Reviews
Sophie's Monster Goes to Shul
“Wonderful text and bright, fun illustrations will delight preschoolers to early readers.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah
“Readers will see the impact of Szold’s work for immigrants, orphans, Jewish publications, and healthcare in Palestine as well as find themselves in awe of how one person can change the world.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Search for the Shamir
“Biblical timetravelling is the mission of Scarlett and Sam, in Search for the Shamir by Eric A. Kimmel (Kar-Ben, £5.50). They journey to the time of Solomon and witness his wisdom — although they are bemused at his fancy-dress appearance. Solomon needs to build a Temple but may… View →
The Family with Two Front Doors
“The nine children in The Family With Two Front Doors by Anna Ciddor (KarBen, £6.99), live with their mother and rabbi father in 1920s Lublin. They have two doors because they need two apartments to accommodate them all. Ciddor bases the story on the childhood of her Nana Nomi,… View →
The Spy Who Played Baseball
“The Spy Who Played Baseball is the story of Moe Berg, a real-life major-league baseball player of the 1930s. Carrie Jones’s picture book (KarBen, £5.69) tells the story of this quietly brilliant man, who studied at Princeton and would exchange tactical remarks with his college… View →
The Cholent Brigade
“When heavy snow falls, thoughtful Monty Nudelman get shovelling and clears his neighbours’ paths. But just as he finishes, his back gives way. He has to miss Saturday-morning synagogue — but all the people he has helped want to show him some kindness in return and all have the… View →
The Missing Letters: A Dreidel Story
“It is night in the dreidl workshop and the Hebrew letters (drawn by Iryna Bodnaruk as big-eyed creatures, similar to clothed baby hedgehogs) are having a debate — except for the gimmels, who are sleeping sweetly in their tray). The other letters are upset that everybody wants… View →
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“Introduce young readers to Chelm, the traditional village of fools, with Way Too Many Latkes, a Hanukkah in Chelm by Linda Glaser (appetisingly illustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic, KarBen, £6.50). Faigel is making latkes but she cannot remember the recipe. Some careless advice from… View →
The Missing Letters: A Dreidel Story
“All is not well in the dreidel maker’s shop for the Hebrew letters that will go on the wooden tops. The Gimels have been hidden by the others, who then learn Chanukah wouldn’t be complete without them! Is it too late? For ages four to nine.” – The Jewish Chronicle … View →
Talia and the Haman-tushies
“Giggles guaranteed for ages three to five.”—The Jewish Chronicle View →
A Concert in the Sand
“Brown-capped construction workers eating ryebread sandwiches; seltzer stands in the street, Hebrew posters in faintly familiar (but strangely undeveloped) streets…it is 1936 and Uri sits, bored, in his parents’ deli in Tel Aviv, unaware he is soon to attend the first… View →
Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
“Sophie Chang loves Bubbe’s kreplach soup and NaiNai’s wonton soup. Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup by Pamela Mayer and Deborah Melmon (Kar-Ben, £6)explains how the family finds a way to blend their two traditions into one warming recipe. Cosy and… View →
The Cricket and the Ant: A Shabbat Story
“The Cricket and the Ant is a Shabbat fable by Naomi Ben-Gur (Kar-Ben, £6). Cricket spends his week busking, while Ant gets on with her Shabbat baking. Yet she is kind enough to lend her neighbour some ingredients when he runs out of shopping time. Sadly, she takes her eye… View →
The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street
“The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street (Kar Ben, £5.99) are a nuisance, thinks Mr Modiano. He is forever shooing them away from the Tel Aviv Fish Palace. But his neighbour, Mrs Spiegel, loves cats. She is fond of Mr Modiano, too, but he always says ‘lo’ (no) when she… View →
“You’ve changed over your crockery, your food cupboards – what about your children’s bookshelves? And I am not talking about removing the remnants of squashed bagel, ‘posted’ between them several weeks ago in a moment of toddler experimentation. Well, yes – you need to View →
She's a Mensch!: Jewish Women Who Rocked the World
“Jewish women are celebrated in this wonderful picture book. . . . The illustrator did an incredible job portraying each woman to highlight their contributions to society. This book evokes a sense of Jewish pride and will inspire readers to pursue their… View →
The Stars Will Be My Nightlight: A Sukkot Story
“Beautiful.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Afikotective
“Adorable.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Ruth First Never Backed Down
“This is a powerful and important book about an ordinary Jewish woman taking extraordinary risks to speak out against apartheid. Her courage is an inspiration, one that is steeped in Jewish values. Highly recommend.”―Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Everybody's Book: The Story of the Sarajevo Haggadah
“Highly recommend as a way of sharing Jewish history and the importance of Passover from generation to generation.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Mrs. Maccabee's Miracle
“This book puts a cute twist on the story of the Maccabees.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Happy Purim, Grover!
“Provides a cuddly overview of the holiday that will delight young children.”—Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →
Sammy Spider's First Tu B'Shevat
“. . . charming book. . . brightly colored artwork that is sure to delight a young child.” —Kansas City Jewish Chronicle View →
Counting on Shabbat
“From setting the table to counting the braids of a challah to welcoming guests, little ones will love looking at each picture and learning a little more about how this family prepares for the Sabbath.”―Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle View →