A book about bupkes

When is nothing actually better than anything? Kimmelman explores the word bupkes, Yiddish for nothing, in a variety of scenarios. The word is typically used in a negative way, but in each setting, it turns out that bupkes is just what is wanted. A mother feels better when there is nothing left in a bowl of chicken soup. Cleaning up messes at a park and at home leaves nothing behind but creates inviting indoor and outdoor spaces. De Rond's colorful drawings add to the book's cheerfulness and bring an unforced sense of diversity to the characters, as she depicts people who represent a variety of skin colors and ages, including one who uses a wheelchair. Although the word bupkes comes from Yiddish and some of the scenarios nod lightly to Jewish culture, this book does not depend at all on cultural or religious identification. This unusual linguistic exploration is nothing short of charming.

Bupkes is a Yiddish word that usually connotes lack of value (e.g., "You know bupkes about that"). But Kimmelman (Write On, Irving Berlin!) and de Rond (Milo and Monty) start on a more expansive, neutral note. Defining the word as simply "nothing"--or, as they put it, "Zero. Zilch"--they use it as a kind of linguistic linchpin for a pale-skinned protagonist, young Zoe, to connect with and help others in a community of individuals shown with varied abilities and skin tones. In an early vignette, Zoe and her mother harvest all the vegetables from a garden, leaving behind "Bupkes!" But when they make a gift delivery of fresh-picked produce, "their neighbor is happy." Similarly, when Zoe encounters a child sitting alone on a bench filled with belongings ("There's no room for anything--or anyone--else"), she introduces herself, the two go off to play, and the bench is now "Bupkes! Empty bench. Full hearts." Slice-of-life drawings and upbeat characters, rendered in loopy ink lines with soft washes, assure readers that the world moves forward on even the smallest acts of kindness. Or, as closing lines read, "The thing is, bupkes may mean nothing... but it can feel like everything!" Ages 4--8. (Aug.)

Can nothing ever be something? Can something come from nothing? Bupkes is a Yiddish word defined on the first pages of this book as "nothing," "zero," and "zilch." Accompanying artwork drives home the point as a young girl named Zoe gestures at the air; in another image, her dog sniffs at…well, nothing. On another page, a magician directs Zoe into a curtained box, then, on the next page, opens the curtain to reveal that the box is empty: "Bupkes!" Then the narration takes on a philosophical tone, because "bupkes…can be tricky." Zoe and her mom fill their baskets with vegetables from a lush garden until there is nothing left. Is this bupkes? The garden is empty, but the elderly neighbor to whom they've given the bounty of veggies is happy. A series of vignettes follow. Zoe picks up trash in the park, leaving nothing but a clean park with smiling kids, and she and her dad enjoy themselves while emptying the kitchen of dirty dishes, leaving it sparkling. Joyful, bright, loose-lined illustrations will help young readers understand that the idea of nothing can "feel like everything." It's a difficult concept to grasp, but it's effectively conveyed here, and the message is comforting. Zoe and her parents are light-skinned; their community is a diverse one. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Thoughtful, tender, and charming. Definitely not bupkes. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.