Long ago, in the faraway city of Tripoli, mothers and daughters woke up every Friday before the doves sang their morning prayers.
They baked fresh challahs to celebrate the Sabbath. And they had one special tradition: as they baked, they sang prayers, kneading in notes of hope and their deepest wishes. But there’s only one communal oven! What happens to those prayers when everyone’s challahs get mixed up? What will become of each family’s wishes?
Fortunately, an imaginative girl named Misah comes up with a beautiful solution for everyone!
Rinat Hadad Siegel traces her roots to the Garyan region in the mountains of Libya. Her grandmother lived in Tripoli before moving to Israel, where Rinat was born. Mixed-Up Challahs draws from the rich and vibrant traditions of Mizrahi Jewry and family lore. She has occasionally mixed up chocolate-chip challah with raisin challah, much to the dismay of her children. Rinat lives in Southern California. Find more information at rinathadadsiegel.com, or you can follow her on Instagram at @rinathadadsiegel.
Stacy Innerst was born in Los Angeles and grew up studying painting in the high desert of New Mexico. He is the illustrator of many award-winning books for children, including The Book Rescuer, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and The Music in George’s Head. Stacy’s picture books have been recognized as Best Books of the Year by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. He has exhibited at galleries and institutions throughout the United States and abroad, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the California Center for the Arts, and the Museum of Illustration at the New York Society of Illustrators. Stacy lives in Pittsburgh with his family. Visit him at https://www.stacyinnerst.com.