"As Becca and Bubbe worked through the
summer bucket list, everyone got in on the
fun.
Giant water balloon battle.
Lemonade for tzedakah.
Sleepover under the stars.
And after lunch every day, when Bubbe
went to yoga class, Becca and her friends
worked on a special surprise."
Ms. Gehl's newest book begins with a glossary of Yiddish and Hebrew words that are included in her story about a grandmother/granddaughter team who spend the summer together. Readers will appreciate the list, if the language is new to them.
Summer begins with a trip to the ice cream store and a chance to consider the many ice cream treats on its menu. With a wish to, one day, order the Trash Can Sundae (said to feed 20 people), Bubbe suggests that Becca put it on her bucket list. Becca is not sure what that means. Bubbe explains the concept of making a list of things you might want to do at some point in your life. Once they are home again, Becca gets busy creating her list; the difference is that hers will be for the summer.
Soon she has six specific items recorded. Bubbe reports that she has done most of the things she wanted to do in her life. One wish is left: to be a model in fine clothes walking the runway. The two get right to the work of fulfilling Becca's list. Each day, while Bubbe is at yoga, Becca and her friends work to make a special surprise for Bubbe. The days roll by.
A glitch in the plan for Bubbe's surprise results in additional friends coming to the rescue! As summer winds down, Bubbe and Becca sit down at lunch to talk their lists. Becca's list is almost covered; they simply cannot forget about Bubbe's one wish. Bubbe is definitely star of the fashion show that Becca and her friends have planned for Bubbe's special day.
In the words of Marilyn Monroe: We Are All of Us Stars, and We Deserve to Twinkle.
