"Toddlers who attend Jewish preschools (and their parents) are no doubt familiar with this classic children's song, used to salute the Jewish Sabbath. Here the song is transformed into a narrative of sorts in which several animals perform the song while gathering Shabbat essentials. Toucan brings the candles; Snake brings the wine cup; Monkey brings the challah; and Lion prepares the table. Koffsky's vibrant cartoonstyle artwork is well suited to the celebratory atmosphere of this weekly observance. The colorful animals stand out against vivid background hues, and the decision to place the artwork at a 90-degree rotation from standard page turns allows for impressive vertical spreads that can be easily viewed in a group setting. Paired with Sylvia Rouss' Sammy Spider's First Shabbat (1997), this makes a good participatory piece: children shout the 'Hey!' refrain, and a QR code on the back cover links to a recording of the song. This will be welcomed by religious schools and public libraries where demand is high." -- Booklist.
Shabbat Shalom, Hey!