Reviews
The Queen Who Saved Her People
“This book is an imaginative take on the tried and true Purim story. King Ahashuerus is looking for a queen. His loyal followers find Esther, a young and beautiful Jewish girl, who the king selects to be his wife. She lives with her cousin Mordechai, who persuades her to hide her… View →
Barnyard Purim
“Farmer Max is heading off to a Purim play and the animals on the farm are a wee bit jealous, so they decide to re-enact one themselves. Chicken decides to direct and assign parts to the other animals. Horse will play King Ahashuerus, Duck will be Queen Esther, Goat will be… View →
Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer
“This is a book about determination, hardship, and overcoming adversity. There aren’t many Holocaust-themed books that have a happy ending, which makes this one all the more pleasurable to read.” —Jewish Book World View →
“When Marcel Mangel was a little boy, his father took him to see a Charlie Chaplin movie. Marcel was amazed to see that the comic actor was able to make people laugh out loud even though he did not say a word. This uncanny ability made Marcel want to be just like Charlie, and he… View →
“This is a beautifully written and illustrated nonfiction picture book for older elementary students. Marcel Marceau knew from the age of 5 that he wanted to be a silent actor like Charlie Chaplin. Marcel never lost sight of his dream, performing on stage for over 60 years and… View →
Beep and Bah
“Burks’ digitally created illustrations are appealingly cartoonish, with exaggeratedly angular animals and bright, candy colors (a few landscapes call Dr. Seuss to mind)…. This will be a perfect fit for kids drawn to graphic novels but not quite ready for a full-length… View →
“Spielman’s excellent biography of the Master of Mime engages one from the outset by introducing young Marcel as he is raiding his father’s wardrobe to dress up as Charlie Chaplin and entertain neighbors on the streets of pre-World War II France. We see that Marceau was, from his… View →
“Yale Strom is an internationally-acclaimed musician and a professor at San Diego State University; he is also a gifted story-teller. His publisher, Kar-Ben, specializes in Jewish-themed children’s books, and the collaboration here of writer, artist, and publisher is ideal. View →
Hannah's Way
“Hannah smiled as she folded her hands in front of her on her desk when Miss Hartley declared, ‘This Saturday is our fall picnic.’ Her family had just moved from Minneapolis to northern Minnesota and it would be the perfect time to make a few new friends. Hannah’s heart View →
Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist
“Zitkala-Sa is…an interesting figure…and one who rarely turns up in collective or individual biographies; this account offers insight not just into her achievements but into the complexity of identity.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s… View →
Sadie and the Big Mountain
“A week-long unit on the holiday of Shavuot has one preschool class excitedly anticipating a planned reenactment of the hike Moses took up Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Resourceful Sadie, of Sadie’s Sukkah Breakfast (2011), enjoys attending her… View →
Is the End of the World Near?: From Crackpot Predictions to Scientific Scenarios
“In the introduction to Is the End of the World Near?, author Ron Miller makes a salient point: He states, ‘Is the world going to come to an end? The simple answer is yes.’ Although the rest of the book is filled with everything from ‘crackpot… View →
Hannah's Way
“Sometimes the tiniest actions are the most heroic. In this book—based on a true story—the heroes are children. Illustrator Gustavson is very good at painting eyes. Even when the characters have their eyelids closed, it’s easy to read their expressions. Mostly they look View →
Lights Out Shabbat
“Shulimson’s first children’s book is a sweet story of a boy’s overnight visit to his grandparents’ house. It’s an unusual Friday in Georgia, for the lights go out and it snows. According to the rules of Shabbat, no light may be either turned on or off during the Sabbath, so Papa… View →
When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus
“This is a fun book that encourages using one’s imagination and is sure to appeal to a wide variety of youngsters.” —Library Media Connection View →
“Kimmel brings satisfyingly warm detail to a well-known folktale, in an elegant picture book set long ago on the shores of Galilee. Joseph of Tiberius loves to celebrate the Sabbath by selecting choice ingredients when preparing food and inviting all to share dinner with him. When… View →
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap
“It’s Hanukkah and Engineer Ari is off in his train to celebrate the holiday with his friends, Jessie and Nathaniel. He is carrying traditional sufganiyot (jelly donuts), dreidels, and Turkish coins. His Hannukiah (the correct name for the holiday candelabra) travels with… View →
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap
“Candles, latkes, gifts— Chanukah traditions bring light and joy to the dark days of winter. As you select presents for your children, we urge you to give them books. Each year, publishers offer new Chanukah titles, and this year there are some great choices. We gathered recently… View →
The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race
“Pimm effectively blends history, statistics, and NASCAR lore into an engaging, satisfying story of one of the most famous car races in the world. Chapters detail the birthplace of the Daytona 500, memorable wins by Allison, Earnhardt, and McMurray, and… View →
Fortunately, Unfortunately
“Young monkey Milo is called upon to return his grandmother’s umbrella. Unfortunately, he meets one roadblock after another (pirates, space aliens, dinosaurs, etc.), delaying his journey. Fortunately, these encounters are extremely entertaining. Vibrant watercolor… View →
Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer
“Renowned comics historian Robbins pens this biography of Lily Renée, an artist who was one of only a few women to work in the comic book industry in the 1940s.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap
“As with the earlier Engineer Ari books, this one combines simple charm with a good-hearted message, all wrapped up in a bit of interesting history about the first steam engine to travel between Jaffa and Jerusalem in 1892.” —School Library Journal View →
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
“Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, has released three delightful books for young readers who want to learn more about the upcoming High Holidays. Both Rosh Hashana and Sukkot are represented in the offerings, and they will brighten up and holiday… View →