The midnight mitzvah

Hanina Chipmunk enjoys gathering nuts and sharing them with her friends, most of whom are very appreciative. The exception is Mathilda Squirrel, who is elderly, somewhat disabled, and hungry but too proud to accept charity. Once Hanina understands, she decides to gather nuts at night and give them to Mathilda anonymously so she won't feel ashamed. What Hanina doesn't count on, however, is Great Horned Owl, who prowls at night searching for prey. Horowitz's gentle story (based on an ancient Talmudic tale) explains the concept of a mitzvah (doing a good deed for someone) and the importance of doing it secretly so that the recipient is not embarrassed. Meilihove's cheerful gouache-and-pencil art portrays friendly forest creatures engaging in pleasant pursuits, such as tea parties and picnics. Even the midnight owl encounter feels relatively safe once Hanina explains her quest. Pinks, greens, and blues predominate, with yellow used for accents. Appended with an author note explaining Hebrew terms and the story's origin, this will be useful for religious schools and Judaic collections.

Helping others is a very fine thing to do. Hanina Chipmunk loves gathering nuts; she also enjoys the praise she receives for sharing them with others. But not everyone appreciates her thoughtfulness. Mathilda Squirrel gruffly rebuffs Hanina's offerings. Leon Mouse explains that Mathilda, once a champion nut gatherer, isn't so mobile anymore and feels self-conscious about requiring assistance. While helping is a mitzvah (or a good deed), so is not embarrassing someone while doing so. Hanina wonders how to accomplish both missions, finally deciding to work at night. Diurnal Hanina knows she's violating forest rules by venturing out under cover of darkness, but contemplating hungry Mathilda emboldens her to work through startling nighttime forest noises. Even scarier is Hanina's terrifying confrontation with the nocturnal Great Horned Owl--a chipmunk predator--who ultimately sympathizes with her explanation for the evening escapade. Released by the owl, Hanina delivers her bounty to Mathilda's door at dawn. She hides when a delighted Mathilda, none the wiser, finds them. Heading home, Hanina concludes that helping someone secretly is best. This sweet, simply told story is based on a tale from the Talmud, one of Judaism's central texts. It will resonate with children who are generally altruistic by nature; adults may want to encourage a pro-con discussion of clandestine generosity. Stylized illustrations, rendered in gouache, pencil, and crayon and featuring an all-animal cast, make wonderful use of color to depict day and night. A wise, thought-provoking tale about the true meaning of charity. (information about the Talmud and giving, definitions of diurnal and nocturnal animals)(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.