A Box of Candles

For Ruthie's seventh birthday, Grandma Gussie gives her a box of candles. Ruthie has enough candles for each of the Jewish holidays and Shabbats in the year. When the candles are gone, Ruthie will be eight years old. But her seventh year will bring about a big change in her life. It all begins when Grandma Gussie invites Mr. Adler to dinner one Friday night. Mr. Adler is a new neighbor. But he and Grandma Gussie knew each other in grammar school. Granda Gussie spends a lot of time with Mr. Adler, time that she would have spent with Ruthie. That's only one reason why Ruthie doesn't like Mr. Adler. He also has a mustache, wears funny-looking hats, and whistles. As the year goes on, however, from Shabbat to Shabbat and holiday to holiday, Ruthie begins to see Mr. Adler in a different light. This heartwarming story by Laurie A. Jacobs, with engaging illustrations by Shelly Ephraim, takes readers through the Jewish year as it tells the story of a young girl who learns to open her heart and accept her grandma's newfound happiness.