Reviews
Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah
“Expect to have readers eagerly awaiting another adventure with Pinky Bloom!” — Beth Gallego, AJL Newsletter View →
The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler
The author skillfully weaves many disparate threads to create a clever and entertaining fabric of community." — Debbie Colodny, AJL Newsletter View →
The Rabbi and the Reverend: Joachim Prinz, Martin Luther King Jr., and Their Fight against Silence
“Ades’ book is a timely corrective to the often strained relations between America’s Jewish and Black communities.” — Marjorie Gann, retired teacher; co-author (with Janet Willen) of Five Thousand Years of Slavery and Speak a Word for Freedom:Women Against Slavery… View →
Hannah G. Solomon Dared to Make a Difference
“Bonnie Lindauer tells Hannah’s story in an engaging way. Her descriptions, along with Sofia Moore’s beautiful, muted-color illustrations bring the era alive. The illustrations are integral to the story and are particularly effective in scenes of diverse women banding together in… View →
Rosh Hashanah with Uncle Max
“Uncle Max has clearly done his job, infusing his family’s Rosh Hashanah holiday with joy and delight.” — Ellen Drucker-Albert, Co-editor, Children’s and Teen Literature, AJL News and Reviews; Manager, Adult & Information Services, Cold… View →
Happy Roo Year: It's Rosh Hashanah
“Kids will learn the word ‘marsupial’ along with all the holiday traditions through this upbeat tale.” — Lisa Silverman, retired Library Director, Sperber Jewish Community Library, Los Angeles; Co-Editor, Children’s and Teen Literature, AJL View →
37 Days at Sea: Aboard the M.S. St. Louis, 1939
“The rhythmic flow draws the reader inside the narrative. You will want to read this book in one sitting, never letting go until the very last words. In addition, the layout and design of 37 Days at Sea add depth to the emotional events.” — Anne Dublin, retired… View →
The Singer and the Scientist
“Without self-consciousness, The Singer and the Scientist recreates a time when these two communities worked together towards common goals.” — Marian Grann, retired teacher, co-author (with Janet Willen) of Five Thousand Years of Slavery and Speak a Word for Freedom:… View →
Natan Sharansky: Freedom Fighter for Soviet Jews
“This is an excellent recounting of a struggle which was won against all odds.” — Rachel Glasser, AJL Newsletter, retired librarian, Yavneh Academy, Teaneck, NJ View →
Happy Birthday, Trees!
“Cheery, simple, and delightfully readable, this board book will engage the youngest readers in the positive message of Tu B’Shevat.” — Martha McMahon, AJL Newsletter, Sinai Akiba Academy, Los Angeles, CA View →
The Woodcarver's Daughter
“The Woodcarver’s Daughter introduces children to a period of contemporary Jewish history in a well-written, entertaining and detailed way.” — Ilka Gordon, AJL Newsletter, Beachwood, OH View →
The Great Passover Escape
“This book presents an excellent introduction to the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem, a wonderful place for children of all ages to learn about animals mentioned in the Bible as well as endangered species.” — Rachel Glasser, AJL Newsletter, retired… View →
Rah! Rah! Mujadara
“The short rhymes (’It’s a pitzel of a schnitzel! Crispy chicken, finger lickin’) and the bright illustrations will make this a favorite, and it can be used with older kids for story time with themes of food and/or Israel. Bitei-avon (healthy appetite)!” — Chava… View →
Hillel Builds a House
“The new illustrations are indeed a delightful improvement and will allow this fine book a deserved second life.” — Lisa Silverman, Co-editor, Children’s and Teen Literature, AJL News and Reviews, AJL Newsletter View →
Sammy Spider's First Book of Prayers
“The illustrations here are both descriptive and evocative of the occasions, making it easy to use.”— Fred Isaac, Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA, AJL Newsletter View →
The Abba Tree
“The tale is a sweet story about the warmth of the father-daughter relationship and trees” — Rachel Glasser, retired Librarian, Yavneh Academy, Teaneck, NJ, AJL Newsletter View →
There Was a Young Rabbi: A Hanukkah Tale
“The text presents not only a positive Jewish female role model able to balance both her professional and parental responsibilities, but through the rhythmic rhyme a reminder of the roots of this celebration.”— Ellen Drucker-Albert, AJL… View →
Noah Green Saves the World
“However, at its core, this is the story of Noah and his friends navigating the middle-school social scene, confronting bullies and their own self-doubt, and contemplating what doing tikkun olam (‘helping to fix what’s wrong in the world’) might look like for… View →
It's Challah Time!: 20th Anniversary Edition
“The stunning photos are different from those in the original edition published in 2002, for they portray children who come from diverse backgrounds.” — Anne Dublin, retired librarian of Holy Blossom Temple; author of A Cage Without Bars (Second Story Press, 2018),… View →
Beni's War
“Beni’s War depicts neither an idealized Israel nor a flawed country which needs to be apologized for. Instead, it faithfully paints life as lived in a country where war is never far away.” — Marjorie Gann, retired teacher; author of Five Thousand Years of Slavery,… View →
Does Your Dog Speak Hebrew?: A Book of Animal Sounds
“Young preschoolers will enjoy learning animal names and sounds in multiple languages, and the reminder that, ‘A cow and parah both say, ‘Moo!’ in English…and in Hebrew too!’ adds a nice note of cross-cultural unity.” — Rebecca Fox, Children’s Librarian II,… View →
The Book of Secrets
“With artful, easily understood frames and vivid colors, the author/illustrator crafts an engaging read. The stories are taken from the Mishnah, Hasidic tales, Midrash, tales of the Ba’al Shem Tov, and a story by Kafka.” — Debbie Colodny, retired librarian, Cook Memorial… View →
Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place
“The illustration sometimes complements the text with greater nuance, often using a muted palette vis-à-vis the red of the Nazi flags. This book about Miep Gies joins those about Irena Sendler and Janusz Korczak in helping youngsters understand the acts of rescuers and their… View →
Judah Touro Didn't Want to be Famous
“As is sometimes the case, a long illness or serious injury can change one’s perspective about life. So it was with Judah Touro.” — Anne Dublin, retired librarian and author, Toronto, AJL Newsletter View →