Reviews
Goldie Takes a Stand: Golda Meir's First Crusade
“This is a lovely addition to the biography shelf for the youngest readers” — starred review, Jewish Book World View →
Sammy Spider's First Mitzvah
“Everyone’s favorite little spider is back, still spinning webs and still teaching children Jewish values in his delightful way. His latest adventure educates about the mitzvah of bikur cholim, visiting the sick to promote healing and to bring comfort and a sense of caring.… View →
Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story
“Soffer’s first children’s book is an entertaining read that will delight young children who will share Katy’s enthusiasm. McMahon’s colorful, cartoon-like illustrations radiate high spirit and energy.” — American Jewish World View →
Ziggy's Big Idea
“Cleverly written and tastily presented, this sweet book is highly recommended for ages 5-9.” — Jewish Book World View →
The Whispering Town
“This slim volume is highly recommended for its fine read, for its introduction to sound historical fiction and for its gentle look at a difficult past that cannot be ignored.” — Jewish Book World View →
Sadie's Lag Ba'Omer Mystery
“Sadie’s Lag Ba’Omer Mystery is a great introduction to the holiday. Young children can relate to Sadie and Ori and their ‘detective work’ as they uncover information. Korngold explains Lag Ba’Omer in simple language and educates using… View →
The Patchwork Torah
“Through its serene, oil-painted illustrations and warm language, The Patchwork Torah demonstrates the importance of cycles in Judaism – the cycle of the reading of the Torah ending and beginning on the holiday of Simchat Torah, the cycle of the generations and… View →
Sammy Spider's First Book of Jewish Holidays
“Kar-Ben, Sylvia Rouss, and Katherine Janus Kahn, the long-time successful and marvelous Sammy Spider team, have now brought Sammy and the Shapiros to the toddler crowd in a new sturdy board book. Bright, colorful illustrations, Sammy-style, attract little eyes and hands and… View →
A Watermelon in the Sukkah
“When Miss Sharon asks her students to bring their favorite fruits to help decorate the school sukkah, most children’s contributions are small, light, and easy to hang. Michael’s watermelon, however, presents an interesting problem. The class tries a variety of… View →
Eight Is Great
“A new Hanukkah board book, told in simple rhyme, Eight is Great shares a family celebrating with a multitude of holiday customs. Each page has two sentences, each with a connection to the number eight and the holiday, such as ‘two dreidels with four sides—that’s… View →
No Baths at Camp
“Jewish content is positive and culturally re-enforcing for the campers. This is a light-hearted, amusing, and recommended story which would be perfect as a read-to for preschoolers or as an independent read for ages 6-8.” — Jewish Book World View →
Lotsa Matzah
“Appealing board books can sell anything to tots, if the adorable works. This new one is a good one . . . The warm, joyous illustrations rush all over, tirelessly, just like the targeted audience. Perfect for greasy hands and teeth tempted to chew, this latest addition to the board 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 →
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 →
“From Sunday to Friday, a young, small boy named Ted spends his days doing some big things to make the world a kinder, better place. On Shabbat he rests, dreaming of tikkun olam, the repair of the world. ‘Tikkun Olam Ted’ is a lively toddler book with… 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 →
Jeremy's Dreidel
“Jeremy’s Dreidel is a simple yet compelling story, which, in its short narrative, conveys so much. It is Hanukkah time and the art project at the community center is dreidel-making. This is a fun project and everyone involved has great ideas about how to make a special dreidel… View →
The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street
“Who lives on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv? Lots and lots of cats! Mr. Modiano, the proprietor of the Tel Aviv Fish Palace isn’t a big fan of the furry critters. But Mrs. Spiegel, who lives next door to him in his apartment building, is crazy for them. The apartment building’s… 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 →
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 →
Thank You, Trees!
“An ode to trees and fruit in celebration of Tu B’Shevat, a Jewish holiday. Often occurring in the latter part of January or early February, Tu B’Shevat is also called ‘New Year of the Trees.’ The five double-page spreads show friends and family members planting trees,… 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
“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 →