Reviews
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue
“Light performs multiple roles in this fascinating glimpse at a little-known slice of Jewish American history, beautifully rendered in chalk pastels.” —The New York Times Book Review View →
Decoding Our DNA: Craig Venter vs the Human Genome Project
“Ballen clearly lays out both sides of the issues as well as the story’s eventual resolution.” —Booklist View →
Four Secrets
“This novel will make students think, and would be good for discussion.” —VOYA View →
Food: The New Gold
“[Food: The New Gold] is ideal for school reports or other assignments on this topic, and middle school readers will find themselves engrossed once they begin reading this honest and interesting text.” —VOYA View →
Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean
“Izzy’s brand new invention, the Super-McDuper Passover McClean, can suck up all of the books, rugs, curtains, lamps, tables, chairs, toys, and dishes and spit them back out clean, washed and dried without a trace of hametz. More amazing still, Passover McClean puts everything back View →
Book of Styling: An Insider's Guide to Creating Your Own Look
“There are many, many girls out there who are going to read this cover to cover, especially when they’ve finished this month’s Teen Vogue.”—Booklist View →
Plague Riders
“The short text (approximately fourth-grade reading level) and intriguing design of these books will appeal to challenged and reluctant readers in middle and high school.” —School Library Journal View →
Four Secrets
“These middle school kids encounter drugs, alcohol, sexuality, and violence, but Willey sensitively and skillfully reveals not only the details of their drastic act, but also the secrets that the three friends and their victim harbor, secrets that shape who they are and what their… View →
Food: The New Gold
“An informative, well documented resource on a timely topic.” —starred, Booklist View →
Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F.
“Disturbing but compelling.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return
“While this thought-provoking memoir educates American readers on this foreign war, it also encourages them to appreciate their own freedom, safety, and comforts and to build their own communities. One night can change a lifetime.” —Foreword Magazine View →
Their Skeletons Speak: Kennewick Man and the Paleoamerican World
“Enhanced by maps and diagrams as well as photos of discovery sites, remains, and scientists at work, this account imparts a clear sense of how hard and subtle that work is—and how exciting, too.” —Booklist View →
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue
“Emanuel and his family are part of a group of Jews that have been forced to flee Portugal and have come to live in the whaling community of eighteenth-century New Bedford, Massachusetts. While his father runs a whaling supply shop on the wharf, nine-year-old Emanuel prefers to… 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 →
Sex & Violence
“Sex & Violence is an absolutely unrelenting look at life after physical and emotional trauma. It’s dark and sometimes painful to watch, but it hurts even more to look away. Evan’s story will sit with me for a very long time.”—Trish Doller, author of… 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 →
Maccabee Meals: Food and Fun for Hanukkah
“’Maccabee Meals’ features large, easy-to-read print, lots of lively illustrations and a selection of enticing, unique recipes such as Waffle Latkes with yogurt, or Chocolate Star Dreidels. Inter-spersed with the recipes and drawings are short stories and other Chanukah… 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 →
Jeremy's Dreidel
“The good news is that Jeremy’s Dreidel (Kar-Ben Publishing) by Ellie Gellman, has been updated and re-released after 20 years. Parents and teachers never tired of sharing this classic 1992 Chanukah story on account of the emotional wallop it delivers and the discussions… View →
Maccabee Meals: Food and Fun for Hanukkah
“Maccabee Meals: Food and Fun for Hanukkah (Kar-Ben) by Judye Groner and Madeline Wikler and illustrated by Ursula Roma has also been reissued, and it is full of fun facts and simple recipes children will enjoy. Here’s one for starters: ‘The first day of Hanukkah and… View →
Sex & Violence
“Slicing through a haze of pot smoke and mixed-up horny confusion emerges Evan’s razor-sharp voice chronicling his journey from a dirtbag dick to a cleansed soul in this important contribution to YA lit on par with coming of age classics like Rats Saw God.”… View →
A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return
“The book’s strengths are myriad. Abirached is a lovely artist, and her characters’ faces are remarkably expressive. There is much humor, a welcome relief from the chaos and heartache of the human stories within.For young readers, ‘A… View →