Rachel Kamin has been a synagogue librarian and Jewish educator for over twenty-five years and has worked at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, IL since 2008, currently serving as the Director of Lifelong Learning. A past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and past editor of Book Reviews for Children & Teens for the Association of Jewish Libraries News & Reviews, her articles and book reviews appear in numerous publications. She has been a member of the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Book Award Committee since 2021.
Children’s
Sabrina: The Girl With a Hole in Her Heart
- Review
By
– January 10, 2012
Ten-year-old Sabrina lives in Zanzibar with her mother and sister. A hole in her heart prevents her from running and playing with the other children. But luckily, the doctors from Save a Child’s Heart arrive near her village and offer to fly her to Israel for the much-needed surgery. Accompanied by an Israeli nurse, Sabrina leaves her family behind and journeys to Israel. At the Save a Child’s Heart house, she meets children from all over the world. Her surgery is a success and after recovering, she is able to tour the country before returning home. Colorful cartoon illustrations combined with echocardiogram images, photographs, diagrams, and text boxes complement the narrative. More information about Save a Child’s Heart is appended along with a detailed explanation of Atrial Septal Defects and instructions for making a heart pump and stethoscope. The font, layout, and design have an amateurish, self-published look but parents or religious school classes looking for more information on charitable organizations in Israel (and possible recipients of their tzedakah collections) will appreciate this offering. It also nicely highlights one of the many ways that the Israeli medical profession comes to the aid of patients around the world. For ages 6 – 9.
Discussion Questions
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