The Patchwork Torah by Allison Ofanansky –ADVISABLE

Ofanansky, Allison The Patchwork Torah 32 pgs. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2014. $7.95 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK.

A family of Torah Scribes works incredibly hard to hand write the Torah. They keep inheriting damaged Torahs with a variety of interesting backstories. As the fourth generation of Torah scribes finds himself with yet another damaged Torah, he decides to combine the least damaged parts of all of them to present it for Simchat Torah.  

I usually find that this publisher is creating works for those already familiar with the Jewish religion and culture. This book is no exception, nothing is explained. However the story, regardless of the lack of understating on my part, was still powerful and incredibly interesting. It was a short book but it was packed with meaning as the generational continuance of the family scribe job and the way the story comes together is very power.

EL –ADVISABLE  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.