The Bagel King

Award-winning author Larsen offers a gently humorous take on the special bond between a boy and his grandfather and their simple yet special ritual. It also teaches a lesson on how a young child can help a family member in need. Includes a mini glossary and pronunciation guide for Yiddish words in the story.

Full color. Every Sunday morning, no matter the weather, Eli could count on Zaida to bring bagels from Merv's Bakery. Eli loved the time they spent together enjoying their favorite treats.

Warm. Chewy. Salty, Eli thought.

Bagels were the best thing about Sunday. But one Sunday, Zaida didn't come. He had fallen at Merv's and hurt his tuches, and the doctor said Zaida had to rest at home for two whole weeks.

This meant Eli had no Sunday morning bagels. And neither did Zaida's friends, who had been receiving their own weekly deliveries from Zaida. Will they all go hungry for bagels on Sunday?

Or is there something Eli can do? Award-winning author Andrew Larsen's picture book story offers a gently humorous take on the special bond between a boy and his grandfather and the simple ritual that looms so large in their lives. It also highlights a terrific character education lesson about how a young child can take responsibility and, with a little initiative, help a family member in need.

With a blend of retro and contemporary styles, Sandy Nichols's softly colored illustrations cleverly convey the story's timelessness and capture Eli's diverse neighborhood. This book will spark wonderful discussions about family traditions and community. A mini glossary and pronunciation guide for the Yiddish words that are sprinkled throughout the story (like mensch and oy) provides an opportunity to learn about the many words we use in English that come from other languages, and to explore the connections between culture and language.