Illustrated by

by

Laurie A.

Jacobs

Shelly Schonebaum
Ephraim

11Ne;

4 5g7S 9012 345

A Box of Candles by Laurie A.
Jacobs, with illustrations by Shelly
Schone6aum Ephraim. Copyright
2005, published by Boyds Mills
Press, Inc. Hardback. 38 pages.

$17.95.

Its Ruthie's 7th birthday, and her
Grandma Gussie gives her a silver can-
dlestick with a big box of candles --
one for each of the Jewish holidays
and for every Shabbat of the year.
When the box is empty, Grandma
says to Ruthie, "You'll be 8 years old."
"I hope nothing changes when I'm
8," Ruthie responds. "I like everything
just the way it is."
But a great deal is about to change
in Ruthie's life. Her grandmother, who
had been all Ruthie's, makes a new
friend named Mr. Adler.
Ruthie's mother is pleased.
Grandma, she tells Ruthie, has "been
lonely since she stopped teaching and
came to live with us."
But Ruthie doesn't like Mr. Adler.
Her grandmother "doesn't need a
friend," she says. "She has me."
A Box of Candles chronicles a year
in the life of one little girl -- her hap-
piness at the Jewish holidays and the
way she comes to love Mr. Adler. He
tells funny jokes at Pesach, helps her
learn to ride a bike, calms her with a
story during a thunderstorm at
Shavuot, and compliments her Purim
costume.
At each holiday, Ruthie lights a
candle from the box her grandmother
gave her. When the box is empty,
everything has changed, but in happy
ways. Now Grandma offers to refill the
box with candles to be used not only
on the holidays, but also on "simchas
and celebrations...like weddings."

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JN GIFT GUIDE I • NOVEMBER 2005 • 25