The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero, illustrated by E.K. Belsher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rebecca Klempner Buy at Bookshop.org Anne Applebaum lives in Silverthorne with her parents. One night, Mrs. Applebaum tells Anne that while pregnant, she dreamed that she would have not one child—Anne—but two—Anne and a son, Rainer. Anne believes that this missing twin is the reason she's always felt slightly empty. When 11-year-old Anne’s mother dies, her inattentive father leaves Anne to mourn on her own. Her greatest consolation is the book her mother gave her, The World to Come . The book follows the adventures of the seven Jewish prophetesses as well as seven witches who live in the magical realm of Bei Ilai, where they fight the evil Lilith the Nightshade Queen. After baking challah one lonely day, Anne shares some with a crow. In thanks, the crow tells her that her brother lives, but that he is currently in three pieces, all of th

Gingerbread Dreidels by Jane Breskin Zalben, illustrated by Thai My Phuong Charlesbridge, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Suneby Buy at Bookshop.org Every 15 years or so, the first night of Chanukah coincides with Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. When Max and Sophie learn that their family will celebrate Chanukah and Christmas at the same time with their Jewish and Christian grandparents, the siblings go to bed worrying if they will get as many gifts, a natural worry for young kids. They wake the next morning to a snowstorm and no grandparents, yet. To pass time, the family bakes--making the requisite mess, complete with blue and white and red and green sprinkles everywhere. As they clean up, both sets of grandparents arrive, and the family joyfully prepares their meal, with traditional holiday foods from both cultures. While dinner cooks, they play outdoors. Back inside, they light the menorah and sing "O Chanukah," and they light the Christmas tree and sing &qu

My Dreidel written and illustrated by Ann Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Mirele Kessous Buy at Bookshop.org My Dreidel by Ann Diament Koffsky is a very short board book for the youngest readers (ages 0-3). The length and wording are just right for this younger set. A puppy attempts to spin a dreidel but needs a parent’s help to succeed, and the power of persistence prevails. The sound effects “Plop!” will engage the young readers who will enjoy spinning and throwing themselves down on the floor along with the puppy narrator. The side note about the meaning of the letters on the dreidel could have benefitted from including the actual Hebrew phrase. The book is an authentic portrayal of Jewish life, not adhering to any particular stream, although Haredi or Black Hat readers will probably not appreciate dogs wearing kippot as the main characters. A charming and simple Hanukkah book for the tots in your life. Are you i

Eighteen Flowers for Grandma: A Gift of Chai by Alison Goldberg, illustrated by Jesse White Red Comet Press, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Denise Ross Buy at Bookshop.org A young girl named Sadie spends time with her grandma creating art when they have their special day together. Grandma is getting ready to graduate from art school and Sadie wants to give her the perfect gift. Grandma gave Sadie a chai charm necklace when she graduated from kindergarten. Grandma explained that chai means life in Hebrew and she wished for Sadie to have a life that is full of wonder. While Sadie and her family attend her cousin’s wedding, she is inspired to create a gift of eighteen flowers for her grandma’s graduation. The next day Sadie finds all the supplies and materials at home to make her gift: eighteen flowers that are special, just like her grandma. The story explains the meaning of chai with beautiful illustrations that show the reader the Hebrew concepts, and all the materials used to

The Light Keeper by Karen Levine and Sheila Baslaw, illustrated by Alice Priestly Second Story Press, 2024 Category: Picture Books  Reviewer: Judy Ehrenstein Buy at Bookshop.org Shmuel’s family is poor and work is hard to find in their shtetl. Mama frets about feeding her six children and Papa searches for work to earn a few kopecks. Shmuel wishes he could help and is willing to do anything – except patching holes in the roof, as he is afraid of heights. It is into this setting that a cart arrives one day, with news that the men are there to bring electricity to the shtetl! Shmuel watches every moment he can, until the day the lights are turned on. Upon packing up, one of the workers shows Shmuel the boxes being left for repairs. One day the mayor appears at the door, pleading with Shmuel to repair the lights from recent storm damage. It is time to face his fear of heights. Hand over hand, Shmuel climbs to the top of a light pole and does what is needed. Thanks roll in, with gifts of f

A Mitzvah for George Washington by Rachelle Burk, illustrated by Chiara Fedele Creston Books, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Marcia M. Rosenthal Buy at Bookshop.org A Mitzvah for George Washington is a historical fiction picture book based on an authentic event. On August 17, 1790, Washington arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. The leader of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport prepared for Washington’s visit by writing a letter of gratitude to him for being a “guiding light to religious freedom.”    In this fictional story, the leader tells his daughter Bella that expressing gratitude is a mitzvah. She is so inspired by Washington’s advocacy for freedom of religion that she gathers the children of the Congregation to prepare signs to welcome and thank him. Upon his arrival, Washington is escorted by a large crowd, but the children are obstructed from his view. Undeterred, they make candles to give to Washington the next day, but the children are unable to see him. Bella’s final