This Is Not a Cholent

by Sarah Sassoon, Viviana Garófoli (illustrator)

Amira loves cholent and is eager to share her Nana's recipe in the "Best Cholent Competition Down Under." Amira and Nana throw garlic and ginger into their pot. "This is not a cholent," someone says. Everyone gasps when Nana takes out a needle and thread and stitches the stuffed chicken, and adds eggs to the stew. "This is not a cholent!" the crowd says. Amira holds Nana's hand and shuts her eyes when the judges come. "This is not a cholent," the judges say..."but it's delicious. What is it?" "This is a cholent," Amira says. "It's an Iraqi stew that Nana and I make every Friday." Everyone agrees it is the best.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Jewish, Food

Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Ann Koffsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me smile...and made me hungry, too! Amira and her grandmother enter their Iraqi cholent into the community's cholent competition. But Amira is worried...over and over, people keep telling her that what she and her Nana have made? Is NOT a cholent! Cholent does not have eggs. Cholent does not have rice. This is NOT a cholent!

But of course, it IS a cholent--and a delicious one, too! And by the end of the contest judges and the community all agree, that its the best cholent they've ever had.
A beautiful read, that celebrates the diversity--and diverse tastes- of the Jewish community.

Now, someone get me my crockpot. I've got a new recipe to try! (Helpfully provided in the backmatter. :) )

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun story celebrates Shabbat with a twist on the traditional Sabbath meal, cholent, and in the process explores the diversity within the Jewish community. The sabbath is a day of rest and it is forbidden by the Torah to work. For the devout, that includes cooking. A cholent is a slow cooked stew that is prepared on Friday, before Shabbat starts at sundown. It simmers overnight and provides a hot meal the next day. In this story, a young girl and her grandmother enter a cholent cooking contest with their recipe for t'bit, an Iraqi version of cholent. This recipe tastes an smells different from the traditional Ashkenazi cholent that everyone is used to. As people watch them cook, everyone keeps saying "This is not a cholent". Cholent doesn't have those spices. Cholent should have chunks of meat, not a stuffed chicken. Cholent doesn't have eggs! The judges all agree that it is delicious, but insist that it is not cholent. Young Amira speaks up and explains that it is different, but it is still a cholent. Her family has been preparing this dish every sabbath for generations. This story has two important themes. It demonstrates the diversity of the Jewish people and it has a youngster who demonstrates pride in her heritage. Despite other people's expectations of what SHOULD be, she honors her own family traditions. This story provides a mirror for the Iraqi Jewish children and a window for all others to see a small piece of that culture. Children from any background can appreciate the message of pride in one's culture and enjoy the reputative refrain. They will also be captivated by the bright bold illustrations of artist Viviana Garófoli. After reading this story, picky eaters might be interested in trying new foods. If so, they might want to help make the t'bit recipe from the back of the book.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning new things about other cultures, and sharing food is a wonderful way to do that. Amira and Nana enter the big cholent competition Down Under and use their Jewish Iraqi family’s special recipe. But when people see the ingredients, they say, “This is not a cholent!” Even the kookaburra's birds were laughing. Some people watched the cooks, but everyone was licking their lips, looking forward to mouthwatering, hot Shabbat lunch stew. When Amira throws garlic, ginger, and onion into the pot, someone cries, “What’s ginger doing in cholent?” A little boy asks, “Shouldn’t there be potatoes?” A man asks, “What’s rice doing in a cholent?” A woman asks, “Shouldn’t the meat be in chunks?” The crowd gasps when Amira and Nana stuff the chicken with the rice mixture, and Nana neatly stitches it up. "You can’t sew a cholent!” People follow their noses, sniffing, and saying, “What’s that unusual aroma?” More gasps follow when Amira and Nana drop eggs into the stew. “Whoever heard of eggs in a cholent?”

All the judges agreed, “This is not a cholent, but it’s delicious, and it smells and tastes like other languages and other lands." Everyone agrees it is absolutely hands-down the lip-smacking, finger-licking, tastiest, best cholent ever.

Kids will love how Amira keeps believing in her families Jewish Iraqi family’s special recipe. Children will cheer for Amira and her Nana and learn an important lesson: drown out negative people and keep believing in yourself. They will want to try out Nana’s T’bit Recipe at the end of the book. Parents might also want to say "Yes" to trying something new.

Also, adding Kookaburra birds was a nice touch to show that the setting was in Australia and a great way to teach children something new about that country. Everyone will be delighted by Viviana's colorful illustrations and want to keep turning the pages to find out what the judges will say. Like the judges, they will say, "Yes, what a wonderful book."

[Liza Wiemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful, mouth-watering picture book is about a cholent competition, in which Amira and Nana enter their Iraqi dish called t’bit, also known as hamin. Highlighting our Jewish diversity, this will be a fun cooking experience for a family to make together. Recipe and photos included in back matter. Enjoy!

NOTE: I've made this twice - each time for a family friend who is an Iraqi Jew. He hadn't had it for over 30 years, and it took him back in time to his mom's kitchen. He was so deeply touched. I can't even begin to explain how much it meant to him, to me, to all of our Shabbat guests to enjoy this dish together and listen to stories of our friend's childhood, including their harrowing escape from persecution. I'll never forget it. Food brings people together. Food holds memories. Food is love!

I will be making this dish again!

[Bonni.Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, intergenerational story, set in Australia that celebrates the Iraqi Jewish version of the traditional Sabbath lunch stew known most commonly in America as cholent. The setting is the annual cholent competition that Amira and her Nana join. The author and illustrator fill the story with rich, sensory details that bring both Australia and the enticing ingredients of an Iraqi cholent, known as t’bit to life. Prepare to get hungry! Children will love to join in the refrain of various people passing by, This is not cholent. Besides the inclusion of the recipe in the backmatter, I especially appreciate that the story doesn’t end with who won the contest, keeping the focus on the celebration of community and variety.

[Joyce Schriebman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming story! It's hard for kids to let go of expectations enough to enjoy something new and different. (As a matter of fact, it's hard for ADULTS to do that, too!) But in Sarah Sassoon's latest picture book, that's exactly what happens. Sassoon has worked her magic again, expanding young readers' imagination from the way things SHOULD BE to showing readers a broader--and more DELICIOUS--world. And Viviana Garofoli's delightful illustrations infuse the story with the playfulness and excitement one would expect from a picture book about a cooking contest! This book, complete with recipes and other fascinating back matter, belongs in every library that wants to ensure a diverse representation of Jewish tradition.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

is heartwarming tale, set in Australia, highlights the Iraqi Jewish take on the classic Sabbath stew, widely known as cholent in America. The story unfolds at an annual cholent competition, where Amira and her Nana participate. Through vivid descriptions, the author and illustrator vividly capture the essence of Australia and the tantalizing flavors of t’bit, the Iraqi version of cholent. You’ll likely feel your appetite grow as you read! Kids will enjoy chiming in with the repeated phrase, “This is not cholent,” from various passersby. In addition to the recipe included in the back of the book, I love how the story emphasizes community and diversity rather than focusing on who wins the competition.

[Marilyn Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it cholent if it doesn’t have meat and potatoes? If you are an Iraqi Jew it is. Amira and her Nana compete in Australia’s annual cholent contest while dubious onlookers point to the chicken, rice, and fragrant spices and declare, “That’s not a cholent!” What will the judges think? Sarah Sassoon introduces readers to the joys of Iraqi cooking in this sweet story that honors an ages old tradition. With lively art from Viviana Garofoli, this book is a winner.

[Erika Dreifus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet reminder about (or introduction to) some varieties of Jewish diversity. Set in Australia (which, as noted in back matter, is home to "the ninth-largest Jewish population in the world"), this food-focused story features Amina, her grandmother, and a dish as traditional to their Iraqi-Jewish background as cholent is their Ashkenazi-descended counterparts.

[Shruthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, cute story that reminds us that there are many different ways to make a dish - and they can all be enjoyed - as long as you open your mind to it!

[Roxanne Troup · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story about a Jewish family who prepares a different kind of Cholent for Shabbat dinner. I love stories that showcase the diversity of cultures, and this one does so beautifully.

[Sita Jit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about the diversity within culture, food and tradition. A recipe is also included in the back of the book!

[Brentom Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun and engaging book that will help readers value diversity and their own traditions.

[Martha Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a yummy book about a traditional Iraqui version of cholent cooked for a contest in Australia. Recipe is included. Great multicultural representation and fun.