Barbara Diamond Goldin

Cakes and Miracles (1991 edition), illustrated by Erika Weihs.

As mentioned in my review of the 2010 reprint of this title, illustrated by Jaime Zollars, when a picture-book is repackaged in this way - new artwork, edited text - I tend to want to find the original as well, and compare and contrast the different editions. Even when there's no textual difference (as with Jane Yolen's The Seeing Stick, for example), I still enjoy comparing illustrative interpretation. Oddly enough, I read the show more newer version of Cakes and Miracles first, before realizing that there even was a difference in text, so I was on the lookout, with this 1991 edition, for any pieces of narrative that weren't included in the 2010 reprint.

What I discovered, to my surprise, was that the differences were not insignificant, and while the newer edition does preserve the basic storyline and meaning of the original, a lot of the nuance - particularly the more poignant and/or disturbing elements of the tale - were omitted. The scene in which Hershel makes mischief in school, for instance, setting a frog loose in Reb Shimmel's class; or the one in which his mother says: "If you had eyes you could..." (something Hershel didn't like to hear), were deleted from the 2010 text. I'm sure the intention was to make a simpler story, suitable for the youngest readers, but the result was a much "sweeter" (and flatter) tale, with all the bite missing.

In the end, although I preferred the new illustrations, by Jaime Zollars - Erika Weihs' work is also appealing, in a stylized folk-art way, but isn't as warm and inviting - I liked the original text better. Four stars for the Zollars art, and four for Goldin's original narrative - I ended up giving both editions a three-star rating. show less

Cakes and Miracles (2010 edition), illustrated by Jaime Zollars.

I'm a big fan of Purim - a Jewish holiday celebrating the biblical story of Esther, in which children dress up in costumes, plays are given, and sweets (like Hamantaschen) are eaten - so when I learned that a new Purim picture-book was due out this coming November, I was quite excited. As it turns out, Barbara Diamond Goldin's Cakes and Miracles is a 2010 reissue of a picture-book first released in 1991, with new illustrations, show more and a shorter text. As always, in a case like this, I decided to read the two editions in tandem, in order to compare and contrast.

The tale of Hershel, a young blind boy who wants to participate in the Purim baking, as a means of helping his hard-working mother, this is a holiday story that incorporates a number of themes, from learning to live with a disability, to following one's dreams, no matter the obstacle. The text is simple and engaging, and the collage and acrylic illustrations appealing. I loved the colors Zollars used here, from her warm golden hues to her melancholy purples. All in all, a lovely Purim tale, one I might have given four stars. Unfortunately, after comparing this 2010 version with the original, from 1991, I found that while I prefer the newer artwork, I also prefer the original, unexpurgated text. In the end, I settled on three stars for each. show less

Night Lights: A Sukkot Story, illustrated by Louise August.

Daniel is frightened by the idea of sleeping out in his family's sukkah - a temporary booth built by Jews each year to celebrate the harvest festival of Sukkot - without the reassuring presence of his grandfather in this lovely holiday picture-book. His older sister Naomi, with whom he is sleeping out, is at first less than helpful, even mocking his fear. But when she gets frightened as well, she becomes more sympathetic, pointing show more out the night lights - the stars and moon - that their ancestors must have watched as they too camped out under the skies, in their flight out of Egypt...

Originally published in 1995 with artwork from Louise August, then in 2002 with illustrations from Laura Sucher, and finally in 2020 with artwork from Amberin Huq, Night Lights: A Sukkot Story is the second seasonal picture-book I have read from author Barbara Diamond Goldin, following upon her Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale (also illustrated by different artists, over the years). The story here is engaging, and ultimately heartwarming, as the two children grow closer together, while also growing closer to their ancestors, and their ancestors' struggles. That said, what really lifted the reading experience to the next level for me were the illustrations of August, created using linocuts, oil and pastel, all on rice paper. They are lovely, alternating between cute and fearsome, and having a stained-glass feeling at times that I found very appealing. Recommended to picture-book readers seeking Sukkot stories. show less

Stunning and highly recommended to all ages, whether or not you're Jewish, spiritual, interested in the history of Jews, or interested in Pinkney's art.

These stories do require a belief in the possibility of miracles... or at least a desire to suspend disbelief in that possibility. Otherwise, they're as universally relevant as the teachings found in Aesop's fables.