Can Sophie Change the World?

by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, Aura Lewis (Illustrator)

Overview

This is Pay It Forward meets the #BeKind movement, as seen through a Jewish principle.

It's Grandpop's birthday, and all he wants is one little thing: for Sophie to change the world.

He wants Sophie to do a mitzvah—something kind for others. But what exactly does that mean?

As Sophie shares, teaches, helps her friends, takes care of birds, and picks up litter, she wonders which of these acts, if any, might change the world. By performing this sequence of poignant mitzvahs with an open heart, unending empathy, and a big imagination, Sophie's about to discover that what sounds like an impossible task just might be the best way to live life.

In this exploration of an essential part of Jewish traditional teaching, Sophie's efforts to grant Grandpop's wish show that the smallest acts of kindness are what truly change the world.

TIMELESS: Mitzvahs are a time-honored tradition and a central part of Judaic practice. This universal, timeless picture book shares a meaningful message about doing good in the world that will always be welcome and needed.

A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE: This story explores an aspect of Jewish culture that is applicable to anyone interested in improving their world, making it a book that is both relevant and relatable to kids who are Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

SPREAD KINDNESS: This book shows a variety of kind actions and engages with how kindness and good deeds can affect and lift up friends, family, and entire communities.

BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS: The art in this book is bright and cheerful, perfect for engaging kids and getting them excited to learn how they, too, can change the world!

Perfect for:

• Jewish families
• Jewish schools and learning centers
• Teachers
• Parents looking for books about kindness

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452181561
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	03/08/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,091,574
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.25(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Aura Lewis is an author-illustrator of such titles as Gloria's Voice, The Illustrated Feminist, and We the People. She lives in New York. Visit her at www.auralewis.com.

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace is the creator of more than 20 books for children. She lives in Connecticut. To learn more about Nancy and her books, please visit www.nancyelizabethwallace.com.

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2022

When Sophie asks Grandpop what he wants for his birthday, he gives her a tall order: for the week leading up to his birthday, he asks Sophie to change the world via kind deeds, or mitzvahs. Dubious about the impact she can make, she approaches the week with a new level of attentiveness and intentionality, and Lewis’s delicate mixed-media vignettes show Sophie modeling consideration and thoughtfulness in her day-to-day. Though Sophie continues to believe that “I didn’t change the world,” Grandpop begs to differ; as Wallace writes, Sophie has helped make it a “more giving, sharing, blooming, caring place,” and the pink-skinned, Jewish-cued family celebrates by crafting a flower-like record of her good deeds. Some readers may wish for a clearer explanation of mitzvah, including connection to the Jewish tradition, but the story effectively shows how every kind act creates its own momentum of good. Ages 3–5. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Precisely worded and straightforward in approach, the quiet narrative is sensitively illustrated in a series of delicate mixed-media scenes. This picture book may have particular resonance in Jewish households, but its message is universal. Pair this volume with Stacy McAnulty’s A Small Kindness (2021) and Marta Bartolj’s Every Little Kindness (2021), which show the ripple effects of good deeds within a community. A gentle picture book on the power of kindness.”—Booklist 

“This lovely picture book with its gentle text and sweet illustrations delivers a strong moral lesson through the warm heart of a wise grandfather. It will make a nice addition to the Jewish values shelf on mitzvot and tikun olam and to grandparent stories.” — Association of Jewish Libraries

From the Publisher

04/15/2022

PreS-Gr 3—It is almost Grandpop's birthday, but Sophie, a young girl with pale skin and red hair, cannot think of the right gift to give him. Grandpop, also pale-skinned, warmly tells Sophie that he genuinely wants nothing more than for her to change the world by doing mitzvahs, the Jewish commandment of doing good deeds. How can Sophie possibly change the world all by herself? Each day of the week she does many mitzvahs. She shares toys with her friends, helps her parents, and cares for a neighbor's plants. But is Sophie actually changing the world? Grandpop teaches Sophie that each mitzvah is an act of kindness that makes a difference, no matter how big or small. The pale, warm hues of Lewis's delicately stylized mixed media illustrations directly depict Wallace's didactic, matter-of-fact story. The illustrations are not engaging enough to independently generate additional interest in the story, and the picture book may generally leave readers feeling uninspired. The conclusion demonstrates an activity for young readers as they consider their own mitzvahs for making a difference in the lives of others. VERDICT An additional SEL purchase for libraries looking to supplement their collection of secular picture books depicting Jewish values.—Emily Brush

School Library Journal