2025 Sydney Taylor Notable Book

Named a Best Jewish Children’s Book of 2024 by Tablet Magazine

"A delightful tale of friendship formed across cultures and generations." —School Library Journal

"Having friends with different experiences and backgrounds can be very enlightening." —Sydney Taylor Shmooze

"Opens space to discuss antisemitism in a non-threatening way with children and is recommended for all collections." —Association of Jewish Libraries

A young girl learns how to be more accepting of others different than herself as she comes to be friends with an octogenarian Russian immigrant who wants to learn Hebrew with her father and finally celebrate the bar mitzvah it was too dangerous to have when he was a boy in the Soviet Union.

Sarah often listens when her father tutors students for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. She enjoys hearing the boys and girl learn Hebrew and sing. When a new student arrives, a wrinkled man named Mr. Katz, Sarah is confused. He is older than 13. Much older. How can he have a Bar Mitzvah? Why do his hands shake and sometimes he forgets his book? But Mr. Katz has a beautiful voice and he likes watching birds with her. As Sarah and Mr. Katz slowly become friends, she learns about former Soviet Union, where he was born. It was dangerous to be Jewish there, but after immigrating to America and meeting Sarah's family, he has a new chance to have his Bar Mitzvah, even at 81 years young.

Inspired by the life experiences of the author's own grandfather, a Russian Jewish immigrant himself.