Illustrations by Sally Walker

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Until the Blueberries Grow

May 2022

“This sweet story of family abounds with food, flowers, and quality time with loved ones.”  Kirkus Reviews (read the full review)

“Blue­ber­ries play an impor­tant role in sev­er­al clas­sic children’s books, includ­ing Robert McCloskey’s Blue­ber­ries for Sal, and Jane Thay­er and Sey­mour Fleishman’s The Blue­ber­ry Pie Elf. The fruit asso­ci­at­ed with rur­al Amer­i­ca and pop­u­lar recipes is now at the cen­ter of a Jew­ish pic­ture book, where it con­jures the same sense of nos­tal­gia and respect for the nat­ur­al world as in pre­vi­ous works. Author Jen­nifer Wolf Kam and illus­tra­tor Sal­ly Walk­er draw young read­ers into their sto­ry by link­ing envi­ron­men­tal cycles with those of human aging…

The love between gen­er­a­tions, the obser­vance of hol­i­days that give mean­ing to the Jew­ish year, and the sacred pro­por­tions of both the nat­ur­al world and the homes where we live — all are pre­sent­ed as tan­gi­bly as the blue­ber­ries that a boy and his great-grand­fa­ther share.”  Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council (read the full review)

“The book can be enjoyed by all generations of readers, and can be used as an important lesson for kids who are experiencing change.” Shanna Silva, The Sydney Taylor Schmooze (read the full review here)

“This charming story would make an excellent introduction to Jewish terms and holidays, yet it’s the universal challenge of dealing with change that makes this story relatable to any child, regardless of religious affiliation.” Roxanne Troup, Good Reads by Ronna (read the full review here).

Publishers Weekly announcement

Watch the incredible and inspiring Gidon Lev @GidonLev | Linktree, Holocaust survivor, “TikTok Grandpa,” podcaster, and author read “UNTIL THE BLUBERRIES GROW.”

Read the press release!

Watch Jennifer’s interview with Mel Rosenberg on the New Books Network Podcast  or listen to it here.

Educator Resources: Text Set PDF