The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Bird Brain by Joanne Levy Orca, 2024 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org If you love smart kids with unusual pets, you are going to rip through Joanne Levy’s Bird Brain . This middle grade novel is about bullying, science and scientific research, and a really great family. When the book begins, Arden Sachs wants a dog or a cat. She wants to make the STEM team, win the competition, and go to STEM camp with her best friend, Cabbage. Standing in her way is mean Marni Olsen, who has never been kind to Arden. When her cool, popular boyfriend compliments Arden and gets interested in auditioning for the STEM team, the bullying gets worse. Levy deals with bullying and the actions kids, families, and schools must take when bullying takes place. And she does this in an honest voice—without sacrificing humor and heart. Throughout the novel, the reader wants Arden to stand up to Marni. We understand and groan when she messes up on purpose at the STEM team tryouts, to

The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold Balzer + Bray (imprint of HarperCollins), 2023 Category: Young Adult Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org The Blood Years is a riveting, unputdownable story of love, loss, and family, based on the true experiences of Elana K. Arnold's grandmother's struggle to survive the Holocaust in Romania. Frederieke (Rieke) Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live with their grandfather and mother in wartime Romania. As the Russians and Nazis take over the city and persecute Jewish residents, Rieke experiences loss, rape, hunger, and illness, all while maintaining her hope that the sine wave that is life will shift in their favor. The source of hope is her grandfather, Opa, whose faith and resourcefulness holds them together even as fickle and selfish Astra, falling in love with a dashing philandering doctor, tests the strength of the family's fabric. Unlike in many books about the Holocaust, the family does not go to a concentration camp--bu

Brand-New Bubbe by Sarah Aronson, illustrated by Ariel Landy Charlesbridge, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rebecca Klempner Buy at Bookshop.org In Brand-New Bubbe , a non-Jewish youngster's mother remarries. Jillian appreciates her Jewish stepfather, but is skeptical--at first--of her new step-grandmother, called by the traditional Eastern Yiddish moniker, "Bubbe." With an orange Jewfro and offers of matzah ball soup and exuberant affection, Bubbe is just too intense for Jillian's taste. Plus, she already has two grandmothers! Jillian stages a protest, refusing the generous gifts and attentions of Bubbe. Mom reminds her child that "Family is more than blood," and tells Jillian to be more welcoming of Bubbe. On Bubbe's next visit, she asks for Jillian's help to make matzah ball soup. As she explains the correct technique for fluffy matzah balls, Bubbe tells Jillian that her own bubbes taught her to make matzah ball soup. After Jillian tastes t

Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger Abrams, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org Who likes to hear no? Nobody, that’s who. And luckily for our country, Judith Heumann didn’t stop when all she heard was no. Because of her and many others, people with disabilities finally got the yes they deserved—the yes of equal rights. Since I’m a former physical therapist with a firsthand look at how people with disabilities are treated, I was already a fan of Judith Heumann, and I couldn’t wait to read Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s FIGHTING FOR YES, THE STORY OF DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST JUDITH HEUMANN, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. Judith’s is a story of activism. It’s a story about learning. It’s a story about the determination that people like Judith needed to fight for equality—and get it. The text begins with Judith’s Jewish upbringing and the early obstacles sh

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

Big Dreams, Small Fish written and illustrated by Paula Cohen Levine Querido, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org In Paula Cohen’s Big Dreams, Small Fish , Shirley and her family have big dreams for their new family store. The problem is: all the adults think Shirley is too young to work. They think she should spend her time playing. But Shirley is full of big ideas, and when her family leaves her and Mrs. Gottlieb to mind the store, she includes a free sample of gefilte fish with every purchase. Her parents are upset until the next morning, when members of their ethnically inclusive neighborhood line up to buy more of the new neighborhood delicacy. I loved this picture book. Shirley is plucky and resourceful. She doesn’t accept that she is too young to work at the family store. When she seizes the moment and gets to work in the store, I turned pages to see how she would sell that fish! This girl doesn’t just have big dreams. She has great ideas! (A

Baby Loves Angular Momentum on Hanukkah! by Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Irene Chan Charlesbridge Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson   Buy at Bookshop.org   As a brand new bubbe, I am always on the hunt for great board books that are fun to read and capture the kids' imagination, and no one is better at creating these books than the team of Ruth Spiro and Irene Chan.    Angular Momentum is many things: It’s an introduction to the meaning of Hanukkah. It’s an introduction to the game of dreidel. AND it’s a discussion about physics, gravity, and angular momentum. Spoiler: I learned something!   Spiro’s prose are simple, fun, and respectful—and scientifically accurate. No misinformation here! Chan’s illustrations bring the text to life. They are delightful—colorful and engaging--perfect for young eyes.    A special surprise: at the end of the book, Spiro includes a nod to diversity and inclusion (and other titles): not all Baby’s friends celebrate Hanukkah . . . bu

 The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron Feiwel and Friends (imprint of Macmillan) Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org When you don’t talk a lot I think your ears get stronger. —Chris Baron, The Magical Imperfect    A historical fiction novel in verse, Chris Baron’s The Magical Imperfect is an emotionally powerful story of friendship, family, acceptance, Jewish mysticism and values, and the importance of community.   It’s 1989, the Giants are vying for the playoffs, and Etan is not speaking. His mutism is triggered by his mom, who has left for the hospital to focus on her mental health issues. When his neighbor sends him to a house on an errand, he connects with Malia, a girl with a skin condition, who his peers have dubbed The Creature. The two of them quickly become friends. With a talent show on the horizon, Etan wants to give her his grandfather’s special (and mystical) clay from Prague to heal her skin.    Read this book with tissues! Baron’

I Am the Tree of Life: My Jewish Yoga Book by Rabbi Mychal Copeland Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson “How might it feel to stand at Mount Sinai? To dance at the Red Sea? The narrative, written by Michal Copeland (a rabbi and certified yoga instructor) invites the reader to imagine the stories of the Torah in a most unique way: by pairing the stories with poses from the ancient Hindu tradition. For each pose, Rabbi Copeland guides readers through simple instructions that invite us to reach, pause and reflect as we read. In these uncertain times, what a pleasure this is. Yoga teaches us to pay attention. To breathe deeply. To stretch, meditate, and look within. To slow down. To pause and contemplate the stories referenced and the values they stand for. Readers will learn how to execute tree pose, crescent moon pose, boat pose, downward dog, camel and others. For this review, I performed all the poses. I found Rabbi Copeland’s instructions easy to follow.