Starred ReviewStarred Review A Queen to the Rescue

A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah (by Nancy Churnin with illustrations by Yevgenia Nayberg) begins with Henrietta Szold’s birth in Baltimore in 1860. The book covers Szold’s achievements even before and beyond the Hadassah era (who knew that Szold was the Jewish Publication Society’s first editor?) and concludes with her later years in British Mandatory Palestine. (Note: The territory is referred to as “Palestine” throughout the story, with acknowledgments that “British leaders ran Palestine” during the Nazi era; a timeline at the back of the book also notes that Szold made “her first trip to what was then called Palestine, part of the Ottoman Empire” in 1909. An author’s note more explicitly frames Szold’s lasting significance in and to the State of Israel.) In keeping with the title’s “rescue” focus, the book highlights the Youth Aliyah endeavor through which Szold and Hadassah saved 11,000 children from the Nazis.

“Churnin’s com­pre­hen­sive and inspir­ing text, paired with Nayberg’s rich mul­ti-lay­ered, expres­sive, and art­ful mixed-media illus­tra­tions, bring to life this remark­able woman who was long over­due for a pic­ture book biog­ra­phy.” — Rachel Kamin, Jewish Book Council

“Churnin portrays the organizational skill and human kindness of her subject with love and admiration. She expands the main text with comprehensive back matter that includes additional historical information, facts about the Purim holiday and a timeline. Nayberg’s stylized cubistic illustrations are striking and convey the human crises that called for a great woman’s intervention.”—Association of Jewish Libraries

“Using concise but informative text, Churnin does an excellent job of introducing this dynamic woman in a picture book format . . . [while] Nayberg’s modernist, expressionistic illustrations effectively capture Henrietta’s powerful persona.”—starred, School Library Journal

“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

“Elegant, assured prose (‘The air was thick with tears for lost loved ones’), accentuated by facts and data, will keep readers absorbed alongside Nayberg’s engrossingly abstract, fluid illustrations, tinted in rich hues of blue-green and red. A moving biography of a lesser-known heroine.”—starred, Publishers Weekly

“Exceptionally informative, well organized, thoroughly ‘kid friendly’ in presentation, ‘A Queen to the Rescue’ is the highly recommended picture book biography of Henrietta Szold and especially and unreservedly recommended for . . . young readers ages 8-13.”—Midwest Book Review

“A powerful introduction to a little known, very brave woman.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews"

“A worthwhile addition for any library looking to expand picture book content on powerful women.”