Lesléa Newman’s new picture book, SOMETHING SWEET: A SITTING SHIVA STORY (Charlesbridge, 2026), illustrated by Sarita Rich, tells the story of young Lizzie, who attends the shiva for her best friend Joshua’s grandfather. She visits and learns about Jewish mourning customs, ultimately discovering the best way to support Joshua. The soft tones of the illustrations are a perfect pairing for the text. SOMETHING SWEET is a thoughtful introduction about shiva for young readers. It is not an easy topic, but the story is age-appropriate and comforting. I am delighted to learn more about Lesléa’s writing process for this book. Welcome back, Lesléa!
What inspired you to write a story about shiva that would be meaningful to children?
Julie Bliven, who was my editor at Charlesbridge for WELCOMING ELIJAH: A PASSOVER TALE WITH A TAIL wanted to do another project with me and pitched me the idea. I was immediately intrigued though it took me a year to figure out how to approach the topic. Once I worked out that the story would focus on Lizzie, who has never paid a shiva call and Joshua, her friend whose grandfather has just died, I wrote very quickly. I drew my inspiration from the innate kindness of children and the depth of their caring friendships.
How did you decide which elements of the shiva to include in SOMETHING SWEET?
I included the elements that were most familiar to me from shivas I have attended and shivas that I have held in my home: covering the mirrors, sitting on low stools, chanting the mourner’s Kaddish, wearing a torn black ribbon on one’s clothing, lighting a seven-day candle, sharing stories about the person who has died, and of course sharing food. Some of these customs appear in the text, some of them appear in the illustrations, and some of them appear in the author’s note.
While Lizzie learns some of the customs of a shiva, it is her empathy and kindness that help her friend Joshua the most. What do you hope young readers take away from the story?
I hope young readers learn that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to be a friend. Even if you don’t know how to comfort someone, the important thing is to show up. Sometimes a friend wants to be “cheered up.” Sometimes a friend wants a listening ear. Sometimes a friend wants a shoulder to cry on and a hug. And sometimes a friend doesn’t even know what they want. Your presence will help your grieving friend know that are not alone. Trust the moment, lean into your genuine love for your friend and you’ll know the best thing to do.
Joshua’s dog Queenie, who belonged to his grandpa, provides a bit of humor in the story. As a writer, how do you balance humor while writing about a serious topic?
Since losing a beloved family member is a serious topic, there was no getting away from the sorrow that is obviously a big part of this story. Queenie, who was inspired by a dog that lived in my neighborhood, showed up on the page and I was very happy to see her! She reminds the reader that life is a mixture of joy and sorrow. She provides some comic relief. There is an old Yiddish saying, “In every laugh a tear.” I thought it was important to create a story that strikes a balance between tears and laughter to authentically portray life. It was also important to have Joshua and his family remember Grandpa by telling both funny stories about him and touching stories about him, which is what I have experienced when paying shiva calls.
What were your thoughts when you saw the illustrations by Sarita Rich?
Sarita’s illustrations brought tears to my eyes! Her gorgeous visual storytelling perfectly matches the tone of the text. She captured the love between Lizzie and Joshua beautifully. I was especially touched by the illustration that shows Lizzie and Joshua from the back: they are standing close together and Lizzie has her arm around Joshua’s shoulders. There is also a beautiful illustration of Rabbi Sarah giving Joshua a loving hug. And Queenie is just adorable!
Thank you, Lesléa!
Lesléa Newman has written more than 70 books and anthologies, including Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she now resides in Massachusetts.
This is such an important story. It’s a difficult subject to write about – but I have no doubt that Lesléa worked her magic to make the story beautiful in a way that shares what grief really looks like: in every laugh, a tear! And what friendship really means: showing up! Mazal Tov to all!
I agree, Doreen. It is an excellent book about a sensitive topic. Thanks for stopping by!