The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Queen Vashti's Comfy Pants by Leah Rachel Berkowitz, illustrated by Ruth Bennett Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House) Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sandy Wasserman Buy at Bookshop.org In perfect rhyme the reader learns about the lesser-known Purim heroine, Queen Vashti! She’s enjoying a fine afternoon with her friends, wearing not-fancy clothes, not ready to perform for the king, but playing cards, drinking tea, and noshing - wearing ‘comfy pants!’ This book is hilarious! Not irreverent, just filled with chutzpah! When the king summons her to dance, assuming she’’ll come just because of his directive - well no! Vashti is not having any of it! Not even when his messenger tries to drag her to entertain, does she budge! - This book is all about a woman’s right to say “NO!” for anything! The illustrations are to die for, with their colorful, whimsical Persian harem feel… And Vashti’s harem-of-friends! They are one-solid-sisterhood of “NO!” She’s got her chevreh, her

The Magician's Visit  by I.L. Peretz, adapted by Barbara Diamond Goldin, illustrated by Eva Sánchez Gómez Green Bean Books Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org The classic I.L. Peretz story of a penniless street magician who assists a poor couple in celebrating a truly miraculous Passover has been revised by Barbara Diamond Goldin from her 1993 edition. The language of this version has been brought up to date, for example, the couple Hayim-Jonah and Rivkah-Bailah are now Jonah and Rebecca, and the story text has been tightened. Instead of the dark, oil-based illustrations by Robert Andrew Parker in the 1993 edition, we have lighter, brighter illustrations by Eva Sánchez Gómez, using colored pencils on a white background. This is an excellent update of her earlier work, with all the charm and miracles of the first version. While this may be the classic version of this classic Passover story, and one that should find a place on the Sydney Taylor list

It's been a wonderful week of interviews on the 2021 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour! For your convenience, here are links to every stop on the tour: Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal , author and illustrator of Welcoming Elijah Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Picture Book Category at A Fuse #8 Production at School Library Journal Sofiya Pasternack , author of Anya and the Nightingale Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Middle Grade Category at 100 Scope Notes at School Library Journal M. Evan Wolkenstein , author of Turtle Boy Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Middle Grade Category at Mr. Schu Reads Jane Yolen and Khoa Lee , author and illustrator of Miriam at the River Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Picture Book Category at 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast Anne Blankman , author of The Blackbird Girls Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Middle Grade Category at The Paper Brigade Daily at The Jewish Book Council Monica Hesse , author of They Went Left Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the

Esther Didn't Dream of Being Queen  by Allison Ofanansky, illustrated by Valentina Belloni Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House) Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Ruth Horowitz Buy at Bookshop.org Allison Ofanansky gives the familiar story of Esther a not-a-fairy-tale twist. Narrated by Esther, it begins with “Once upon a time,” and goes on to frame the story in the context of Cinderella. Like Cinderella, Esther is an orphan who becomes a queen. But there the similarities end. Esther is happy to live quietly with her cousin Mordecai, gardening and giggling with her friends. She disapproves of the king’s “rowdy parties,” and when word goes out that all pretty young women are to report to the palace for a beauty contest, Esther tries to avoid the order. The king, she states, is not her idea of “prince charming.” When she is eventually forced to appear at the palace, she follows Mordecai’s warning not to reveal her background, but notes that it feels “strange” to hide wh

The Sydney Taylor Book Award will be showcasing its 2021 gold and silver medalists with a Blog Tour, February 8-12, 2021! Interviews with winning authors and illustrators will appear on a variety of Jewish and kidlit blogs. Interviews will appear on the dates below, and will remain available to read at your own convenience. Below is the schedule for the 2021 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour. Please follow the links to visit the hosting blogs on or after their tour dates, and be sure to leave them plenty of comments! MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021  Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal , author and illustrator of Welcoming Elijah Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Picture Book Category at A Fuse #8 Production at School Library Journal Sofiya Pasternack , author of Anya and the Nightingale Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Middle Grade Category at 100 Scope Notes at School Library Journal   TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 M. Evan Wolkenstein , author of Turtle Boy Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Middle

The Real Sydney Taylor Book Awards were announced on January 25, 2021! Here is the press release , and below are the real winners, honors, and notable books for 2021! Listen to a podcast interview with awards chair Rebecca Levitan on The Book of Life .   Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal. Published by Charlesbridge. This warmly illustrated, poetic book parallels the experiences of a young boy at a Passover seder and a small white kitten outdoors. When the boy opens the door to welcome the prophet Elijah, he finds a furry friend instead. Simple text, diverse characters, and a timeless feel make this a story to be treasured.   I Am the Tree of Life: My Jewish Yoga Book by Mychal Copeland, illustrated by André Ceolin. Published by Apples and Honey Press, an imprint of Behrman House. Clear instructions on how to do different yoga poses are complemented by brief, boldly illustrated stories from the Bible. Back matter include

  We are pleased to announce the first-ever Mock Sydney Taylor Book Awards! The top Jewish juvenile books published in 2020 were chosen by popular vote, and over 1000 votes were cast. Thank you to the many people who helped us select these titles! Click on the links to read the reviews. PICTURE BOOKS Mock Winner: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica Perl Mock Honor: I Have a Jewish Name by Rochel Vorst Mock Notable: Sadie's Shabbat Stories by Melissa Stoller MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS Mock Winner: Fish Out of Water by Joanne Levy  Mock Honor: Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein Mock Notable:  A Ceiling Made of Eggshells by Gail Carson Levine YOUNG ADULT BOOKS Mock Winner: The Assignment by Liza Weimer Mock Honor: Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon Mock Notable: Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder   The Real Sydney Taylor Book Awards will be announced on Monday, January 25, 2021 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Tune in live at 9am ET