Eighteen Flowers for Grandma

Kindergartner Sadie shares her love of art with her adoring grandmother. Together, they explore the scores of different media assembled and employed in their artistic visual constructions. While they talk, little Sadie learns that her necklace which says ‘chai’ matches the one her grannie wears. With explanation, the little one learns that the two Hebrew letters on the necklace translate into the meaning of ‘life’ and that the sum of the letters adds up to the lucky number 18. Since Grannie is soon to graduate from college, her granddaughter struggles to create the perfect graduation gift for Grannie. After many failed attempts, she finally crafts a satisfying gift of Chai in the form of eighteen creatively unique flowers that radiate life and love. The author Alison Goldberg remarkably combines Jewish cultural traditions, intergenerational bonding, and family life as reflected in her family. The story cleverly mentions traditional Klezmer music and noted artist Marc Chagall and illustrates the Jewish folk art of paper cutting. The illustrations are quietly depicted in muted pastels. The book should spark creativity in the young reader while revealing the traditions that enrich a culture.