The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Just Like Queen Esther by Kerry Olitzky & Ari Moffic, illustrated by Rena Yehuda Newman Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Cindy Rivka Marshall   Buy at Bookshop.org In this appealing picture book, Atara wears a crown everywhere and chooses her own name, which means “crown” in Hebrew. When her mom reads her a book about Purim, Atara relates to Queen Esther, because they both had to hide their identities: Esther hid that she was Jewish, while, until recently, Atara hid that she was a girl, not a boy like her parents had thought. Her mother responds matter-of-factly to Atara’s observations and supports Atara's wish to wear a crown as a way of proclaiming to everyone that she identifies as a girl. When Atara is cast as Esther in a Purim play, she worries that the other kids and the audience will laugh or say that she is not a “real girl.” Happily - and refreshingly - these fears never come to fruition. While the book portrays Atara’s vulnerability...

Time for Hamantaschen by Madelyn Rosenberg, illustrated by Raaya Karas PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books  Reviewer: Mirele Kessous   Buy at Amazon.com Here’s a cute Purim board book for children ages 0-5. It has a catchy rhythm that will get little ones bobbing their heads, and a diverse cast of characters. Follow the children as they bake hamantaschen and stuff bags with Purim goodies. The colorful pictures of tasty Mishloach Manot will be a focal point for young readers. You may want to have some hamantaschen or candy on hand to avoid the kvetching. This is a gentle introduction to Purim for young kids who may or may not have background knowledge on the holiday.    The cast of Jewish children are diverse in skin tones. None wear markers of Jewish identity such as a kippah. The only Jewish vocabulary included in this simple book is "Purim" and "hamantaschen." A good introduction for those with little Jewish background knowledge, and a fun story for those i...

Rembrandt Chooses a Queen by Kerry Olitzky & Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Cinzia Battistel Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Hadad Siegel   Buy at Bookshop.org   Set in 1660 Amsterdam, Rembrandt Chooses a Queen is a charming historical fiction picture book inspired by the Rembrandt painting "Ahasuerus and Haman at the Feast of Esther."   Samuel (fictional) is an apprentice at Rembrandt's studio. Surrounded by art and artists dedicated to their work, Samuel develops a new sense of belonging and a calling he wants to pursue. Though there are not many Jewish visuals in the illustrations, the Jewish voice is dominant, and a significant debate is apparent in the plot on how to follow a path to pursue different interests, in addition to a lifelong journey with the study of Torah and Mitzvot.  Samuel is excited at the concept of Rembrandt painting a scene from Esther's scroll. However, Rembrandt is n...

  The Elephant and the Purim Crown by Haviva Kierzenblat, illustrated by Rebeca Luciani Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva   Buy at Bookshop.org   The Elephant and the Purim Crown introduces the vibrant world of Rangoon, Burma, where rickshaws, pagodas, and banyan trees abound. Young Rachel, dressed as Queen Esther for the Purim festival, and her cousin Raz encounter a working elephant. Initially, they want to take a ride, but then Rachel notices the old elephant’s bruised and cracked feet. Her compassion for animals makes the ride and the elephant’s condition concerning. When Rachel wins the Purim contest and is gifted a jewel-covered crown, it becomes the ticket to freeing the elephant and retiring her to a sanctuary. Author Haviva Kierzenblat and Illustrator Rebeca Luciana immerse the reader into the colorful Burmese landscapes, native foods and traditions, and the bustling bazaar. The sto...

Who Brought the Hamantaschen? by Marcia S. Gresko, illustrated by Steve Mack Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books/Board Book Reviewer: Sarah Clarke   Buy at Bookshop.org This is a board book aimed at the youngest of readers. The story features a diverse group of children dressed up for Purim with a delicious fruit treat in hand for the Purim party. Along with the costumes and the snacks, the book emphasizes colors: green grapes, yellow bananas, orange papayas and more. Of course, the question is asked: "who brought the hamantaschen?" The grandparents, of course! At the end of the book, we see a full spread of costumes, kids, and snacks. This book is bright and colorful with child-friendly illustrations that will appeal to toddlers. Gresko’s text is simple and appropriate for this age group and will most definitely hold their attention and create meaningful conversations with the adult reader. With the children and the grandpa...

  When we began The Sydney Taylor Shmooze in 2020, we framed it as a mock award blog that would predict which books might win the Real Sydney Taylor Book Award. However, our content soon eclipsed our original scope. As a new year of reviewing approaches, we took stock and realized it was time to embrace what the Shmooze has become. As of 2025, we are no longer a mock award blog, but a book review source that considers the vast majority Jewish children's books published each year. We will continue to provide critiques of new Jewish board books, picture books, middle grade books, and young adult books that are eligible for the Sydney Taylor Book Award, although we will no longer hold a mock award vote. The Sydney Taylor Book Award is the only literary prize that focuses solely on Jewish children's literature, and The Sydney Taylor Shmooze is the only review source with that same narrow focus. We deeply appreciate all the dedicated volunteer reviewers who have contributed t...