A humorously expressive ox named Shoshi is accustomed to life on Simon’s farm, where she helps Simon plow the fields for six days a week before resting on Shabbat. On Shabbat, Shoshi enjoys sweet hay, fresh water, and playtime with Simon’s grandchildren. When Simon grows too old to plow, he sells Shoshi to a young man named Yohanan, who is not Jewish. A hard worker, Yohanan yokes Shoshi to his plow for six days. But on the seventh day, when Yohanan comes for her, Shoshi refuses to walk to the field. Yohanan grumpily finds other work to do, paying no mind to the beauty of the world around him. Shoshi’s behavior continues in this pattern—six days of work followed by a day of refusal—until one day Yohanan spies Simon walking with his grandchildren and realizes it must be Shabbat. That’s when everything clicks. Observing Simon’s happiness and Shoshi peacefully napping in the hay, Yohanan thinks that clever Shoshi may have the right idea. Perhaps Yohanan ought to take a day to rest, to spend leisurely time with his family, and to appreciate his blessings. And so he does. All of the humans have brown skin in this story based on a midrash about Rabbi Yohanan ben Torta that affirms both the sacredness of Shabbat and the necessity of rest.     (Ages 3-8)

The virtues of taking a break—and of being thankful—are extolled in the gentle story of a stubborn ox, an impatient farmer, and a day of rest.

Long ago, in the hills near Jerusalem, lived a young ox. For six days each week, she and her owner would toil in the fields, and on the seventh day both would rest. Then it came to be that this young ox was sold. For six days, she toiled in her new owner’s fields, and on the seventh day the farmer brought out the yoke and plow, expecting to spend another day hard at work. But Shoshi the ox had a different idea. In a warm, friendly narrative and vivid, humorous art, author Caryn Yacowitz and illustrator Kevin Hawkes bring to life a tale drawn from the ancient Jewish stories known as the Midrash, a story as relevant today as it was long ago. It’s a tale of encountering other cultures and learning from them, of paying attention to the world around you—sun, breeze, animals, people—and above all, of learning to slow down and take a break.