This book and CD set celebrates a grandmother’s love for her grandchild. The author describes her own granddaughter Alexis by name, which unfortunately detracts somewhat from the universality of the sentiment.
The CD is professionally produced, and Serling’s voice is strong and sweet. The tune is lively and catchy. However, the inclusion of the real baby Alexis’s prattlings pushes the cuteness factor painfully over the top into major sugar-shock.
The book gives a more homemade impression than the CD. Clumsy cartoonish illustrations show an almost manic bubbie looming over an awkwardly proportioned toddler. The lyrics, while catchy when sung, scan poorly on the page.
The Jewish content consists of vocabulary such as Bubbie, Zaydee, Saba, phrases such as “oy vey;” and of an illustration that shows Alexis’ future as a bat mitzvah. This level of content is appropriate to the story, giving an ethnic flavor without weighing the story down with a lesson on Judaism.
An additional purchase where inte-rgenerational materials are in demand. Ages 2 – 4.
