Three New Shavuot Stories for Children
Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת) commemorates the date when the Jewish people received the torah at Mount Sinai. What books will you read with your children on Shavuot? Here are a few of my new favorites.
Picture Books
Tractor Zack on Sunshine Kibbutz
Tractor Zack on Sunshine Kibbutz
by Alice Blumenthal McGinty
Illustrator: Rotem Teplow
Published by Kalaniot Books on April 7, 2026
Pages: 32
Picture Book
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Jewish
Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Jewish,
Everyone has a job on Sunshine Kibbutz. Even the young or old has a job they can do in this sweet Shavuot story. Tractor Zack is getting old and can no longer o his job, but his friends help him find a job that he can do well. This book sends the message that everyone is important, and everyone has something to contribute. Kids can learn to find a task and take pride in a job well done, just like tractor Zack. It also shows respect to the elderly The afterward includes passages explaining life on a kibbutz and the holiday of Shavuot, making this book great for readers of any background.
Shavuot, Shavuot, Why Are You Sad?
Shavuot, Shavuot, Why Are You Sad?
by Doug Rand
Illustrator: Paweł Gierliński
Published by Kar-Ben Books on May 12, 2026
Pages: 32
Picture Book
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Jewish
Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Jewish,
This adorable book uses rhyme and anthropomorphic holiday symbols to teach little ones about the Jewish holidays. The holidays are represented by symbols that have cute faces and talk to each other. Shavuot feels overshadowed by most of the other holidays and is feeling sorry for himself. On each spread a different holiday asks Shavuot why he is sad. The jealous holiday mentions how great the other one is and how he suffers in comparison. The catchy rhymes are well written and the illustrations are fun. Little ones will love seeing a matzah and a menorah with faces and have fun identifying each holiday by the symbol. In the end Shavuot and the reader learn the meaning of the holiday. But this book also sends the subtle message that children shouldn’t compare themselves to everyone else, they are each special in their own way.
Chapter Book
A Whiff of Magic
A Whiff of Magic
by Elana Rubinstein
Illustrator: Jennifer Naalchigar
Series: Saralee Siegel #6
Published by Apples & Honey Press on May 12, 2026
Pages: 128
Chapter Book
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Jewish
Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Jewish,
Elana Rubinstein has worked her magic again with another Saralee Siegel story. This chapter book provides a fun story for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Saralee, is a youngster with an unusual superpower. She has a super nose that can sniff out aromas from far away. But in this story, when she chooses ingredients based on one of her Zayde’s favorite Shavuot recipes, she discovers that the cakes aroma recreates the story. When Saralee tries to use her smellovision powers to fit in with the other girls, she ends up neglecting her best friend. This story provides an important lesson in friendship as well as a lesson that Shavuot celebrates the Torah.
More Holiday Favorites
Looking for more Shavuot books? Check out my Goodreads Shavuot shelf. Check out my reviews of other Jewish children’s books on Bubbe’s Bookshelf. Look on my Goodreads profile for other holiday shelves.
