It's A..It's A..It's A Mitzvah
The creators of The Mitzvah Project Book (2011) team up to introduce young audiences to the concept of performing acts of loving kindness and tikkun olam (repairing the world). Mitzvah Meerkat notes examples of these good deeds in the activities of his animal buddies: welcoming new friends, sharing food, helping the elderly, forgiving mistakes, taking care of the earth, caring for the sick, giving to charity, making peace, enjoying Shabbat, and honoring parents. Situations and vocabulary are age appropriate (“Peter, I found your mitten!” “Thank you. Has anyone seen my glasses?”), and Meerkat’s refrain (“It’s a . . . it’s a . . . it’s a mitzvah!”) will encourage audience participation. Molk’s energetic cartoon illustrations (featuring friendly monkeys, bears, deer, beavers, kangaroos, rabbits, zebras, and sheep involved in everyday pursuits) enhance the text’s upbeat message and make this a good choice for religious school read-alouds. Preschool-Grade 1. --Kay Weisman