K-Gr 3–This luminous picture book preserves and honors the traditions of a Jewish community in the high mountains of Ethiopia, seen through the eyes of a child. Centered on Senvetu and his family, the narrative follows their preparations for the weekly Sabbath, the “Day of Delight,” as they hurry to finish cooking, weaving, cleaning, and daily work before midday to then prepare for an evening community gathering of prayer. The narrative structure is quiet yet immersive, allowing readers to feel the rhythm of anticipation that builds as ordinary tasks become acts of devotion. Schur’s storytelling is rich with sensory detail, creating an atmosphere so vivid that readers can almost smell the food, feel the woven cloth, and hear the movement of a busy household. The prose carries a sense of reverence, underscoring the urgency of remembering cultural histories and lived traditions before they fade from collective memory. The text does not rush but instead invites lingering, reflection, and respect. Pinkney’s illustrations deepen this effect. Expressive lines and layered colors lend movement and emotion to each scene, expanding the narrative and grounding it in place, texture, and feeling. The art uplifts the text, providing a visual language that echoes the story’s warmth, dignity, and spiritual focus. VERDICT An important and resonant work, offering young readers a window into a specific cultural experience and a universal message about family, faith, and tradition. Ideal for classrooms, libraries, and shared reading, this is as a meaningful contribution to children’s literature and cultural storytelling.

– Cassie Veselovsky, School Library Journal

(STARRED REVIEW) Laden with information, this picture book introduces a fascinating, little-known population of black Jews who live in the mountains of Ethiopia. Schur (The Circlemaker; Hannah Szenes) takes readers through the various rituals performed by each segment of the community to prepare for the Sabbath. In meticulous detail, she describes food, chores, clothing, customs and activities, peppering the text with Ethiopian words and phrases. The sheer volume of information overwhelms and occasionally supplants traditional narrative; the value of this work lies in its economical evocation of an entire way of life, not in the telling of a specific tale. An author's note at the end explains the history and status of this small group, whose members call themselves Beta Israel. Pinkney's (see Dear Benjamin Banneker, reviewed above) signature scratchboard illustrations celebrate the African roots of the Beta Israel with affecting visual images that are startlingly at odds with more familiar depictions of more familiar Jewry. Ages 6-10. 

– Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Well into the twentieth century the Beta Israel [Ethiopian Jews] were so isolated, they believed themselves to be the only Jews in the world,"" explains Schur (The Circlemaker, p. 74) in a note that also mentions the flight of many of their number to Sudan and Israel in the wake of civil war and famine in the 1980s. Text and illustrations here portray the way of life these refugees left behind. On the last workday of the week, the younger children study and help their mother while the older narrator assists his father and uncle in their traditional trade as blacksmiths and others are engaged in farming and weaving. Everyone works especially hard to be ready for the Sabbath by sundown. The next day, wearing clean white robes, the whole village worships in their simple synagogue and shams a communal meal. The well-detailed text is beautifully complemented by Pinkney's art, the carefully observed figures and landscapes rendered in scratchboard illuminated with rich color. A handsome and informative book.

– Kirkus Reviews