Little Dreidel Learns to Spin!
by Rebecca Gardyn Levington and illustrated by Taryn Johnson
September 3, 2024 Cartwheel Books
24 pages
As a writer, I’m no stranger to failure. The vast majority of writers, even successful ones, will face far more rejection in their careers than they do success. One of my writing groups routinely ponders the fact that the difference between those who make it and those who don’t, for the majority of authors, has more to do with thick skin/perseverance than talent. So I can really empathize with the dreidel in Little Dreidel Learns to Spin.
Who among us hasn’t felt like we are struggling to do the thing we are born to do, yet somehow keep messing up while all our critique partners are sailing through? Poor little dreidel is aware that this is his moment, the holiday for which he was created to dance and spin, but he just can’t figure it out. Yet he keeps getting back up, dusting himself off, and trying again. Even when advice from friends and relatives is less than helpful. Even when it seems like everyone else is more talented. Even when falling hurts.
Because trying again is the only way to finally get it right.
We all learn at different rates, so it was nice to see a book where kids learn that the point is to keep trying until they figure it out. That sometimes, even when we are all striving for the same goal, we each have different paths to success. Little Dreidel does indeed learn to spin, and it is all the more delightful because it didn’t come easily.
Note: BookishlyJewish received an arc of this book from the publisher