The Blue Butterfly of Cochin

by Ariana Mizrahi, Siona Benjamin (Illustrator)

Overview

The Blue Butterfly of Cochin is the story of the ancient Jewish Indian community's mass immigration to Israel in the 1950s. We follow Leah as she struggles to come to terms with leaving her beloved India and moving to the newly-formed country of Israel. Accompanied by a magical butterfly and through dream-like illustrations, both Leah and the reader, are transported from the lush Indian coastline to the awesome beauty of the Israeli desert.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798986396569
Publisher:	Endless Mountain Publishing
Publication date:	03/19/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	456,394
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

Ariana Mizrahi is a writer, teacher, director, and doctorate candidate in education leadership and innovation at The Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University in New York City. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ariana enjoys reflecting on her diverse background as a proud Hispanic Jew. Ariana is also the Director of Hebrew Language Instruction at Yeshiva Har Torah in Little Neck, New York. Ariana lives in Brooklyn New York with her husband and three children. Illustrator Siona Benjamin is a painter from Mumbai, now living in the United States. Her work reflects her background as a Jew raised in a Hindu and Muslim India. Siona has a MFA in painting and a second MFA in theater set design. She was awarded two Fulbright Fellowships, one in India and a second in Israel. She has exhibited her work in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Siona does private and public art commissions, while also selling and exhibiting in galleries and museums. In 2021 she illustrated the children’s picture book, I Am Hava: A Song’s Story of Love, Hope and Joy by Freda Lewkowicz.

Editorial Reviews

05/31/2024

K-Gr 3—Leah and her family are emigrating from their Cochin community in India to Moshav Nevatim, Israel, in this historical picture book about storytelling and the meaning of home. Leah loves her synagogue and sharing stories with children, while butterflies fly around her. She whispers of her sadness and excitement to one as they're moving to Israel, and the butterfly lets her know, "Cochin will always be with you, in your heart and in your stories." Full-bleed spreads show bold colors throughout, and each scene is a showstopper. A single tear rolls down Leah's cheek while the blue butterfly sparkles on her shoulder, blue billows surrounding the outskirts as her home is off-center right, with a detailed Shabbat lamp and mezuzah in the foreground. Leah and her family arrive safely to their new home and she discovers that despite its many differences, she will thrive because Cochin is in her stories. The uneven graphic design of text to art creates an unfortunate tightness to the story that is at odds with its message of infinite possibilities within. Written with the Jewish Indian Heritage Center and the Cochin Heritage Center, the back matter includes a history of "The Jews of Cochin" and glossary. VERDICT An excellent purchase for all libraries.—Rachel Zuffa

School Library Journal