Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco

Mrs. Katz and Tush is the touching story of a women from Poland named Mrs Katz and her relationship with her young neighbor Larnel. Larnels mother would visit Mrs. Katz all the time because her husband had passed away and she was all alone. Larnel found a little kitten in the basement of their apartment and decided to give it to Mrs. Katz so she would have someone to keep her company. Mrs. Katz named the kitten Tush, a yiddish name for your bottom because the cat had no tail. Larnel came over to Mrs. Katz every day to help with Tush and hear stories from Mrs. Katz. The two became close friends and Mrs. Katz would share stories and teach Larnel about her Jewish background. Passover, a very important Jewish holiday, was approaching and Mrs. Katz had no one to share it with. Larnel said he would come over and have a passover meal, better known as a seder, with her. As time went on, Larnel grew up and got married, but still stayed very close with Mrs. Katz.

I really related to this story because I am Jewish. I understood all of the Jewish words and the holiday traditions because they are things that I have done since I was little. I think this book does a good job and teaching the reader about the Jewish holiday Passover in a way that is easy to understand. Mrs. Katz is teaching Larnel just as Patricia is teaching her readers. This wonderful story also shows readers that age does not matter in friendship. The two were very far apart in age but became very close friends.

I would recommend this book for students in second and third grade. It could be a good book to do as a real aloud around passover to teach students about this Jewish holiday. Passover is right around Easter time so they could also do a lesson on Easter. It is important to learn about many different holidays from all different religions. Some teachers may find religion a touchy subject and just steer clear from the topic all together. I probably would try to include this book along with other books relating to other religions and holidays.