Description
Shortlisted for the National Jewish Book Awards
A Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Picture Book Title
★ "Alko’s multimedia illustrations have the feel of a carefully compiled scrapbook, layering visual grace notes throughout this bittersweet narrative about a treasured ritual" – Publisher's Weekly, starred review
★"This is a first purchase not only because of its high quality, but also because of the scarcity of children’s books about the Jewish memorial custom of yahrzeit" – School Library Journal, starred review
★ "A beautiful presentation of a custom that explores its many layers of meaning" – Booklist, starred review
I was sad when Grandpa died. I think about how sad Mom was too.
Mom says she misses Grandpa, but all her memories are like shining lights.
Grandpa died last November. Now, one year later on the anniversary of his death, a boy and his family light a special candle. It’s not a birthday, Hanukkah, or Shabbat candle. It’s a yahrzeit candle in remembrance of him, and it will burn all night and all day tomorrow until sunset. But why does it burn for so long?
The boy and his family spend the next night and day remembering Grandpa and sharing stories with each other. From his stylish hats, to piano duets, and apple squares for dessert, warm memories of Grandpa shine like stars with them while the yahrzeit candle burns – and continue to shine when it goes out.
- Features the Jewish memorial tradition of a yahrzeit candle
- Demonstrates how happy memories of our loved ones help us deal with grief
- Endnotes with more on the Jewish calendar and memorial traditions
Prizes
- National Jewish Book AwardsCommended 2026
- A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionCommended 2025
Review Quotes
★"This is a first purchase not only because of its high quality, but also because of the scarcity of children’s books about the Jewish memorial custom of yahrzeit" – School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Following Jewish custom, a family lights a yahrzeit candle to commemorate the anniversary of the grandfather's death. The parents and children fill the 24 hours the candle burns with memories of Grandpa. Goldberg uses sensory language to make both the memories and the candle itself more vivid. Soon after the candle is lit, the six-year-old narrator remembers Grandpa's "scratchy beard and how he always wore a hat" and notes that "Mom says my eyes come from him." At the same time, he points out, "The candle hasn’t melted much, but the top looks soft." Alko's mixed-media illustrations use collage techniques, acrylic paint, and pencils to evoke the feeling of memory, alongside the slowly burning yahrzeit candle. The back matter provides additional information about yahrzeits, other Jewish memorial traditions, and the Jewish calendar, which is used to determine the date of a yahrzeit. This book will be very helpful to children whose families already use yahrzeit candles to remember loved ones, and the gentle framing may suggest special ways for any family to adopt this tradition as well. A beautiful presentation of a custom that explores its many layers of meaning" – Booklist, starred review
★ "Alko’s multimedia illustrations have the feel of a carefully compiled scrapbook, layering visual grace notes throughout this bittersweet narrative about a treasured ritual" – Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"A meaningful and sensitive celebration of life." – Kirkus Reviews
A Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Picture Book Title
"Alison Goldberg and Selina Alko's picture book, The Remembering Candle (Barefoot Books), makes a beautiful job of gently introducing the concept of yahrzeit" – The Jewish Chronicle
"This is an important and beautiful book which models how children can be meaningfully included in yahrzeit observance" – Sydney Taylor Shmooze
"This picture book is highly recommended for both parents and children and will be especially appreciated by anyone who has experienced a loss" – Jewish Book Council
Biographical note
Selina Alko spends her days dreaming and remembering in her Brooklyn, New York, studio where she mixes collaged papers and acrylic paint to make richly textured illustrations for children's books. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Selina often thinks about her Turkish father who taught her how to paint and encouraged her to become an artist.
