Bagel King, The

PreS-Gr 2—Every Sunday morning, Eli's grandpa, Zaida, goes to Merv's Bakery for bagels. So Eli is both hungry and anxious when Zaida doesn't show up one week. A phone call reveals that poor grandpa "had slipped on some schmutz at Merv's" and "hurt his tuches" and had to rest at home for two weeks. Eli rushes over and is surprised to learn that he is not the only disappointed bagel lover. A trio of old men explain that "Every Sunday morning we come to your zaida's apartment for a feast." All week long, Eli visits with chicken soup and library books, and on Sunday morning he rises early with purpose. Filling in for Zaida, he gets everyone's order just right and heads to Merv's—with a little extra surprise as well. ("What a mensch!…The boy's a prince…he's a king…the Bagel King!") The colorful acrylic paintings are comical and evocative. At the doctor's office, grandpa is pictured frowning in his green gown as the doctor offers him an inflated donut to ease the pain that looks suspiciously like a bagel.