Reviews
Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva
“Author Jules, a many-time Sydney Taylor Honoree, presents a tale that is at once universally accessible and yet so vital to young Jewish readers.”—Association of Jewish Libraries View →
The Best Sukkot Pumpkin Ever
“Micah visits a pumpkin patch with his family on a mission to find ‘the best pumpkin ever’ for Sukkot. Upon arrival, he learns from the farmer the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and that the pumpkins he finds can be donated to feed people in need at a soup… View →
Engineer Arielle and the Israel Independence Day Surprise
“The roof of a train and the roof of the sky deliver a picture book about Israel’s Independence Day. Engineer Arielle, energetic, 21st century, modern, urban train engineer is the great, great granddaughter of Engineer Ari renowned for his adventures driving the first ever train in View →
Rosie Saves the World
“Caring for the world and people in need around the globe is an essential Judaic value, and so is Areyvut (Jews being responsible for one another). Rosie learns in Hebrew class about Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world by doing good deeds, and sets off to do just… View →
The Cholent Brigade
“Mr. Monty Nudelman is a mensch (good person). On Friday morning following a big storm, he happily shovels snow from the sidewalks, alleys and front porches of his neighbors so they can prepare for Shabbat. When he does not show up for Shabbat services on Saturday morning, View →
Koala Challah
“Lila wants to help her family get ready for Shabbat. She tries making eucalyptus oil candles and eucalyptus wine like her sisters. She tries making decorations for the Shabbat table. Unfortunately, everything she tries makes a huge mess that her parents have to clean up in a hurry View →
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“In the town of Chelm, where foolish ideas often turn out for the best, Faigel can’t find her latke recipe. She sends her husband, Shmuel, to ask the rabbi for advice. Too many potatoes? No problem. Use them all! Too many eggs? Ditto. Too many onions? Ditto. At the end of this… View →
The Missing Letters: A Dreidel Story
“Set in the wood carver’s shop as the festival approaches, all the separate pieces of the dreidel are ready to be assembled. They come to life. Letters nun, hey and shin are jealous of gimel, popular with players because of its promised gains. They decide to hide the gimels so they View →
A Concert in the Sand
“This fictional account of the first performance by what was to become the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), in December 1936, features presumably Hebrew-speaking Uri and his Germanspeaking grandmother. She plucks Uri from a day of boredom… View →
Tisha B'Av: A Jerusalem Journey
“A family learns about ancient Jerusalem in the days of the Temple and about the modern observance of Tisha B’Av in the best and most effective way of all – by exploring ancient sites in a hands-on way; they dig, they walk, they photograph, they touch, they ask, and… View →
Jewish Sports Stars: Athletic Heroes Past and Present
“Back story meshes with athletic achievement in a wide range of sports and eras. Strong, clear vocabulary and honest reports put across the message to sports buffs as well as general readers interested in great moments. Punchy vignettes will appeal to middle and high school… View →
ABC Hanukkah Hunt
Adorably colorful and wide-eyed Jewish family members celebrate Hanukkah in this newest Kar-Ben offering for preschoolers . . . All around, a rare treat of a Hanukkah book that children will ask to read more than once." — AJL Reviews View →
Lotsa Matzah
“Just when you thought there couldn’t be another Passover board book, author Tilda Balsley makes a charming contribution to the category with Lotsa Matzah. Told in rhyming couplets, Balsley does a remarkable job covering the basics of why we eat matzah to hiding the… View →
Hannah's Way
“Hannah’s Way is an American Jewish story that has not been told in picture books before. The time is the 1920s and the place is Northeastern Minnesota, a rural iron mining area called the Iron Range. After her father loses his job in Minneapolis, Hannah’s family moves to… View →
Sadie and the Big Mountain
“Sadie’s synagogue preschool is spending the week preparing for Shavuot, the culmination of which will be a mountain hike, similar to Moshe ascending Mount Sinai. Sadie does not like hiking, and as the class makes walking sticks, learns the Ten Commandments, and makes blintzes,… View →
Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles
“Jacob’s older brother, Nathan, celebrates the lighting of the menorah in his own unique way, as he does everything else, by blowing out the candles as soon as they are lit. Nathan exhibits behavior that we associate with autism, but Jacob just finds it annoying. He is thrilled… View →
Dinosaur Goes to Israel
“Our AJL colleague, Diane Rauchwerger, has charmed children with stories featuring a dinosaur who celebrates Judaism. In this, her fourth book illustrated by Jason Wolff, Dino joins his human friend on a visit to Israel. The book does more than tell the… View →
Grandma Rose's Magic
“What goes around comes around arrives in a sweet way in the form of a sewing grandmother who always does something extra. Her mitzvot (good deeds) do not go unnoticed, supporting the surprise ending. Grandma Rose sews for young and old: clothes, blankets, table cloths, dolls. She… View →
Lights Out Shabbat
“In her first children’s book, Shulimson tells a sweet story about keeping the Sabbath even when the unexpected occurs. When a snowstorm knocks out the power at his grandparents’ house in Georgia soon after the Shabbat candles are lit, a little boy finds that a Sabbath without… View →
Barnyard Purim
“Purim is a time for pretending—a time for little girls to dress up as courageous queens and for little boys to sprout fake beards and masquerade as Mordecai or Haman. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Farmer Max’s livestock decide to stage their own Purim play. Chicken channels… View →
Not So Shy
“At times comical and at times emotional…this heartwarming novel would be an asset to both public and Jewish libraries.”—Association of Jewish Libraries View →
Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom, Salaam
“In this unique retelling of the classic ‘Brothers’ legend, the title characters are two women – one Jewish, one Muslim—living side-by side in Jerusalem. The women work together harvesting dates, and often share meals. They practice their faiths, which the book… View →
Moses and the Runaway Lamb
“Jacqueline Jules adds to her successful Jewish literary tales oeuvre with this lovely and uplifting story of Moses when he was just a teenage shepherd…A nice message for children who are learning about their Jewish heritage.”―Association of Jewish Libraries View →
Jewish Mindfulness for Kids
“The exercises are creative and beautifully exemplify the Jewish concept of Yishuv Ha Da’at—more than mindfulness, creating a connection and harmony to calm oneself. Carrossine’s illustrations bring these exercises to life.”—Association of Jewish Libraries View →