Mazel Toes!

Toddler-K–Jewish grandmothers everywhere will revel in this sweet (if a little kitschy) board book for new parents. Gentle rhymes featuring Yiddish words (“I’ll kiss you on the pupik, / a smooch right on your tum, / Potch you on the tuchus / Your little baby bum”) celebrate the joy a new baby brings to multiple generations. For those not up on their Yiddish, a glossary in the back matter helps. The silly rhymes are fun if predictable (even to a non–Yiddish speaker), but the illustrations offer the true message: a new baby brings so much love and joy as generations gather in delight to celebrate a new member of the family. Featuring a lively multi-cultural family: same-sex and mixed-race couples; a parent in a wheelchair; and a large, robust, and loving extended family; the colorful, warm illustrations highlight love and diversity within many generations and celebrate inclusivity, a hallmark of Jewish values.