Publishers Weekly
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In this quietly reverent tale by Goldberg, a candle lit to observe the anniversary of a loved one’s death gives a family the opportunity for reminiscence. As the young narrator notes, yahrzeit is a Yiddish word meaning “time of year.” In lighting the candle, Mom explains, “We’ll let it burn all night and then all day tomorrow until sunset, until it’s all gone.” As the protagonist wonders why the candle burns for so long, the family begins to recall Grandpa—his scratchy beard, his hat, his love of trivia and the night sky (“He said that light from stars travels to reach us from far away”). And more memories surface as the child checks on the candle’s progress. Alko’s multimedia illustrations have the feel of a carefully compiled scrapbook, layering visual grace notes throughout this bittersweet narrative about a treasured ritual. The Jewish characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Back matter includes creators’ notes. Ages 6–8. (Aug.)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

On the anniversary of Grandpa’s death, a Jewish family observes the tradition of yahrzeit by lighting a candle to honor his memory. The candle burns over the next 24 hours while everyone shares stories about Grandpa, creating new memories as each reminiscence connects to an activity he used to enjoy. As the family members use a telescope to gaze at the night sky, the nameless young protagonist recalls Grandpa explaining how to find the constellation Orion; sitting down at the piano is a reminder of how Mom used to play with Grandpa. The candle remains a constant throughout, burning a little more with each page turn and allowing readers to feel as though they’re part of the story. By book’s end, the candle’s extinguished, but the family keeps Grandpa’s memory bright. Goldberg’s poignant and beautifully crafted tale tackles the weighty issue of losing a loved one in a thoughtful and accessible age-appropriate way. Alko blends vibrant paintings and creative collage illustrations. A motif of white dots, hearts, and stars sprinkled throughout the book suggests the stars that Grandpa loves and invokes feelings of love for him. Some readers may wonder about the omission of the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer that is said over the dead. Still, few picture books explore yahrzeits, making this tale an especially welcome addition on the topic. The family members vary in skin tone. A meaningful and sensitive celebration of life. (author’s and illustrator’s notes, information on yahrzeit and Jewish mourning traditions, explanation of the Jewish calendar, sources)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.