hut in the desert with Kaylas family sukkah. As in the previous Kayla and Kugel books, brightly colored illustrations help highlight the lively and lovely puppy that Kugel is. Koffsky also provides an endnote with more details about Sukkot and provides questions and suggestions for how to make Sukkot more enjoyable and meaningful to families. This title is recommended.--Association of Jewish Libraries
