Note: I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley. ( )

This is a great story to teach about settling in the west in the 1800s and 1900s as well as just a little about the Jewish Faith. When a young boy, his papa and mama moved out west to wide open spaces and a new life, they were not entirely sure what to expect. Their new life went well except for one thing, Mama did not like wide open spaces with no family. Every Shabbat, she was sad that she had too much soup and not enough family. They reminisced about the family left in the old home and the young boy decided to do something about it. He ended up inviting members of the community to dinner and they accepted. The next Shabbat, the table was full and the soup pot emptied, and mama was very happy. Some of the customs are demonstrated in the story and the back cover briefly explains the importance of hospitality in the Jewish Faith.

The illustrations, done by John Kanzler are fun, showing lots of emotions and large. Discussion can go on just with the illustrations alone. This is a great book to have in school and classroom libraries to share and read aloud for various subjects such as learning about different cultures, different holidays, values of sharing and friendship and more.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

It can get very lonely when you move away from all of your family and friends. One Jewish family did just this as they moved out West for the promise of land and a better life. Every Shabbat momma would prepare a large meal like she was used to doing back home, but no one came. Her young son decided to take matters into his own hand when he saw how sad his mamma was.
This book is recommended as a read aloud for older preschoolers through second grade. It is a good multicultural title to introduce Jewish customs and the fact that many Jewish families moved west. Children can see the Wild West wasn’t just about cowboys and Native Americans. It was about people coming together to build a new land. ( )

I enjoyed the book's illustrations and relatable story line. In the story, a boy and his parents move west away from their family. They have to adjust to a different life style but are saddened when their family can not join them for Shabbat. The boy invites neighbors to fill the spaces at the table. This i a great message of sharing and acceptance. Even though the neighbors did not practice the same religion, they were able to participate and enjoy the dinner. The illustrations in the story are very interesting. They are printed in a rough linear way which makes it look like cloth. It adds a lot of aesthetic to the western vibe of the pictures. ( )