Reviews
Drat That Cat!
http://amomssparetime.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-drat-that-cat-by-tony-ross.html Review: Drat That Cat, by Tony Ross 9781467720304 “Whenever anything bad happened, Suzy got the blame…usually because she had done… View →
Don't Sneeze at the Wedding
“This happy tale about a sweet young girl participating in her aunt’s wedding manages to deliver Jewish marriage customs in a subtle way. The tension over “the sneeze”—can flower girl Anna get through the ceremony without sneezing?—is the picture book’s foreground. Its background… View →
I'm Sorry, Grover: A Rosh Hashanah Tale
“Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group headquartered in Minneapolis, continues to release a variety of delightful holiday books for young readers. Among the offerings this year are a well-intentioned puppy, an apologetic Sesame Street character and two… View →
ABC Hanukkah Hunt
“This is a bright, cheery ABC book with a Hanukkah theme. The clever rhymes have rhythm and meter and touch on all aspects of the holiday. What distinguishes this book from a crowded field, though, is that the reading is an active experience rather than… View →
Sammy Spider's First Yom Kippur
“Filled with lively illustrations, children will be engrossed by this animated tale, while they learn the importance of reconciliation.” — Jewish Journal View →
I'm Sorry, Grover: A Rosh Hashanah Tale
“Youngsters 2-6 will enjoy this Shalom Sesame tale as they learn the importance of forgiveness and repentance, two prevalent themes of the Jewish New Year. Sesame Street lovers will appreciate this beautifully illustrated book, filled with their favorite characters.” —… View →
Cheesecake for Shavuot
“Cheesecake for Shavuot is a magnificent picture book with a thoughtful ratio between the text and the photographs, with pages that vary in background color and with photographs that vary in size, giving the book an interesting and original look. The endearing story… View →
The Whispering Lake Ghosts: A Mystery about Sound
“While readers might pick up this entry in the Summer Camp Science Mysteries series for the fun story and Torres’ appealing artwork, they’ll also learn quite a bit about sound and might be inspired to try some of the easy experiments at the back of the book.”… View →
Sparrow, Eagle, Penguin, and Seagull: What Is a Bird?
“The presentation is so much fun that readers are unaware of how much they are actually learning.”—Library Media Connection View →
William and the Lost Spirit
“The book is most remarkable in its layers—it is a magical adventure story, it is the story of a boy trying to find his father, and it is the story of a boy who learns difficult lessons and matures while on his journey. Many teens will be intrigued by this title because of the… View →
The Missing Cuckoo Clock: A Mystery about Gravity
“Learning about gravity gets a lift from the colorful art and engaging story, and students may even be inspired to try experiments in the back matter.” —Booklist View →
Speak Up, Tommy!
“Tommy’s classmates tease him about his quiet voice and his Israeli accent. He doesn’t like reading to the class, and stays by himself at recess. One day, Officer Sweeney and his police dog, Samson, pay a visit to Tommy’s class. Tommy instantly feels comfortable with Samson, who… View →
The Count's Hanukkah Countdown
“Sesame Street’s famous regulars and Hanukkah meet in a cute story that delivers the holiday combined with numbers up to eight. Grover hosts a latke party for Israeli muppet friends; the Count loves the idea; he includes himself because eight is the perfect Hanukkah number. The… View →
Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration
“Passover comes to vivid life in this fun and engaging tale from the Shalom Sesame series. As Grover and Big Bird make their way to Brosh and Avigail’s home for the Passover seder, a stalled bus gives them an opportunity to do mitzvot (good deeds), like helping a tired… View →
Cheesecake for Shavuot
“Cheesecake for Shavuot is the fourth in Allison Ofanansky’s nature/holiday series that includes Harvest of Light, What’s the Buzz, and Sukkot Treasure Hunt. The text is illustrated with beautiful color photographs. The class begins by planting… View →
It's a Mitzvah, Grover!
“With broom in hand, Grover joins his Rechov Sumsum friends Brosh, Avigail, and Mahboub in doing a mitzvah by cleaning up storm debris cluttering their playground. Working together, the amiable group picks up all the trash. Before applying a fresh coat of paint to the… View →
Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio
“[T]his centers on a fascinating event, one that points up the racial injustice at the time; at the same time, it makes readers care about both players, and may leave kids wanting to learn more about Paige, DiMaggio, the Negro Leagues, and the integration of baseball.”… View →
Circles, Stars, and Squares: Looking for Shapes
“This simple, straightforward title is perfect for young children who are learning the basics, while the examples could easily lead to discussions about the objects themselves with slightly older readers. A great addition to concept-book collections.” —School… View →
Peace and Quiet: Book 4
“This graphic novel is perfect for all young readers, but especially those who might be dealing with their own blended-family situation. Readers learn there will be hard times adjusting to the changes but that they can still be part of a loving family unit.” —School View →
Their Skeletons Speak: Kennewick Man and the Paleoamerican World
Chance discovery of human bones on the banks of the Columbia River prompted a police investigation and led to the discovery that the bones were more than 9,000 years old! “Even though this narrative begins with the discovery of bones, it is ultimately the tale of a human life, of a View →
Sammy Spider's New Friend
“Friendly and curious, Sammy Spider learns about the Jewish custom of welcoming new neighbors in this successful addition to the well-loved series. Josh is helping Mrs. Shapiro bake a cake for the Israeli family moving in next door and Mr. Shapiro suggests that they also take over… View →
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue
“Local children will love this story, set in New Bedford, Mass., once known as the whaling capital of the world. Nine-year old Emanuel Aguilar knows a lot about whaling because his father, Aaron, owns a store where many of the town’s whalers purchase supplies. Emanuel talks with… View →
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue
“Right from the opening pages, young readers will know they’re in for something out of the ordinary. Set in the 18th century whaling port of New Bedford, Mass., the fictionalized historical tale by Heidi Smith Hyde tells the story of a spirited 9-year-old Jewish boy named Emanuel… View →
