Pumpkin Pie for Sigd

by Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod, Denise Damanti (Contributor)

When Maddie feels homesick for Thanksgiving after her move to Israel her new friend Orly invites her to celebrate the Jewish Ethiopian holiday of Sigd. Lovely lessons to learn here gently and kindly told. -Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Holiday, Cultural, Food

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 2, 2021

About the author

Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod is the proud mother of four kids (two big and two little). In August 2013, she moved with her family from Toronto, Canada to northern Israel.

Reviews

[char · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted, my expectations were pretty low, but this was very disappointing. A very sweet story about being an immigrant and interacting with lots of other immigrant neighbors beyond language barriers. But given that this is PJ Library's only book about Sigd, I expected a lot better. There was hardly anything about what Sigd is about beyond the info in the inner flap (and the activity booklet, if one looked it up), and I wish it was told from the perspective of Orly, who actually celebrates Sigd, than her white friend. Orly also doesn't have any dialogue until more than halfway through the book, which felt pretty disappointing. On top of all that, the book was written by a white immigrant to Israel who, as far as I can tell, does not have any sort of personal relationship with Sigd beyond its designation as a national Israeli holiday.

I know that PJ Library, like much of the Jewish professional world, is finally starting to realize the importance of diversity and inclusion, and so I hope they add more books about Sigd from Beta Israel authors to its catalog in the future.

[Erika Dreifus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigd is an Ethiopian Jewish holiday that takes place 50 days after Yom Kippur—often quite close to American Thanksgiving. In this picture book, a new immigrant to Israel, an American-born child named Maddie, experiences homesickness as Thanksgiving approaches. A new, Ethiopian-born friend (Orly) invites Maddie to join in her family's Sigd celebration. Maddie's quest to bring something approximating a pumpkin pie to the party requires assistance from many of her new neighbors, including people who hail Ukraine, India, and Mexico. The celebration itself introduces Maddie to food, language, and other customs from Orly's native country. It's a lovely introduction both to the Sigd holiday and to Israel's "ingathering of the exiles" from diverse corners of the Jewish Diaspora. A note explains how the author's own experience as an immigrant to Israel connects with the story.

[Chana Stiefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about a little-known Ethopian-Jewish holiday called Sigd and how food and friendship unite us. Maddie and Orly are new immigrants to Israel. Maddie is from America and longs to celebrate Thanksgiving. Orly is from Ethiopia and is excited to celebrate Sigd, which commemorates the day God first spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The girls ask their neighbors, who also come from various countries like India and Guatemala, for ingredients to make pumpkin pie. The results are a mixture from various cultures, just like the people of Israel. While the girls taste each other’s new and unusual foods they learn to be grateful for their new community and the new friendships they are forming. A lovely addition for school, home, and all library collections.

[Marilyn Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie just wants a bit of home as her first Thanksgiving in Israel approaches. With the help of her Ethiopian friend, Orly, she tries to bake a pumpkin pie. But Israel doesn’t have the right ingredients. Using pictures to communicate what they need, the friends seek help from their neighbors: a Ukranian woman, a man from India, and a transplant from Mexico. With contributions from all, the girls cobble together a pie which they bring to Orly’s family celebration of the Ethiopian-Israeli holiday of Sigd. A lovely story of friendship, diversity, and peaceful coexistence. Highly recommend.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of immigrants living at an absorption center in Israel. Coming from around the world, they join together to celebrate the Ethiopian Jewish holiday, Sigd. It comes around the same time as Thanksgiving, so the American girl decides to make a pumpkin pie for the event.

I do wish it gave more information about Sigd.

[Nessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sweet read about interacting and connecting with different cultures and dealing with moving overseas.