The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Under-the-Sea Seder written & illustrated by Ann D. Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Lisa Trank Buy at Bookshop.org In Under-the-Sea Seder , Miri is crunching the matzoh too loud, she’s slurping the grape juice, and doing just about anything she can do to fight off her Passover seder boredom. Her parents beg her to be quiet and sit still, but Miri simply can’t, so she escapes underneath the seder table and to an imaginary Under-the-Sea Seder, accompanied by Abby the cat, complete with submarines, underwater caves, and sea monsters. After a truly original and hilarious version of the four questions, Miri’s parents call her back in time for seder songs, which she can sing at the top of her lungs.  This is a book that every Jewish family will connect to and laugh out loud with. The illustrations are colorful, charming, and add to the overall fun and humor of the entire story, as well as make the reader want to turn the

The Royal Recipe by Elana Rubinstein, illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Merle Eisman Carrus Buy at Bookshop.org Saralee Siegel is back again in The Royal Recipe ! We last met Saralee with her super nose at Hanukkah, when she traveled back in time to meet her great grandmother, in A Donut in Time . Now we are back at the Siegel House Restaurant with Saralee and her family. Her grandfather, Zadie owns the restaurant and Saralee assists him in the kitchen. In this novel the family is getting ready to hold a Purim banquet at Siegel House. Zadie wants everything to be authentic to the historical time of Esther and Mordechai in Shushan, Persia. He asks Saralee to use her special nose to figure out the most genuine hamantaschen recipe she can create. As Saralee starts sniffing, she feels herself connecting with the Purim story. Then an unusual and very controlling party planner named "Herman"

Purr-im Time! by Jenna Waldman, illustrated by Erica J. Chen Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Arlene Schenker Buy at Bookshop.org This imaginative rhyming story of a Purim day in the life of three kittens has all the joyful elements of the holiday. From the moment the kitties wake up until they fall into bed, weary from a full day of baking hamantaschen, marching in the Purim parade, and going to the Purim carnival, they are celebrating the holiday. The megillah reading tells the story of Purim in a child-friendly way, so all can revel in the defeat of Haman and take pride in Esther’s heroism. And the dynamic movement of Erica Chen’s beautifully illustrated kitties shows them practically jumping off the page with their delight at the holiday. As a bonus, the back matter includes a mishloach manot craft idea with instructions. There is also a note to families stressing the kindness and charity that are important elements of the

The Porridge-Pot Goblin by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Hector Borlasca Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Leah Cypess Buy at Bookshop.org The Porridge-Pot Goblin is a charming picture book in which an invisible goblin disrupts the Shabbat preparations of two village children. After several mishaps and some chaos, the children outsmart the goblin and save the Shabbat meal (and their mother’s nap). The story focuses on Shabbat preparations, and the chaos of the goblin’s mischief is contrasted to the peace and happiness of the Friday night meal, in a way that makes the atmosphere of Shabbat feel almost tangible. The well-written text and delightful illustrations work together to bring this fun, humorous story to life. It should be a strong contender for the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Illustration Editor  Dena Bach  adds: The illustrator sets the story in a shtetl-like village with lively, off-kilter images reminiscent of an

A Donut in Time: A Hanukkah Story by Elana Rubinstein, illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Merle Eisman Carrus Buy at Bookshop.org In A Donut in Time , Saralee helps out in her Zayde's restaurant, Siegel House. Noses play a very important role when Jewish holiday meals are involved. Saralee knows very well how important it is to distinguish the different smells when you work in a restaurant kitchen. Especially for Hanukkah, there are all the delicious fried foods with very distinctive smells.Everyone in the Siegel family joins in to get ready for customers on the first night of Hanukkah. They are cooking latkes and sufganiyot. This year they are going to use Saralee's original recipe for peanut butter and jelly donuts.  Saralee has an unusual talent, a super nose, which Zadie says she inherited from her great grandmother, Golda or Gigi. Saralee has always felt unusual because of her extra

The Boston Chocolate Party by Tami Lehman-Wilzig and Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz, illustrated by Fede Combi Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shirley Reva Vernick Buy at Bookshop.org Joshua Mendes lives in colonial Newport, Rhode Island, where his father imports chocolate beans and teaches café owners how to make hot chocolate as an alternative to the highly taxed tea. It’s Hanukkah—or, as Joshua’s Sephardic family calls it, Janucá—and Joshua is missing his friend Isaac. Isaac has recently moved to Boston with his widowed mother, who is hoping to find work in the city. When Joshua visits Boston and sees how destitute his friend has become, he has a brainstorm. He convinces his father to create a chocolate café in the shed right outside Isaac’s home and hire Isaac’s mother to run it. On the night before the “chocolate house” is to open—which is also the last night of Hanukkah—the Boston Tea Party occurs right outside Isaac’s window. T

Monster Bar Mitzvah by Josh Anderson, illustrated by Dustin Evans Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Stacy Nockowitz Buy at Bookshop.org Josh Anderson’s slim graphic novel, Monster Bar Mitzvah , presents the story of Eli, one of those kids who can’t seems to get out of his own way. It’s summertime, and Eli is feeling lonely and bored because his older brother Adam is so busy preparing for his bar mitzvah. Every time one of his parents gives Eli a task to help around the house, he gets distracted and messes things up, whether it’s putting together a table, sorting response cards, or simply getting a bag of flour down from a high shelf. Feeling sorry for himself, Eli retreats to his room where he meets one of his stuffed animals come-to-life, a friendly monster named Brisket. Brisket is out to prove to Eli that his summer can still be fun. The story is light on explanations– readers never find out how Brisket becomes animate or why

A Place to Belong: Debbie Friedman Sings Her Way Home by Deborah Lakritz, illustrated by Julia Castano Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Ronda Einbinder Buy at Bookshop.org Author Deborah Lakritz brings the young reader into the warm Jewish life of singer/songwriter Debbie Friedman, who uplifted Jewish synagogues around the world with her music.   Little Debbie Friedman’s Jewish life in Utica, New York is full. Her singing is sweet, and her comical expressions bring laughter to her entire family. Debbie is where she belongs. When her parents move her to Minnesota she thinks St. Paul is lonely. No laughing with aunts, uncles, and cousins. No lighting candles with Bubbe. Debbie wonders, Will I ever belong? There is a feeling of inclusion for the reader when Debbie sings with campers around the campfire. Her voice rises with the campers and counselors. The songs aren’t Jewish, but they feel like prayers. Her voice soars with pas

Dance the Hora, Isadora! by Gloria Koster, illustrated by Barbara Bongini Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Arlene Schenker Buy at Bookshop.org This is a joyful book that captures the delight of dancing the hora at a Jewish wedding. Isadora is a spunky little girl who takes ballet classes. At the end of each class, the students can share a favorite dance. Isadora doesn’t have a special dance of her own, but her grandma tells her that she will have one soon. Isadora knows that her grandma is referring to Cousin Rachel’s wedding, which they’ll both be attending on Sunday. At the wedding celebration, when the band starts playing Hava Nagila, Grandma makes a space for herself and Isadora in the dance circle. With no time to learn the hora, Isadora is swept along with the others—and so is the reader thanks to the lively language describing the music and dancing. The illustrations exude laughter and joy and make the wedding come alive

What's in Tuli's Box? by Ann D. Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Belinda Brock Buy at Bookshop.org In What's in Tuli's Box? the reader meets a cute, curious kitten and his wise, nurturing mama. Tuli discovers a tzedakah box and finds out that it's not a toy, but a tool to collect money and help people. Author/illustrator Ann D. Koffsky has created a book that is perfectly suited for the youngest readers. The adorable cover will attract a child's interest and the title will pique their curiosity right along with Tuli's. Using sparse text, Koffsky has managed to tell an entertaining story while presenting a gentle introduction to the important concept of tzedakah—charitable giving. She also seamlessly integrates a lesson about opposites (light/heavy, empty/full) into the story. Some spreads are laid out vertically, requiring the book to be rotated; this may serve to keep young readers engaged.

Maybe It Happened This Way: Bible Stories Reimagined by Rabbi Leah Rachel Berkowitz and Erica Wovsaniker, illustrated by Katherine Messenger  Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Jacqueline Jules   Buy at Bookshop.org Did Noah procrastinate when building the ark, hoping that the people would change their ways and there would be no need for a flood? Did Abram and Sarai break idols together? Was Moses ultimately relieved to hand over his leadership duties to Joshua? In Maybe It Happened This Way , authors Rabbi Leah Rachel Berkowitz and Erica Wovsaniker offer readers an opportunity to imagine themselves inside Biblical stories, experiencing the events. The text is poetic. When Eve bites into the forbidden apple, “the taste burst onto her tongue.” Many stories are told in first person, respecting a middle school reader’s ability to understand events through the eyes of an adult. Shifra, one of the midwives who risked her life to save

How to Be a Mensch by A. Monster by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org In this delightful and perky picture book directed to young readers and families, the main character and narrator, A. Monster, gives readers direct advice for how to be a mensch. The humorous text speaks directly to the reader. "It's hard to believe, but some people are afraid of monsters. It's true that monsters can look scary. But most of us are kind and helpful. Monsters can even be mensches!" I love funny books! Our kids deserve to laugh—even as they grapple with challenges of the world. On each spread, readers will love the monster-specific examples (like not staring, with one eye or five) as well as general concepts, like sharing and caring and preparing for Shabbat. Yoshikawa’s illustrations amp up the humor. Young readers are going to love checking ou

Miriam and the Sasquatch by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Tamara Anegon Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Linda Elovitz Marshall Buy at Bookshop.org It’s early fall, and Rosh Hashanah is coming. Miriam gazes at an apple orchard, imagining a delicious honey-and-apple holiday feast. She enters the orchard, not to pick apples but to practice blowing her shofar where the sound won’t bother anyone. As she practices, she hears munching and crunching, gets bopped on the head by an apple, and discovers a sasquatch sitting in the tree, eating apples that she needs for Rosh Hashanah. She tells Sasquatch to stop, but Sassy keeps eating. She blows the shofar. Sassy howls back and keeps eating. She throws an apple. Sasquatch throws it back… and the apple hits a beehive, causing bees to swarm toward Miriam and Sasquatch. Miriam and Sassy run toward the pond for safety, but Miriam slips and falls. Sasquatch picks her up, and carries her to th

The Most Annoying Aliens Ever by Leah Sokol, illustrated by Teresa Ramos Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shirley Reva Vernick Buy at Bookshop.org One Shabbat morning, friends Sara and Talya discover that their younger brothers have turned into aliens. At least, it seems that way, since the boys' annoying behavior has reached out-of-this-world proportions. Over the course of the next week, the girls discover that their anger is what feeds the aliens' annoying antics. So, instead of getting frustrated, they either ignore the aliens or show them kindness – offering compliments, sharing their toys, or spending time with them. Like magic, this kindness eradicates the aliens, and the girls get their (not totally annoyance-free) little brothers back. Told with humor and insight, this book will enchant young readers, especially those with siblings. The bold illustrations enhance the hilarity, as the green-skinned, tentacled al

Apples, Apples, All Year Round: A Year of Jewish Holidays by Barbara Bietz & June Sobel, illustrated by Ruth Waters Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman Buy at Bookshop.org Apples join the joy of Jewish holiday celebrations in this rollicking, perfectly rhymed journey through the Jewish year. Traditional apple treats include apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah, apple decorations for the Sukkah, applesauce to accompany Hanukkah latkes, apples in the Passover charoset and more, making this a book to share all year long. The artwork is bright and cheery, with lots of holiday symbols. Lively animal characters celebrating the special days will have young readers turning pages and coming back for more. Yum! This book is eligible for Sydney Taylor Book Award consideration. The book has literary merit with its spot-on, smoothly rhyming, memorable text. Bright, lively digital art with adorable animal characters and bold

Start the Day by Vicki L. Weber, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez Apples & Honey (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jeff Gottesfeld Buy at Bookshop.org The very best time for kids to learn nearly anything is when they are young. This is especially true when it comes to learning a second language. Vicki L. Weber's START THE DAY, with inviting illustrations by Shirley Ng-Benitez, puts this principle to work with the Hebrew phrase for "Good morning," *boker tov.* Her board book for the youngest children is part of a series from Apples & Honey Press that includes the havdalah-centered A NEW WEEK, SHABBAT SHALOM, and more. Weber's rhyming text is simple enough for any toddler to grasp -- "good morning all, it's time to rise / and rub the sleep from rested eyes" -- and uncommonly active. Each page will give the young person being read to the opportunity to do something. They can touch their noses, or wiggle their toes.

  Sally Opened Doors: The Story of the First Woman Rabbi by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas Apples & Honey (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silver Buy at Bookshop.org   Sally Priesand was America’s first female ordained rabbi. This picture book biography is about her dream, realized through self-confidence and persistence. Young Sally fantasizes about being on the bimah and teaching Torah. In the 1970’s, women were claiming their places in the career world as pilots, doctors and lawyers. Growing up in this era, Sally visualized herself becoming a rabbi in the completely male-dominated field. She was undeterred by the nay-sayers and gatekeepers who couldn’t envision a female rabbi. By age 16, Sally used her admirable chutzpah to inquire about admission to the Hebrew Union College. When she finally received a response, it was neither encouraging nor welcoming. The art shows Sally nonchalantly tossing the letter into the ga

Shabbat Shalom by Vicki L. Weber, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Hadad Siegel Buy at Bookshop.org Shabbat Shalom  is part of a collection of four board books for very young children, which also includes  Start the Day, A New Week , and  Time for Bed . This particular title welcomes the reader into Shabbat with a cover showcasing children cheerfully eating and drinking while wearing bibs that say, "Shabbat Shalom." The reader meets toddlers who participate in Shabbat rituals like lighting candles and eating challah. Basic Shabbat vocabulary is introduced, as well as the Hebrew (transliterated) words "Saba" for grandfather and "Savta" for grandmother. I was thrilled to see the toddlers blessed by their parents with the Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim), a customary blessing for Friday night, which is not often portrayed in children's books. The illustrat

A New Week by Vicki L. Weber, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Hadad Siegel Buy at Bookshop.org A New Week is part of a collection of four board books for very young children, which also includes Start the Day, Shabbat Shalom , and Time for Bed . This particular title introduces children to the ritual of Havdalah, and the greeting said at the end of Shabbat - Shavua Tov.  The story starts with two toddlers enjoying playing together on the day of rest.  As evening comes, they say goodbye to the sun and Shabbat, and we learn that the week starts at this point, in the evening - a nice touch, as this fact that is not often made clear in children's books. We see the Havdalah candle lit, and we are asked the question, what greeting do we say to welcome this new week? That is when we learn the phrase "shavua tov" - a good week. The book ends with happy kids dancing, with Havdalah