The Stars Will Be My Nightlight: A Sukkot Story

by Jen Halpern, Chiara Fedele (Illustrator)

Can we sleep in the sukkah?

the son asks his mom. She worries that it will be cold and dark, and that it might rain. "But the stars will be my nightlight," the boy says, to which the mom smiles.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Childrens, Family

24 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2022

Reviews

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sukkah is a temporary structure built outdoors during Sukkot to remind us of the temporary structures built by the Jews when they wandered in the dessert during the biblical Exodus from Egypt. Today many families decorate the sukkahs, eat in them and even sleep as the young boy and his mother do in this sweet story. This heartwarming story beautifully weaves the history and meaning of the holiday with how we celebrate today and even includes backmatter for further reading.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Holiday of Sukkot, many Jews will build sukkahs that recall the temporary shelters that sheltered the Jews during their exodus from Egypt. It is also a harvest celebration and the wooden frames are covered in branches and decorated with fruit. Often people will eat or study there and occasional sleep there to.

In Jen Harper's simple little tale, a mother gives in to her young son's request to spend the night in the sukkah. It is a charming story that explains the holiday of Sukkot and shows a loving relationship between mother and child. Chiara Fedele's lovely illustrations add warmth as they help tell the story.