The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Tom Brannon Random House Books for Young Readers, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jany Finkielsztein   Buy at Bookshop.org   Horton the elephant, first seen in Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg and Horton Hears a Who , has been brought back to life very much in character by Leslie Kimmelman, with authentically Seussian illustrations by Tom Brannon.   Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party tells the story of Horton following mysterious sounds (as in Horton Hears a Who ) that lead him to a miniature yet joyful Hanukkah celebration. Through clever rhymes, vibrant pacing, and engagingly bright illustrations, children discover Hanukkah traditions—menorahs, dreidels, and festive foods—along with themes of freedom, community, and believing in yourself.   What stands out most is the book’s deeper message. Horton is uncertain at first, but as in his earlier adventures, through patience and courage he demonstra...

The Discovery of Dragons (Miriam's Magical Creature Files) by Leah Cypess, illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul Amulet Books (imprint of Abrams), 2025 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rebecca Klempner   Buy at Bookshop.org   Miriam's Magical Creature Files: The Discovery of Dragons is a middle-grade novel which follows a young Orthodox Jewish girl, Miriam, who has decided that all statements of her family members must be investigated to be believed. This decision followed several incidents in which claims made by her mother, father, and sister later proved untrue. In this volume of the series, Miriam’s sister says there is a dragon at the zoo. (This is the second book in a series which started with The Truth About the Tooth Fairy .) Today is Miriam’s field trip to the zoo, so she will be in the right place to investigate. Miriam is a funny and appealing narrator. Despite the magical nature of dragons, Cypess grounds the story in authentic childlike behavior and concrete details li...

Fairy Godbubbie's Shabbat written and illustrated by Ann Diament Koffsky Intergalactic Afikoman, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Amy Brook Cohen   Buy at Bookshop.org   Fairy GodBubbie’s Shabbat is a gem of a book; beautifully written and vibrantly illustrated. The book tells the story of what happens to young Sara and her parents when they’re visited by a Fairy Godbubbie on a mission. Fairy Godbubbie desires to bring magic into every home during Shabbat. She starts by freezing all electronic devices - dad’s laptop, mom’s phone, and Sara’s iPad. She also provides the family with Shabbat candles and sets the table with challah, wine, Kiddush cups and a whole dinner, too. Even when each family member is showing clear signs of screen time withdrawal, they are left with no other choice than to enjoy spending time together and to embrace the magic of Shabbat. When Shabbat comes to a close, Fairy Godbubbie gives the family a Havdalah candle, spices, and grape juice and sings ...

Fanny's Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Alyssa Russell Rocky Pond Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman   Buy at Bookshop.org 2025 is the 100th year of Jewish Book Week in America and we have a brand new biography of Fanny Goldstein, the woman who started it all. Immigrating to the United States from Russia to avoid persecution, her family arrived in Boston where she attended school and the North End Settlement House. Both institutions were designed to assimilate the immigrant population but Fanny felt that people should be proud of and learn about their homelands, maintaining their heritage. She remembered the words of her grandmother, "The more you know about someone's life, the harder it is not to like them." She carried this message as a beacon through her career as a librarian, becoming the first Jewish person to head a branch library in the United States. From her position she hosted the firs...

Bavajadas! That's Just Silly! by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Annabel Tempest PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Lauren Kasiarz   With rhyming questions that are increasingly silly and implausible, this board book is a laugh-out-loud introduction for the youngest readers to Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish. Author Sarah Aroeste has coupled these questions with the refrain of “Bavajadas! That’s just silly!” which enhances the interactive read-aloud quality of this story. Illustrator Annabel Tempest then matches the lightheartedness of the text with brightly colored and cartoonish illustrations. With a note on the back of the book, Jews everywhere will benefit from an introduction to Ladino and the Sephardic Jewish community, as well as other languages and dialects that have developed in Jewish communities around the world. At the bottom of the note, there is also a link that readers can follow to find music by author Sarah Aroeste in Ladino. Though the joy of t...

The Bagel Who Wanted Everything written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg Viking Books for Young Readers, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jacqueline Jules   Buy at Bookshop.org   Once upon a time, all bagels were just one thing. Plain bagels were only plain. Sesame bagels were only sesame. Onion were only onion. So on and so forth. Each type of bagel believed they were the one thing they were meant to be. Until one day a plain bagel questioned this idea. It was boring to be just one thing. What was wrong with being more? When the plain bagel began experimenting, the result was hilarious. All the bagels, including the plain bagel, “roared and rocked and rolled around” laughing. In the process, their crunchy bagel bits fell off. And an entirely new flavor of bagel was born which was very definitely not one thing: the Everything Bagel. This witty story of self-actualization is delightfully brought to life by Alan Silberberg. His illustrations are wacky, colorful, and jus...