The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

What Louis Brandeis Knows: A Crusader for Social Justice Becomes a Supreme Court Justice by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Stacy Innerst Calkins Creek (imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Heidi Rabinowitz   Buy at Bookshop.org The life of lawyer Louis Brandeis is outlined in this picture book biography, from childhood to his appointment to the Supreme Court. His common sense approach to life is evoked through the repeated phrase "Any fool knows..." that all people should be treated equally, that joy is more important than wealth, and so on. We see Louis growing and learning, building his persuasive skills and fighting for justice. Key events in his life are touched upon briefly, and are later fleshed out in a thorough and fascinating endnote. We learn that Louis was not only significant for being the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, but that he set crucial precedents that have contributed greatly to the fairness of our demo...

My Sometimes Mistakes by Leah Chana Rubabshi, illustrated by Miriam Rooney Hachai Publishing, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Ellie Grossman Cohen   Buy at Amazon.com One of the best perks of being a parent is teaching our children the same lessons we need to be reminded of—namely, the blessings of making mistakes that help us become better human beings. This important Jewish concept of teshuva is the storyline in this picture book, which contains Jewish nuggets of wisdom that resonate with young children without being over their heads. In this engaging story, a boy learns something new every time he makes a mistake. Through rhyming and clever text, accompanied by colorful, expressive illustrations, young children ages 2-5 will relate to the simple everyday mistakes that help the boy grow and learn and change his behavior. Every scenario has a resolution, and this pattern leads to healthy self esteem, especially in the context of a supportive, loving family depicted in the ...

Jewish Songs from Around the World illustrated by Lucille Ahrweiller Kalaniot Books, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Suneby   Buy at Bookshop.org   This book has it all: songs to listen to in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino, written transliterated lyrics to follow along with, joyous, colorful illustrations, and a bit of history. Little ones will love pressing the button to hear the songs and will be mesmerized by the detailed drawings. Grownups will likely be happy to hear familiar songs and learn about new ones, and they will appreciate the context provided for each song. The book helps keep traditional traditional Jewish music alive! (I wish there were one song that was sung in English. Maybe a series is in order!) This book definitely feels authentically Jewish and will likely appeal to Jewish people predominately. It offers some diversity with songs from Eastern Europe, Israel, and Spain.    ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR ...

Say Shalom All Day Long by Elizabeth Suneby, illustrated by Elke Boschinger PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva   Buy at Amazon.com Say Shalom All Day Long is a basic introduction to the three meanings of the word “shalom:” hello, goodbye, and peace. With a simple, predictable structure, a day in the life of a child unfolds, with each activity contextually showing the three meanings. Hellos and goodbyes are used as time markers. The connotation of “peace” is shown in nature, self-care, and friendship. Kids will easily understand “shalom” through the word repetition and art. Lovely, detailed illustrations accompany the sparse text, urging the reader to pause before the page turn, as a closer look at the art is merited. Two spreads are reminiscent of the classic book, Goodnight Moon , taking place in the child’s bedroom. The details sing here, giving a sense of the child’s personality and interests. However, I would like to have seen more Judaica displ...

Mazel Tov, Baby! by Dara Henry, illustrated by Varda Livney Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2025 Category: Board Book Reviewer: Ellen Scolnic   Buy at Bookshop.org This adorable board book would be a wonderful gift for any new baby. The light, playful rhymes urge readers to “clap with me” and “blow a kiss” while illustrating the milestones of a baby’s days. The repeating “mazel tov” as baby grows and accomplishes these feats adds to the interaction. The book has cute drawings of multi-ethnic babies and flaps to encourage listeners to interact with the book. The engaging, friendly illustrations go perfectly with the fun, happy text. The Jewish representation in the book is authentic and adorable - from the multi-ethnic babies to the "little matzah ball" bib one of them is wearing. It is casual Judaism, because it is limited to the congratulatory "mazel tovs" offered to the babies - but it is joyful. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this book.   ARE YOU INTERESTED...

How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler: The Story of American Artistry and Deception in World War II by Rebecca Siegel Peachtree, 2025 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Stacey Rattner   Buy at Bookshop.org   Before reading this book, if you had asked me about the Ghost Army I would have looked at you quizzically. Now I am grateful that I am educated and that so many young people will have the opportunity to become educated as well. As evidenced by the author’s extensive bibliography, a substantial amount of research went into writing this narrative nonfiction middle grade, which is greatly appreciated. In January 1944, a United States army unit of deception was created with a diverse group of creative, smart and talented soldiers. The secret Ghost Army was made up of not only visual artists, fashion enthusiasts, film and theatre set designers, but also coal miners and bartenders and everyone in between. The Ghost Army used their talents to distract the Germans with deception oper...

Banana Menorah by Lee Wind, illustrated by Karl West Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Lila Spitz   Buy at Bookshop.org Banana Menorah is guaranteed to get kids and parents laughing out loud and talking about unique menorah materials and shapes. When a Jewish family of three arrives at their Hanukkah beach vacation, they realize that they did not pack a menorah in their luggage. While this is disappointing, the young narrator does not despair. They cleverly use their problem solving skills and create a temporary menorah by placing candles in a banana for the first night of Hanukkah. This inventive solution is used for the second and third nights of Hanukkah when a bowl of granola and some aluminum foil are molded into the shape of a menorah. Then, on the fourth night of Hanukkah, they return home to light each one of their three “traditional” menorahs. Afterwards, the child of the family expresses their fond memories of cr...

Construction Site Hanukkah Lights: A Hanukkah Lift-the-Flap Book by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Shawna J.C. Tenney Chronicle Books, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Lila Spitz   Buy at Bookshop.org This lift-the-flap board book is a charming and culturally appropriate addition to the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series. The text bolds specific words to show emphasis and includes developmentally appropriate rhymes which give the book a sing-song tone when read aloud. The illustrations are drawn in the same fun style and high contrast colors-yellow, red, and orange- as other books in the series. The seven machines celebrate Hanukkah by participating in cultural and religious traditions such as building a menorah, lighting candles, and gifting gelt. Additionally, the cement mixer creatively sculpts a huge dreidel in recognition of its importance within the Hanukkah story. This delightful book would be a wonderful gift for Jewish and non-Jewish toddlers this 2...

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Leanne Hatch Clarion Books (imprint of HarperCollins), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili   Buy at Bookshop.org   The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah is exactly as its title suggests, and also so much more. A collection of eight free verse poems, one for each night of Hanukkah, each poem centers around the candles themselves and is followed by a thought for that particular night. These thoughts pack in a lot of interesting and useful information that may be new for some readers. For example, the thought for the fourth night explains that the Hanukkah candles are lit on Friday night before the Shabbat candles are lit. The thought for the sixth night describes the placing of the candles from right to left in the hanukkiah and lighting them from left to right (although the illustrations for that night and the last night may be interpreted as depicting the...

A Teddy Bear for Emily -- And President Roosevelt, Too by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe Albert Whitman & Co., 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Amy Blaine   Buy at Bookshop.org A Teddy Bear for Emily — And President Roosevelt, Too is a warm-hearted picture book based on the true story of the Michtom family who, in 1902, created a stuffed bear inspired by and named after U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt. The story begins in Brooklyn with mother Rose and her daughter Emily, seated side-by-side. As Rose models her creation of a handmade stuffed bear, Emily assists with needle and thread and listens to her mother recall the story of her parents’ emigration from Russia and their meeting and courtship in America. Ultimately, Rose and Morris Michtom married and together opened a candy store. The bear Emily and her mother are creating was inspired by a news article about President Roosevelt and his reluctance to shoot a real bear on one of his well-publicized hu...

Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz by Diana Harmon Asher PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Esty Schachter             Buy at Amazon.com   It’s hard to know where to start in describing the depth and heart of delightful must-read, Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz . The characters are highly engaging and relatable, managing serious themes but also infusing humor throughout. Evie is interesting and complex, and so are her friends and classmates, which is, in fact, one of the many themes of the book. Other themes include coping with grief, bullying, ignorance and intolerance, as well as finding strength and understanding in unexpected ways and more. The book deftly explores the idea that sometimes taking a stand for something that feels right may lead to a bit of trouble, but is nonetheless a risk worth taking. Jewish themes are woven into the book naturally because they are key elements of Evie’s life. From reflecting on having been a canto...

Speedy and the Race Against Sound by Erez Hadad, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt, translated by Gilah Kahn-Hoffmann Green Bean Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Hadad Siegel   Buy at Bookshop.org   How wonderful it is when an author can take an abstract concept written many years ago and transform it into a contemporary story without being didactic. That is a gift and a skill. Full disclaimer: My last name is also Hadad, but Erez and I are not related, to the best of our knowledge… However, we are good friends, and I am so happy to review his clever, creative, and engaging story, Speedy and the Race Against Sound . While I was expecting some rendition of the old tale of The Tortoise and the Hare, I got a new, fresh outlook on —MIDRASH TEHILLIM 120, which, in short, suggests that words are like arrows; once released, you cannot call them back. Speedy the rabbit is the fastest animal in the forest and has many talents. When Speedy wants to show off his ...

The Daughter of Auschwitz: The Girl Who Lived to Tell Her Story by Tova Friedman Quill Tree Books (imprint of HarperCollins), 2025 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Merle Eisman Carrus   Buy at Bookshop.org   Tova Friedman was four years old when her family was moved to a Jewish Ghetto in Poland and just six when they were forced into a cattle car bound for Auschwitz concentration camp. Tova is one of the youngest survivors of the horrendous death camp. As time passes and the survivors of the Holocaust atrocities are fewer and fewer, Tova feels it is her obligation to tell her story. She must keep sharing her experiences so that the world will not forget what happened in World War II Germany and Poland.   Tova tells the story from the perspective of a young girl of twelve talking to a classmate. This makes the story easier for young readers to understand and relate to the details. We meet Tova when she comes to New York City and is starting her new life in America. It...

Slow Down, Shoshi!: It's Shabbat in Uganda by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev Kalaniot Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Karin Fisher-Golton   Buy at Bookshop.org   In Slow Down, Shoshi! , the protagonist from the acclaimed The Very Best Sukkah is back, with a challenging situation for her energetic nature—slowing down for Shabbat. The story opens lyrically, transporting readers to its rural Ugandan setting, with the sights, sounds, and smells of coffee trees. Shoshi rushes, both during harvest time and as she and her grandfather walk to town to sell coffee beans and buy supplies for Shabbat. Her haste causes her to forget one key element. As she gathers items to replace it, she gets another chance to slow down and, this time, experiences the value of savoring the moment. While portraying a universal and very relatable growth arc about slowing down, author Shoshana Nambi also draws on her upbringing and exposes her audience to life in rural Uganda and t...

King's Legacy by L.C. Rosen Union Square, 2025 Category: Young Adult Reviewer: Kathryn Hall   Buy at Bookshop.org King's Legacy is the second book in Rosen's "Tennessee Russo" duology. In Lion's Legacy  ( reviewed on The Shmooze in 2023 ) we met Tennessee, a gay Jewish teenager who is a queer history nerd. His parents are divorced, and he joins his gentile archeologist and reality show star father in a search for artifacts related to queer ancient Greek soldiers. Indiana Jones style adventures ensue. King's Legacy can be a stand-alone read, but I recommend reading them in order if you enjoy the genre. Tennessee, his best friend, his father, and their producer/camerawoman, journey from Rome to Venice to Paris to a fictional Mont Saint Michel-inspired island in a wild chase for an ancient lyre. There are multiple escapes from improbable mechanized death traps, as well as some failures to escape (only the villains die). Gay sexual scenes occur but are not ...

Mazel Toes! by Audrey Barbakoff, illustrated by Annita Soble Collective Book Studio, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Rochelle Newman-Carrasco   Buy at Bookshop.org This sweet board book uses rhyme and memorable Yiddish phrases to celebrate all things baby. Each page has a short rhyming expression of love and playfulness. Each page shares a way a family might gather round and let a baby know how loved they are and how much joy they are bringing into their homes. The beautiful illustrations are a really powerful part of this book. It's as if the reader is invited into the homes of a series of different families, from different generations and walks of life. These diverse families are united in their focus on a newborn and the smiles and tenderness that brings. The illustration style is so vibrant and alive, you can almost hear the cooing, the giggling, and the baby talk. The Yiddish expressions are explained in a Glossary, and they're such great words. Exactly the kind of Y...