With wipe-clean pages for long-term ease of use, cute rhymes, and bright colors, Hachai has done a masterful job of packaging a message of sweet, uncomplicated faith and love into a few simple, pleasant, read-aloud pages. This story features a little boy who wonders about taking a flight to the moon. Of course, if he goes, he will have to perform all his daily mitzvos there and that entails packing quite a lot: washing cup, siddur, money for tzedaka, food of all kinds in order to make every kind of bracha, toys so he can share, and a friend so he has someone to share them with. And how can honor his parents if he doesn’t bring them along, too? Oh yes, and a mezuza to hang on each door — but then he needs some doors to hang them on, which means he needs to pack and bring his whole house. Does he have a suitcase big enough? Hmm … Maybe the best place to do all his mitzvos is right here on Earth, just the way he’s been doing them all along.
Charming, amusing, sure to provoke smiles, and with an emphasis on always doing the right thing, this book is recommended for ages 2 – 5.
Michal Hoschander Malen is the editor of Jewish Book Council’s young adult and children’s book reviews. A former librarian, she has lectured on topics relating to literacy, run book clubs, and loves to read aloud to her grandchildren.