The Mitzvah Fairy by Danielle Joseph with illustrations by Christine Battuz; Minneapolis, Minnesota: Kar-Ben Publishing; © 2025; ISBN 9798765-626993; 24 pages; $18.99; publication date: Feb. 25, 2025.
SAN DIEGO – A little boy has styled himself “the Mitzvah Fairy,” and does six good deeds in a long, rewarding day. He brings chicken soup to his grandmother, who has the sniffles. He waters the plants for his neighbor, Mr. Gordon, whose leg is in a cast. He also fills up Mr. Gordon’s bird feeder.
At the park, with the help of his father, the Mitzvah Fairy cleans up litter, throwing some into the trash, others into the recycling bin. Finding some coins on the pavement, he puts them into a tzedakah box. Spotting a ladybug on the sidewalk, he lifts it off the pavement and gently puts it into the grass, where there is less likelihood the bug will be stepped on.
Before going to sleep, the Mitzvah Fairy gives his father a big hug.
He may not have known it, but his six good deeds fell into the following categories: Bikkur holim, visiting the sick; Gemilut hasadim, doing good deeds for other; Tikkun olam, repairing the world; tzedakah, donating to those in need; tzar ba’aley hayim, being kind to creatures; and Kavpd av v’em, honoring your parents.
This charming book was written and illustrated for pre-kindergarteners through 3rd graders.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.