A home's a cozy, restful place, a safe and loving family space. "In her sweet ode to shalom bayit―a Hebrew phrase that means 'peace of the home,' and celebrates the Jewish value of the home as a sanctuary from the stresses, worries, and noise of the outside world―Linda Elovitz Marshall gives parents and caregivers a book to share with their youngest children that shows that no matter whether a home is a den or a castle, it is a place where they can find contentment. With tranquil rhyming verses, Marshall introduces little ones to cozy nests, dens, underground tunnels, and other places where animals make their snug homes. 'Shalom bayit, / bayit shalom! / Quiet places, / peaceful homes.' In her nest on a high branch, a mother robin and father robin watches over their five babies, while below a squirrel fills a hole in the tree trunk with soft leaves and a mouse snoozes in a small cave in the roots. Turtles, worms, frogs, and a fox also happily make their homes in the pond and grounds nearby. From this calm, bucolic scene, Marshall takes children into a house, where three children spend time with their family, cuddled up with Mom as Dad reads a story. 'A home’s a cozy, restful place, / a safe and loving family space,' Marshall says. 'Shalom bayit, / bayit shalom.' Ag Jatkowska accompanies Marshall’s gently flowing verses with lovely illustrations of the sun-dappled banks of a pond and the natural places a variety of animals call home. The adorable squirrels, turtle, frogs, fox, worms, robins, and mice as well as the trees and flowers are painted in a calming, yet vibrant color palette that will enchant little readers. Jatkowska’s final spread of a happy home, where a fire burns in the fireplace as the family enjoys a relaxing evening together is a loving portrayal of the meaning of shalom bayit. A charming board book to inspire comforting story times or bedtimes―especially during these challenging times―Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home would be a favorite on home bookshelves and is highly recommended for school and public library collections. The book would also make an excellent gift." ― Kathryn Carroll, Celebrate Picture Books "Shalom Bayit means 'peace in the home' in Hebrew. Whether your home is small or grand, on a lily pad, in roots or sand it should be a peaceful place. A mouse’s home allows him to go in and out with ease while a worm lives safely underground. “In trees, on leaves or nesting mound, on land, in lakes or underground… a home’s a cozy restful place, a safe and loving family space.” No matter where you rest your head at night, may there be peace in your home. Marshall and Jatkowska bring us a heartwarming and delightful board book exploring various homes from critters that live in tress to critters that live underground. The illustrations are fun and bright. The wording is simple to understand. Snuggling with Shalom Bayit can spark a discussion about animals, habitat, love, and peace." ― SL, Kiss The Book "Shalom Bayit, A Peaceful Home is a sweet, nonfiction book. Author Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrator Ag Jatkowska take us on a woodland tour of different animals and their homes. This story weaves a path up trees with squirrels and birds, through frog ponds and worm tunnels, then winding up safe and sound in a peaceful Jewish home. A great first book about animals and a relaxing book to read at naptime or bedtime." ― Marcia Berneger, San Diego Jewish World "This children's book teaches that Shalom Bayit means 'peace in the home' in Hebrew. It gives different examples of homes that animals live in. One example is it gives a picture of some birds and their home as a nest in a tree. Other animals have their homes in other places like in the water, sand, underground, etc. It gives an example of what a peaceful home for humans looks like as well. I really like that this book gives examples of shalom bayit, peaceful homes for both animals and humans. It will show children differences in what peaceful homes are for both groups. It can help them to understand that what may be peaceful and harmonious to one animal might not be considered peaceful and harmonious to another. I think some discussion questions about why certain homes for certain animals might be good for them but not for other animals and humans would be beneficial if there are any discussions about the book during or after it is read. I learned that Shalom Bayit can also mean domestic harmony and good relations in family life for the Hebrew way of life. I think that this book can help give ideas that congregation homes should be peaceful, also, since that is one type of home that is out there for humans, even though they don't mention congregation homes in this book. I hope that this book will be read to a lot of children and that it would get read to those children many times so that it will hopefully stick in their minds that a home is supposed to be peaceful and that it will stick so much that they will strive to m