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Review: The Mitzvah Fairy

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The Mitzvah Fairy by Danielle Joseph, illustrated by Christine Battuz Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Claire Freeland   Buy at Bookshop.org Known only as the Mitzvah Fairy, a young boy dons his wings and crown and grabs his wand ready to perform good deeds in this sweet, concept picture book. His mom has a small role, but it is his dad who looks after the Mitzvah Fairy on this particular day, making for a lovely father-son duo who perform acts of kindness. The Mitzvah Fairy brings chicken soup to his Bubbe, assists his infirm neighbor with chores, picks up recyclables at the park, finds coins on the ground and donates them to the family tzedakah box, and rescues a ladybug from getting squashed. Finally, to end their busy day of giving and kindness, the Mitzvah Fairy hugs his dad. The illustrations add to the sweet flavor of this book. There are candy striped backgrounds and a pastel color palate. The parents and child appear to be whi...
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Review: Song of a Blackbird

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Song of a Blackbird by Maria Van Lieshout First Second, 2025 Category: Young Adult Reviewer: Emily Roth   Buy at Bookshop.org   Told through two distinct storylines, Song of a Blackbird proves that there are endless unique stories to tell about the Holocaust. In 1943, a young student named Emma agrees to join the Dutch resistance movement to help save Jewish children, and soon discovers that her artistic abilities could be key to saving numerous lives – despite endangering her own. Meanwhile, in 2011, Annick’s determination to help her beloved grandmother find a bone marrow donor leads her to discover a startling family secret, and join an artistic revolution of her own. A blackbird symbolizing hope and strength in difficult circumstances soars back and forth between the two stories, connecting them in an unexpected way. Although the stories here are fiction, they are inspired by real people and events. The art in this graphic novel is striking and unique. The illustrations, ...
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Review: Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) Shake Up Shabbat

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Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) Shake Up Shabbat by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Mike Deas PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Early Chapter Books Reviewer: Ellen Scolnic This early chapter book is a continuation of Kimmelman's series about a boy named Sam, his best friend: a girl named Charlie, and Charlie's little sister who is named Sam too (Sam Too).  In a series of brief chapters, these gently humorous stories show how kids, parents, and their friends get together to celebrate Shabbat in various creative ways. Cheerful, colorful illustrations of contemporary families make the ideas in the books relatable and entertaining. The illustrations compliment and enhance the text - depicting families, clothing, toys and rituals that everyone can understand. The book integrates Jewish concepts like tzedakah, tikkun olam, and resting on Shabbat in a fluid easy way that children and families (Jewish and not) will connect with. The traditions, songs, and foods illustrated are familiar - ...
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Review: Uno Dos Tres

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Uno, Dos, Tres: A Sephardic Counting Book by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Nathalie Belhassen PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Claire Freeland Learning to count from one to ten in Ladino is only one aspect of this delightful board book. Sephardic culture is presented in ten illustrations with brief explanations in the backmatter. Adults will undoubtedly learn along with children. As a student of Spanish, I loved discovering, for example, that 5 is sinko in Ladino (there are other slight deviations from Spanish that fascinated me). The art is wonderful. Along with meaningful Sephardic objects, the illustrator depicts adorable children and an appealing family. This short but compelling book introduces Sephardic heritage. Although meant for ages zero to three, I highly recommend it for any age. I know it will be facing out on my home bookshelf.   ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE   Reviewer Claire Freeland is a Bal...
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Review: The Keeper of Stories

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The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Selina Alko Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Stacy Nockowitz   Buy at Bookshop.org The Keeper of Stories recalls the 1966 fire at New York’s Jewish Theological Seminary library. After the fire was extinguished, the entire community, Jews and gentiles, came together in Operation Booklift to try to save the swollen, waterlogged books. After a number of failed attempts to dry the books, a volunteer proposed the method that worked: layering paper towels between the soaked pages. But this extraordinary book is about more than that incident. It’s about how libraries and people both function as guardians of our stories. Pritchard uses poetic language and lovely, metaphorical imagery to emphasize the idea that while the library and the community’s many hands saved the books, it is the Jewish people who keep our stories alive. Though many books were “consumed” by the fire, ...
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Review: Shabbat Shalom, Let's Rest and Reset

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  Shabbat Shalom, Let's Rest and Reset written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Ann Koffsky   Buy at Bookshop.org In Shabbat Shalom, Let’s Rest and Reset, author and illustrator Suzy Ultman speaks directly to the youngest readers and distills the concept of Shabbat for them. Using kid friendly language, she helps them to connect to the idea of a Sabbath rest in ways that they can understand. This is a challenge, as Shabbat is usually described as a day that we refrain from work. But…three-year-olds don’t usually have 9-5 to five jobs! So how to put it in terms that connect to them and their lives? Ultman brilliantly does so by saying that Shabbat is different. All the others day of the week are for DOING, while Shabbat is for BEING. She also recognizes how different personalities will best each enjoy the Shabbat their own way—some will enjoy with family, while others will enjoy just being alone. But at its core, Shab...
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Review: Yes, We'll Do It!

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Yes, We'll Do It! by Dafna Strum, illustrated by Shahar Kober, translated by Ilana Kurshan Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2025 Category: Picture Books  Reviewer: Julie Ditton   Buy at Bookshop.org Dafna Strum's amusing story follows a parade of people who each step in to help the other, resulting in some silly situations. When people help friends who find themselves short-handed, they need to rely on someone else to take over their own job. Although the replacements will cause the readers to laugh, the story demonstrates how important it is to lend a helping hand. Translator Ilana Kurshan has brought this cute story to English speaking readers using clever rhymes. Shahar Kober's colorful illustrations with predominant shades of pink and olive set a whimsical tone. In the afterward, the author states "According to ancient Jewish teachings, 'All the people of Israel are responsible for one another'” (Sifra, Bechukotai 7:5). And of cou...
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