The Key from Spain
Flory Jagoda and Her Music
A Sydney Taylor Honor Book and CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year
When Flory’s ancestors are forced to leave Spain during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, they take with them their two most precious possessions—the key to their old house and the Ladino language.
When Flory flees Europe during World War II to begin a new life in the United States, she carries Ladino with her, along with her other precious possessions—her harmoniku and her music. But what of the key?
With huge interest in multi-cultural Judaism in the Jewish world these days, this picture book biography of a Sephardic Jewish singer tells a story unfamiliar to most American Jews whose ancestry comes from eastern Europe (Ashkenazim) rather than the Levant or Spanish part of the world (Sephardim). While most Jews are familiar with Yiddish, Jews with Spanish ancestry speak a language called Ladino, as Flory Jagoda does in this book.
Discover the story of Ladino singer Flory Jagoda, with QR code links to Flory Jagoda singing her famous Ladino Hanukkah song “Ocho Kandelikas” (Eight Candles)
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-7284-4337-9
|
$9.99 |
| Interest Level | Preschool - Grade 2 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 1 |
| Genre | Picture Books, Social Studies |
| Category | Biography, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity, SEL: A Self-Awareness, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2025 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Kar-Ben Publishing ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2025-09-01 |
Author: Debbie Levy
Debbie Levy is the author of more than 25 books of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry for young people, including New York Times best-selling I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and National Jewish Book Award. Debbie is a former lawyer and newspaper editor, and lives in Maryland with her husband.
Illustrator: Sonja Wimmer
Sonja Wimmer loves painting pictures and telling stories. After studying and working some years as a designer in her hometown Munich and Brussels, she decided to pack her suitcase and move to Barcelona to study Illustration at the “Llotja” Arts and Crafts School. Since then she lives between brushes and all kinds of wonderful tales, working as freelance illustrator for publishing houses and other clients around the world.
Awards
- Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
- Sydney Taylor Honor Book
Reviews
Kiss the Book
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL—ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Flora’s ancestors fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, they took 2 things with them, a key and their Ladino language. By the 1930s, her family was living in Europe, a dangerous place and time for Jewish people, so the family moved again. Flora traveled alone on a train to their next home , but in order to keep her identity a secret, she spent the whole trip playing music on her harmoniku while everyone on the train sang along. Her ancestors carried a key and their language, and she did, too; preserving the Ladino language through songs in America.
Sonja Wimmer’s full color illustrations are beautiful, the perfect addition to the well written text. Picture book biographies are my favorite thing right now—I love learning about people who are completely new to me. Flory Jagoda is one of them, and now she’s a hero! My goodness, so talented, and what a heartbreaking story. Be sure to scan the QR code key on the last page to hear her sing her famous Hanukkah song “Ocho Kandelikas”
Lisa Librarian
Jewish Book Council
“The Key from Spain is highly recommended both for children and adults interested in learning about Sephardic culture and history.”―Jewish Book Council
School Library Journal
“This work is a must-purchase for library collections.”—starred, School Library Journal
Booklist
“. . . this is a worthy (though fictionalized) homage to a language and its fervent promoter.”—Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“Based on a true story, an inspirational reclamation of history.”―Kirkus Reviews