"Children of interfaith couples are exposed to religious issues even when one religion is chosen for the family. Howe sensitively portrays the passing of a little Jewish girl’s Christian grandfather’s with a gentle, logical rendition of customs and observances from both sides. In her own voice, Emily describes the loving relationship she had with her grandpa, how he sang songs to her at two and read to her at four. She’s unaware of religious differences until Mommy explains Daddy’s choice to be Jewish. His Christian family will remember Grandpa with a church funeral and later, Emily’s family will hold a Jewish service reciting Kaddish, the prayer for the dead. Emily’s young perspective reflects the ambiguity of prayer, hearing new ones—“in Jesus’ name amen”; recognizing Hebrew as a reminder of her synagogue attendance; and understanding vaguely the symbolization of death with a keepsake of grandpa’s eyeglass case. Soft watercolors in muted tones depict both families in a loving and emotional environment. While some may consider the phrase with both “Kaddish” and “Jesus” unconventional, this is a unique and necessary addition for libraries serving both communities. (Picture book. 3-8)" www.kirkusreviews.com

I picked this book up because the name was very strange to me! I am Jewish, so I know what "Kaddish" means but I didn't know why it said "in Jesus' name amen". The story was about a young girl who had a grandfather who was very close to her. When she was young, he would always read to her, but lost his glasses, and she would always get them for him. When she was five years old he passed away, and since he was Christian, they had the funeral at a church. Of course this was the little girl's first time in a church, and she was amazed at the colors and songs and people there. When the family got home, they decided to have "shiva" for the grandfather's passing because they practice Judaism in their household, They lit a "special candle" and a rabbi came every evening and led them in the Kaddish prayer. At the end of the book, the little girl kept her grandfather's glasses case because for her, it didn't matter what religion was practiced to remember him, as long as she had her own way of doing it. I thought this was a lovely story because you could tell it was told from a five year olds point of view, which I liked. When the little girl was explaining everything I could picture a five year old telling the story. Since I'm Jewish and my grandma just died a year ago I can relate to this book, which I found interesting. The illustrations were colorful and cloudy but with pencil marks everywhere, it looked like pencil and watercolor. I liked this because it gives the reader an insight to both religions and how the family works around death. I think it would be a good book for children because it doesn't focus on the death as much as the religions and feelings of dealing with it as a child. ( )