The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Matzah Day! by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Jason Kirschner Holiday House, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Suneby   Buy at Bookshop.org This upbeat picture book celebrates the many, many ways matzah can be enjoyed, and is sure to get young children excited about Passover and eating matzah. The happy rhyming text and energetic colorful illustrations infuse a rather "dry" (pun intended) subject with joy. Even before the story begins, the wordless mosaic of matzah squares with the family's faces sets a welcoming tone. The book offers an authentic representation of Passover and Judaism on many levels, even alluding to the potential drawbacks of eating matzah: crumbs and constipation! On a more serious note, the child-friendly nonfiction back matter is written for children, but is great for grown-ups who would like a holiday primer. And the back matter offers recipes for matzah and for a sweet and a savory matzah dish.  Editor's Note: This book was in...

Ellis Island Passover written and illustrated by Marissa Moss Creston Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman   Buy at Bookshop.org   Great-Uncle Ezra arrives just in time to cheer up a grumpy little girl as her family prepares for Passover. Based on Marissa Moss’ family memoir, Uncle Ezra shares the extraordinary true tale of how he traveled alone when he was 9 years old, first across Europe, then by ship, escaping violent antisemitism. When he arrived at Ellis Island his older brother was not there as expected to sponsor his entry to America. He was well cared for on the island but if his brother coudn’t be found by week’s end then he would be sent back to Europe. During this time he helped create and celebrate a seder for the other Jewish refugees. Without a Haggadah they told the Exodus story from a Hebrew bible, without matzoh they substituted crackers. But the participants all felt they were sharing their own personal Exodus from oppression to free...

The Secret Seder by Dvorah Zuckerberg, illustrated by Tamara Goldreich Menucha Publishers, 2025 Category: Early Chapter Books Reviewer: Leah Cypess   Buy at Menucha This well-written and evocative early chapter book tells the story of a secret seder in Siberia during World War II. The story seems to be based on the author’s own experiences. Despite the setting and topic, it is a gentle narrative, conveying the harsh realities of the life the main character lives but stressing the fact that she nevertheless feels safe, protected by her parents and by God. There is enough tension to keep the pages turning. Will their neighbor discover what they are doing? Will American Jews send matzah? The clear, crisp illustrations, with their expressive facial expressions and beautiful scenery, enhance and complete the story. The Jewish representation in this book is heartfelt and authentic and illuminates an important part of the Jewish historical experience. The book is about deeply religious J...

The Curious Case of the Pot Roast: A Passover Mystery by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt Green Bean Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Eva Weiss   Buy at Bookshop.org The spirited young hero of this picture book brings to life the antic legend of a custom born of misinterpretation. On Passover Eve, an inquisitive boy (whose name we never learn) asks his mother why she cuts off the ends of her pot roast before cooking it. To decipher the family tradition, the child is directed first to his grandmother, and then to his great-grandmother, who reveals that the custom originated with a pot that was too small for the roast. The story is told in the first-person voice of the engaging and precocious hero, who also states its moral: "Even old recipes can have new questions." Along the way, the young hero asks many more questions about the ways of the world, as he skips up the stairs. He wants to know everything from who invented spoons to whether an...

My Matzah written & illustrated by Ann Diament Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Rebecca Greer   Buy at Bookshop.org   This simplistic board book focuses on a young koala bear trying to find the hidden matzah, also referred to as the “afikoman”. He looks high and low throughout the house as an older male koala looks on. It is only when the pair search together that it is found and can be eaten. At the end is a brief note that the afikoman is hidden during Passover and must be searched for. The question is also posed to the reader “where would you choose to hide it?” which sets up a discussion after the book is done. Clever artwork shows the fun and joy of searching for the matzah, especially once it’s found and can be eaten, through the use of onomatopoeia words “munch” and “crunch”. The story is extremely brief, with a focus on the artwork, giving a glimpse into a Passover seder. A quick and cute read for you...

  One, Two, Three, Passover! by Naomi Shulman, illustrated by Nora Hilb PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Ann Koffsky   Buy at Amazon.com Like all successful board books aimed at the youngest readers, One, Two, Three, Passover is deceptively simple. It’s main character of a young girl takes the reader through the highlights of the Passover holiday, starting with preparation, then through the seder meal. At each stage, the refrain of “one Two three!” is repeated, and is used to count three matzahs, three haggaddahs, and three claps along to dayenu and more. Throughout, our protagonist is accompanying by her adorable and fluffy dog, and through the illustrations we get to meet her grandparents and multi-racial friends, too. The words of the book are very well structured, and target the age group well. Sentences are simple, and the concept of 1,2,3 is right on point, and exactly what readers this age are learning. The illustrations are also very cleve and add l...

Happy Passover, Edie Rose! by Joy Preble, illustrated by Valeria Cis Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books  Reviewer: Julie Ditton   Buy at Bookshop.org   Why is this Passover book different from all other Passover books? Most other Passover picture books tell the biblical Passover story or tell a tale of a typical seder. This one is a bit different. Mia and everyone else loves going to Edie Rose's apartment for the Passover seder. Edie always prepares everything, and guests are told "just bring yourself". Edie makes everything fun, with paper frogs that kids have colored, and everyone participating and imagining that they are marching together to escape Egypt. Edie is quite the character, and regales Mia with the stories of all her travels. She has given Mia a map of the world to mark her own travels, stating that "You never know what journey might call your name." When Edie is injured right before Passover, Mia r...

Max's Mask: A Purim Story by Havvah Deevon, illustrated by Itay Bekin Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Amy Schreibman Walter   Buy at Bookshop.org Max starts kindergarten at a new school and, while he likes his class and his new teacher, he’s not completely comfortable just yet. Fortunately, wearing his superhero costume and mask gives him the confidence he needs to deal with big emotions and new stressors. When a classmate knocks over Max’s block tower, kicks over Max’s neatly lined up row of toy cars, and then sticks his tongue out, Max's superhero costume and mask give him strength. A little while later, when Purim comes, everybody in the class chooses a costume - except Max. He decides to come to Purim unmasked, as his true self. Max realizes that he is strong just as he is - no costume necessary. This book makes a great social/emotional read-aloud for the classroom - for preschoolers, kindergarteners and beyo...

Rachel Friedman Is Not the Queen by Sarah Kapit, illustrated by Genevieve Kote Henry Holt & Co., 2025 Category: Early Chapter Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaw   Buy at Bookshop.org Rachel Friedman is Not the Queen , the most recent entry in Sarah Kapit’s early chapter book series, is a warm, relatable friendship story that teaches about Purim and the importance of seeing others’ perspectives.   In this installment, goodhearted but impulsive Rachel falls out with her best friend Maya when Maya nabs the coveted role of Esther in their synagogue’s 3rd grade Purimspiel. Rachel, appropriately cast as the stubborn Vashti, takes her jealousy and disappointment out on Maya in harsh words, avoidance, and competitiveness. The caring adults in Rachel’s life notice the friction and help Rachel understand how her behavior is hurting her treasured friendship. Rachel apologizes and the two girls support each other through the challenges of the final performance of the play.  Rachel is...

Kayla and Kugel's Playful Purim written and illustrated by Ann Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Susan Tarcov   Buy at Bookshop.org   This book is part of a series of picture books about the Jewish holidays, featuring Kayla and her dog, Kugel. This newest entry celebrates the holiday of Purim. Kayla and Kugel bake hamantashen, dress up in costumes (Kayla dresses up as Kugel, and Kugel as Kayla), go to synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah, and then home for a Purim feast with family and friends. The cartoon-style illustrations are cheerful, and Kayla’s red braids point up or down, expressing her emotions. What fun to see dogs and cats in synagogue—all the better to make noise to drown out Haman’s name! And there’s a very nice touch at the end: the story says that a Purim meal is most fun with friends, and the following final note to the reader begins “Dear Friends.” This book is a great introduction to t...

Just Like Queen Esther by Kerry Olitzky & Ari Moffic, illustrated by Rena Yehuda Newman Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Cindy Rivka Marshall   Buy at Bookshop.org In this appealing picture book, Atara wears a crown everywhere and chooses her own name, which means “crown” in Hebrew. When her mom reads her a book about Purim, Atara relates to Queen Esther, because they both had to hide their identities: Esther hid that she was Jewish, while, until recently, Atara hid that she was a girl, not a boy like her parents had thought. Her mother responds matter-of-factly to Atara’s observations and supports Atara's wish to wear a crown as a way of proclaiming to everyone that she identifies as a girl. When Atara is cast as Esther in a Purim play, she worries that the other kids and the audience will laugh or say that she is not a “real girl.” Happily - and refreshingly - these fears never come to fruition. While the book portrays Atara’s vulnerability...

Time for Hamantaschen by Madelyn Rosenberg, illustrated by Raaya Karas PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books  Reviewer: Mirele Kessous   Buy at Amazon.com Here’s a cute Purim board book for children ages 0-5. It has a catchy rhythm that will get little ones bobbing their heads, and a diverse cast of characters. Follow the children as they bake hamantaschen and stuff bags with Purim goodies. The colorful pictures of tasty Mishloach Manot will be a focal point for young readers. You may want to have some hamantaschen or candy on hand to avoid the kvetching. This is a gentle introduction to Purim for young kids who may or may not have background knowledge on the holiday.    The cast of Jewish children are diverse in skin tones. None wear markers of Jewish identity such as a kippah. The only Jewish vocabulary included in this simple book is "Purim" and "hamantaschen." A good introduction for those with little Jewish background knowledge, and a fun story for those i...

Rembrandt Chooses a Queen by Kerry Olitzky & Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Cinzia Battistel Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Hadad Siegel   Buy at Bookshop.org   Set in 1660 Amsterdam, Rembrandt Chooses a Queen is a charming historical fiction picture book inspired by the Rembrandt painting "Ahasuerus and Haman at the Feast of Esther."   Samuel (fictional) is an apprentice at Rembrandt's studio. Surrounded by art and artists dedicated to their work, Samuel develops a new sense of belonging and a calling he wants to pursue. Though there are not many Jewish visuals in the illustrations, the Jewish voice is dominant, and a significant debate is apparent in the plot on how to follow a path to pursue different interests, in addition to a lifelong journey with the study of Torah and Mitzvot.  Samuel is excited at the concept of Rembrandt painting a scene from Esther's scroll. However, Rembrandt is n...

  The Elephant and the Purim Crown by Haviva Kierzenblat, illustrated by Rebeca Luciani Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva   Buy at Bookshop.org   The Elephant and the Purim Crown introduces the vibrant world of Rangoon, Burma, where rickshaws, pagodas, and banyan trees abound. Young Rachel, dressed as Queen Esther for the Purim festival, and her cousin Raz encounter a working elephant. Initially, they want to take a ride, but then Rachel notices the old elephant’s bruised and cracked feet. Her compassion for animals makes the ride and the elephant’s condition concerning. When Rachel wins the Purim contest and is gifted a jewel-covered crown, it becomes the ticket to freeing the elephant and retiring her to a sanctuary. Author Haviva Kierzenblat and Illustrator Rebeca Luciana immerse the reader into the colorful Burmese landscapes, native foods and traditions, and the bustling bazaar. The sto...

Who Brought the Hamantaschen? by Marcia S. Gresko, illustrated by Steve Mack Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books/Board Book Reviewer: Sarah Clarke   Buy at Bookshop.org This is a board book aimed at the youngest of readers. The story features a diverse group of children dressed up for Purim with a delicious fruit treat in hand for the Purim party. Along with the costumes and the snacks, the book emphasizes colors: green grapes, yellow bananas, orange papayas and more. Of course, the question is asked: "who brought the hamantaschen?" The grandparents, of course! At the end of the book, we see a full spread of costumes, kids, and snacks. This book is bright and colorful with child-friendly illustrations that will appeal to toddlers. Gresko’s text is simple and appropriate for this age group and will most definitely hold their attention and create meaningful conversations with the adult reader. With the children and the grandpa...

  When we began The Sydney Taylor Shmooze in 2020, we framed it as a mock award blog that would predict which books might win the Real Sydney Taylor Book Award. However, our content soon eclipsed our original scope. As a new year of reviewing approaches, we took stock and realized it was time to embrace what the Shmooze has become. As of 2025, we are no longer a mock award blog, but a book review source that considers the vast majority Jewish children's books published each year. We will continue to provide critiques of new Jewish board books, picture books, middle grade books, and young adult books that are eligible for the Sydney Taylor Book Award, although we will no longer hold a mock award vote. The Sydney Taylor Book Award is the only literary prize that focuses solely on Jewish children's literature, and The Sydney Taylor Shmooze is the only review source with that same narrow focus. We deeply appreciate all the dedicated volunteer reviewers who have contributed t...