Lilah Tov Good Night

by Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G), Noar Lee Naggan (Illustrator)

Overview

A soothing Hebrew lullaby takes on added meaning for a refugee family in this visually stunning debut.

As the moon rises, a family steps into the night on a journey toward a new beginning. Along the way, their little girl delights in the wonders of nature, saying good night—lilah tov—to the creatures and landscapes they pass. Wherever she looks—on land, in the sky above and even, eventually, in the water below her boat—there are marvels to behold. "Lilah tov to the birds in the trees, lilah tov to the fish in the sea." Then, when their travels are finally over, her parents tuck her in tight, safe and ready for dreams in their new home.

This lyrical lullaby celebrates the beauty of our world and the spirit of resilience in a refugee family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524740665
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/18/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Ben Gundersheimer (bengundersheimer.com, MisterGsongs.com) is a Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist, author and educator. Hailed as “a bilingual rock star” by The Washington Post and “irresistible” by People magazine, he was originally dubbed MISTER G by his young students while pursuing a Master of Education degree. He is also the author of How Many Squirrels Are in the World?, based on a song from his album Pizza for Breakfast, and Senorita Mariposa, based on a song on his album Chocolalala. MISTER G tours internationally, performing in venues such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, New Orleans Jazz Fest, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His dynamic, interactive bilingual performances aim to dissolve borders and foster cross-cultural connections. He lives in the woods of Western Massachusetts with his wife, Katherine, rescue mutt, Josie, and cat, Chloe Bird.

Noar Lee Naggan was born in Israel and graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. He worked in animation and graphic design with major companies in Israel, then found his calling in illustration and never looked back. He currently lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

As the sun sets and the moon rises, an unnamed young child says good night to everything in the natural landscape. . . . Simple, brief, descriptive text. . . . Lush, detailed, soft-edged landscapes provide another, deeper, and more nuanced level to the proceedings. . . . The protagonist is saying good night to the creatures and places spotted on what readers will see as a lengthy journey. . . . At the end of their travels there is a new home awaiting them. They travel quietly and surreptitiously. . . . Each young reader will interpret the work differently depending on individual understanding and knowledge of history, or perhaps with a wise adult to help. Haunting and beautiful.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Lovely illustrations depicting a Jewish immigrant tale. The text is concise and simple. . . . The rhymes work well. . . . The luminous, digitally colored pencil illustrations tell a more expansive story. . . . This book can be read as a simple bedtime story, or discussed as an immigrant tale. Either way, it will likely find a receptive audience with Jewish families in search of bedtime books, or families looking for immigrant stories.”—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2019-11-05
As the sun sets and the moon rises, an unnamed young child says good night to everything in the natural landscape.

In the simple, brief, descriptive text the child calls out, "Lilah Tov," to hens and roosters, bears and bats, beaches and waves, clouds and stars, fish and birds, mountains and streams. There is no other narrative, at least not in words. Naggan's lush, detailed, soft-edged landscapes provide another, deeper, and more nuanced level to the proceedings. "Lilah tov" means "good night" in Hebrew, and there is a menorah on the windowsill, indicating that this family is Jewish. By dress and household appearance, they seem to be living in the late 19th or early 20th century. After a simple meal, they pack their belongings and leave their small rural home. The protagonist is saying good night to the creatures and places spotted on what readers will see as a lengthy journey. Beneath a full moon a man rows them across a body of water, and the journey continues on the other side. At the end of their travels there is a new home awaiting them. They travel quietly and surreptitiously, but there is no explanation within the text of where they are and why they leave. Are they refugees escaping something dreadful? Each young reader will interpret the work differently depending on individual understanding and knowledge of history, or perhaps with a wise adult to help.

Haunting and beautiful. (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews