Lilah Tov Good Night
Hebrew for "good night"
Author: Ben Gundersheime (Mister G)Illustrator: Noar Lee Naggan
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020
ISBN: 978-1524740665
Reading Ages: 3 and up
Genre: Poetry for Early Learning, Children's Jewish Fiction Books, Stories in Verse, Lyrical Lullaby
Genre: Poetry for Early Learning, Children's Jewish Fiction Books, Stories in Verse, Lyrical Lullaby
I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁
Appeal: This book is deceptively simple. On one level it is a simple children’s story about a little girl saying good night to common things around her, but on a deeper level you see a family leaving their home in search of a new one. The Jewish diaspora was a major part of Jewish history and is unobtrusively discovered in the lovely artwork that accompanies the poem.
Connections:
Lailah Töv,
Why 5 Roars? This is one of my new favorite books! It was originally a
song that was made into a lyrical lullaby. I bought it for my grandchildren to enjoy
and fell in love with the art and rhymes. This is a book that you should buy as
a printed copy, not an ebook, in my opinion. The artwork is just too fabulous
not to appreciate in print format.
Poetic Elements: The rhyme and rhythm are a song that became a poem, a visual story, and a moving combination of all of the above.
“Lovely illustrations depicting a Jewish immigrant tale. The text is concise and simple. . . . The rhymes work well. . . . The luminous, digitally colored pencil illustrations tell a more expansive story. . . . This book can be read as a simple bedtime story or discussed as an immigrant tale. Either way, it will likely find a receptive audience with Jewish families in search of bedtime books or families looking for immigrant stories.”
~~School Library Journal
Appeal: This book is deceptively simple. On one level it is a simple children’s story about a little girl saying good night to common things around her, but on a deeper level you see a family leaving their home in search of a new one. The Jewish diaspora was a major part of Jewish history and is unobtrusively discovered in the lovely artwork that accompanies the poem.
“As the sun sets and the moon rises, an unnamed young child says good night to everything in the natural landscape. . . . Simple, brief, descriptive text... Lush, detailed, soft-edged landscapes provide another, deeper, and more nuanced level to the proceedings. . . . The protagonist is saying good night to the creatures and places spotted on what readers will see as a lengthy journey. . . . At the end of their travels, there is a new home awaiting them. They travel quietly and surreptitiously. . . . Each young reader will interpret the work differently depending on individual understanding and knowledge of history, or perhaps with a wise adult to help. Haunting and beautiful.”
~~Kirkus Reviews
Overall Quality: The book is oddly peaceful and does not present a stressful version of the Jewish diaspora, so young readers will be comforted by the book's simple story and rhyme. The superiority of the lyrical lullaby, sweet, quiet, and effortless with the charming artwork, is exceptional.
Gundersheimer's work is well known. He has two bilingual albums, "Chocolalala" and "ABC Fiesta," a GRAMMY-winning album, “Los Animales,” Jewish albums “The Mitzvah Bus” and “Seeds of Shalom,” and an environmental bilingual album, “Mundo Verde/Green World.” He promotes multiculturalism, unity, and peace.
Noar Lee Naggan is an illustrator born in Israel and graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.
Layout: The layout is a story in verse.
Connections:
Spotlight Poem -
“The moon is rising,
big and bright
Time to wish everyone
good night”
Sharing - This book would be perfect for reading before bed.
Activity - I would teach the poem in song to younger readers. This would be a great way to connect the art of songwriting and poetry.
Shalom!
