Bitter and Sweet
Written by Sandra V. Feder
Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
When Hannah’s family has to move, her grandmother tells her how she felt leaving the old country — it was both bitter and sweet. As Hannah leaves her friends behind and tries to get used to a new house, she only feels bitterness. Was her grandmother wrong about the sweetness?
Hannah starts to feel better about the move when she sees her new house in the soft light of the Shabbat candles. When a new friend reaches out with a special gift, Hannah realizes that sweetness can come from unexpected places and that she can even create some herself.
A PJ Library Selection
New York City Board of Education Mosaic Diversity Program Selection
Featuring art by acclaimed illustrator Kyrsten Brooker, this story subtly conveys a universal message — while life can be full of challenging moments, sweeter ones can be found and created. An author’s note is included on the concept of bitter and sweet in Jewish culture.
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“While telling a familiar story about the difficulties of moving, the quietly expressive text offers a clear view of Hannah’s emotions and a hopeful, yet practical perspective on making things better.
This insightful picture book sensitively portrays Hannah’s sadness and her return to equilibrium.”
“Use this treasure as a springboard for discussing something that your students have experienced that was bitter and then sweet. You might even try a Venn diagram; are there things that overlap as at once bitter and sweet?
As a bonus, there’s also a note from the author about the significance of bitter and sweet in the Jewish culture, fostering hope and encouraging a desire of ‘celebrating the good and being part of something sweet.’”
PJ Library
Bitter and Sweet was a PJ Library selection with 29,000 copies sent into homes throughout the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and with another 2,000 books printed in Spanish for PJ Library members in the U.S. and 13 countries around the world.
New York City Board of Education Mosaic Diversity Program
Bitter and Sweet was chosen by the New York City Board of Education for inclusion in its Mosaic Diversity Program, bringing a Jewish voice to all 1,600 New York City schools with over 10,00 copies of the book distributed.
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“This lovely book introduces children to the meaning of “bittersweet” through the story of a young girl, Hannah, who moves to a new neighborhood. Hannah is reluctant to move; she can’t imagine how her new house will ever come to feel like home. She misses her friends, her old school, and everything that made her world warm and inviting. But a wise grandmother and a new friend help her learn that with the right attitude, she can find sweetness wherever she goes.
The story is enhanced by evocative, colorful art, which creates just the right mood to represent Hannah’s feelings. An author’s note explains the story’s Jewish context.”
- Jewish Book Council