A heartwarming exploration of the beauty of Shabbat and the wonderfully diverse fabric of Jewish life and experience, for fans of The Proudest Blue and All Are Welcome.

What does Shabbat mean to you?
Is it making a big meal with your relatives on Friday night?
Singing songs on Saturday morning?
Or maybe it's seeing all your friends after services.

Shabbat can mean different things to different people, even for those who attend the same synagogue! This timeless story by award-winning author A. J. Sass explores the countless ways to celebrate the sabbath holiday through the wonderfully diverse fabric of Jewish life and experience.

Author: A. J. Sass
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 09/02/2025
Pages: 40
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 10.16h x 9.84w x 0.47d
ISBN: 9780316446716


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/16/2025
School Library Journal 05/30/2025 pg. 1
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025
Booklist 08/01/2025

About the Author
A. J. Sass (he/they) is the critically acclaimed author of Just Shy of Ordinary, as well as the ALA Rainbow Book List Top 10 middle grade titles Ana on the Edge, Camp QUILTBAG, and Ellen Outside the Lines, which was also a Sydney Taylor Honor Book. He splits his time between the San Francisco Bay Area and Northwest Vermont with his husband. He invites you to visit him online at sassinsf.com. This is A. J. Sass's first picture book.

Noa Kelner graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. She works with publishers, newspapers, and magazines, and loves to give stories color and form. She is the cofounder and artistic director of the annual Outline Festival in Jerusalem, which celebrates illustration and creativity. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children. Shabbat Is... is Noa's debut picture book in the United States.