Reviews
The Cricket and the Ant: A Shabbat Story
“This book was originlly published in Hebrew under the title Can You Spare a Grain of Sugar? by a well-known Israeli children’s author and is a best seller in Israel. It is an adaptation of one of Aesop’s Fables. A happy little cricket sings all week long… View →
Noah Webster's Fighting Words
“[A] boisterous account of a singular contributor to America’s linguistic legacy.”—starred, Publishers Weekly View →
Smash!: Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider
“[A]n engaging introduction to particle physics, the Big Bang, dark matter, and more.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Pointe, Claw
“Keyser’s writing shimmers with raw emotion and empathy, and her finale, much like in dance, is poetic, bittersweet, and life affirming.”—starred, Publishers Weekly View →
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song
“[A] potent reminder of the power of art to combat intolerance and hate.”—starred, Publishers Weekly View →
“Unexpected giggles await with every page turn.”—starred, Publishers Weekly View →
Niko Draws a Feeling
“Niko’s sadness and sense of being misunderstood lifts when he meets his new neighbor, Iris: her thoughtful, elated expressions as she takes in his creations make for some of Shin’s . . . loveliest scenes in this touching story. . . . What more could an artist ask… View →
A Different Kind of Passover
“‘I can’t imagine our seder without Grandpa at the table,’ worries Jessica as her family travels to her grandparents’ house to celebrate Passover; her grandfather is just out of the hospital and confined to his bed. Leopold-Strauss (The Elijah Door) creates an intimate… View →
“[A] personable introduction to useful concepts, and attentive readers will enjoy getting to know the specific dogs in the bustling scenes.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Passover Scavenger Hunt
“Silva makes her children’s book debut with the warmhearted story of a family’s Passover seder, during which one of the young cousins, Rachel, gets fed up with how bad her Great-Uncle Harry is at hiding the afikomen. Taking the initiative, Rachel organizes a scavenger hunt for her… View →
Yossi and the Monkeys: A Shavuot Story
“Hoping to earn some extra money to buy challah, blintzes, and flowers for Shavuot, a man named Yossi sets out with three kippahs, sewn by his wife, which are promptly stolen by a monkey as Yossi naps under a tree. Just when things are starting to resemble a Jewish riff on Esphyr… View →
How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea
“Swiatkowska’s delicious . . . details give Hosford’s round-the-world tale offbeat charm, and readers will smile as they watch the Queen shed her haughtiness and embrace her own capabilities.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Under the Sabbath Lamp
“Izzy and Olivia Bloom, a charming older couple, are welcomed into their new neighbors’ homes for Shabbat dinners, and then host a Friday night dinner of their own. But when the guests arrive, they’re puzzled to find that the Blooms don’t own a pair of Shabbat candlesticks; instead View →
Gus's Garage
Returning to the vehicular focus of Bang and Who’s Driving? Timmers introduces a string of animals who drive quirky cars and a good-natured pig mechanic who makes them even quirkier. Gus has a one-pump garage in the middle of nowhere and a stash of greasy, worn-out… View →
Tiny Creepy Crawlers
“It’s an irreverent but informative introduction to some impressive specimens that slither, creep, crawl, and bite.”—Publishers Weekly View →
The Secret of Goldenrod
“[A] gentle debut. . . . This is a memorable and complex tale about negotiating change and coming into one’s own.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Black Beauty
“Brown illustrates in a rich, pastoral style . . . [and] though Brown’s adaptation moves quickly through the horse’s many travails, her injuries and mistreatments still strike their intended emotional chords.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Joseph the Dreamer
“The Genesis story of Joseph is tailor-made for a graphic novel: it’s full of narrative twists and intense family dynamics, and its hero not only has prophetic powers, but also rises from patriarch’s pet to grand vizier and hero of Egypt. Newcomer Laff casts Joseph’s family as… View →
Potatoes at Turtle Rock
“The creative team behind Tashlich at Turtle Rock (2010) returns with another story about a Jewish holiday–themed hike. Once again, young Annie is the leader and narrator; the title refers to her giving two baked potatoes to each family member during a Hanukkah walk… View →
Hanukkah Delight!
“Newman (Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed) and Husband (The Noisy Foxes) team up for a blithe rhyming account of a festive Hanukkah celebration: ‘Friends and neighbors to invite./Ancient blessings we recite./ Gleaming candles burning bright./ Crispy latkes taste View →
A Hanukkah with Mazel
“In the outskirts of Grodno in what is now Belarus, a poor artist named Misha goes into his ramshackle barn and discovers a starving stray cat curled up next to his milk cow. Soon Misha and the cat, which he dubs Mazel (Hebrew for luck), are fast friends, and together they… View →
Nara and the Island
“[A] magic-tinged . . . haunting, slightly surreal story that speaks to the rewards of both independence and companionship.”—Publishers Weekly View →
A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent
“[Rockwell] delivers a striking portrait of James Lafayette, an African-American spy critical to the outcome of the Revolutionary War. [Cooper’s] illustrations affirm his skill as a gifted portrait artist.”—Publishers Weekly View →