The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

I Love You, My Dear by Chaya Baron, illustrated by Nancy Munger Hachai Publishing Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jeff Gottesfeld   This book is old-fashioned in its art, Orthodox in its depictions, rhyming in its text, and reverent in its tone toward the arrival of newborns in the world, and the love between traditional parents (and two older siblings) with the baby. As such, it's not for everyone. But for the people for whom it is right, or who are willing to stretch their boundaries a bit and step into a world that might not be their own, it's a winner. There's a glossary at the start for a few terms that might be unfamiliar. Munger's art shows a close Ashkenazi Orthodox family, with enough variance in skin color -- especially in a grandmother -- that it's impossible to code everyone as white. Another nifty art feat, supported by Baron's second-person voice text, is that the new arrival in the family is not named, nor specifically referred to as male or fem

 Lenny and Benny by Naama Benziman, translated from Hebrew by Shira Atik Green Bean Books Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shirley Vernick Buy at Bookshop.org Lenny and Benny is a contemporary retelling of the Kamtza and Bar Kamtza midrash about the value of friendship and the dangers of baseless hate and anger. Written and illustrated by Naama Benziman and translated from Hebrew by Shira Atik, the English version of this picture book was released by Green Bean Books on April 28, 2021. Rabbits Lenny and Benny are best friends…until Lenny grows envious of Benny’s jumping skills and says mean things to Benny. The bunnies stop playing together. Later, when Lenny accidentally receives a birthday party invitation from Benny, he decides he’s ready to reconcile. But now Benny is angry and says mean things to Lenny. Things seem hopeless. Months later, though, Benny finds the unopened birthday gift from Lenny, a gift that includes a picture of the two bunnies in happier times. This helps Ben

 I Am Defiance: A Novel of WWII by Jenni L. Walsh Scholastic Press Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Chava Pinchuck Buy at Bookshop.org This fictional story is narrated in the first person, present by Brigitte Schmidt, a twelve-year-old girl living in Munich in the early 1940s. She goes to Jungmädelbund (Young Girls’ League) (JM) meetings with her best friend Marianne. Their group leader, Elisabeth, encourages the girls to “report” to her, and Brigitte is conflicted. Her older sister Angelika had polio, and she and her father fear that if people notice her limp, she will be sent away. Brigitte often feels this tension of whether she is a “good German” or a good daughter and sister when she does not agree with the anti-Semitic dogma taught at JM meetings. When Angelika has to fulfill her national service requirement by working in a munitions factory in Ulm, she meets the charismatic Sophie, who will be attending university with her. Soon there are more secrets in Brigitte’s house, as her

 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’

37 Days at Sea: Aboard the M.S. St. Louis, 1939 by Barbara Krasner Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rachel Simon Buy at Bookshop.org 37 Days at Sea: Aboard the M.S. St. Louis, 1939 by Barbara Krasner follows the story of twelve-year-old Ruthie Arons and her family as they leave their home of Germany for a new life in Cuba and hopefully, eventually, the United States. However, when the ship arrives at Cuba, they, along with many of the other passengers, are unable to dock. Ruthie is an engaging narrator, telling her story in verse/poetry. Like readers today, she loves mysteries and trying to solve them, swimming, and spending time with friends. On the ship, Ruthie befriends a young boy named Wolfie with whom she snoops around the ship, befriends the Captain, and plays games with. Despite the situation going on in their insular world and the world around them, Ruthie and Wolfie manage to have fun. Like the real passengers of the shi

 Rah! Rah! Mujadara by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh, illustrated by Claudine Gévr Kar-Ben Publishing Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rachel Fremmer Buy at Bookshop.org Rah! Rah! Mujadara is a board book celebration of the diverse foods - and people - of Israel. The book portrays children of all colors and religions (as indicated by their headwear) enjoying everything from the iconic Ashkenazi bagel to falafel, mujadara, and more. Unfortunately, the rhyming is off (gush and smush do not rhyme; nor do tell and Israel) and strain to scan (shake-a, shake-a/shak-SHUK-a). A useful introduction to the variety of foods enjoyed by Israelis. Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here! Reviewer Rachel J. Fremmer is a lawyer-turned-elementary-school librarian. She is a native New Yorker and lives there with her husband two daughters, ages 15 and 13, who are rapidly outgrowing her area of book expertise. She loves baking and doing crossword puzzles.

 Adventure Girl: Dabi Digs in Israel written & illustrated by Janice Hechter Alazar Press Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Karin Fisher-Golton Buy at Bookshop.org Adventure Girl: Dabi Digs in Israel , written and illustrated by Janice Hechter, offers a rare picture book peek at a child’s participation in an archaeological dig in Israel. Dabi enjoys outdoor activities in the dirt, despite her parents’ ideas that this makes her a “tomboy” or not “a little lady.” While visiting Israel, Dabi overhears her aunt call her an “adventure girl,” a term she embraces. The same aunt gives Dabi an opportunity to help dig at an archaeological site, where Dabi finds an ancient ring. When Dabi is awarded recognition for this find, her parents see value in her outdoor accomplishment.  Hechter’s language is rich with sound and fun to read aloud. That and the excellent topic make it worth overlooking the dated language described above, some forced exposition (for example when her mother asks Dabi to

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis Scholastic Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Bridget Hodder   Buy at Bookshop.org Both the story and the excellent back matter of I SURVIVED THE NAZI INVASION 1944 by Lauren Tarshis inform young readers in an exciting, effective way about a particular facet of the Jewish Holocaust experience. The book explores, from a child's point of view, the complex interaction of Nazi invaders with the local populations (both resisters and collaborators) and the ethical and emotional struggles involved. The text is well-researched and will provide all readers, Jews and non-Jews, with a window into that troubled time. Tarshis accomplishes all this education almost invisibly, while enthralling kids with an exciting, fast-paced story. This is clearly one good reason her I SURVIVED... books are popular in many classrooms, and this book is no exception. In order to amp up the adrenaline level, the series in general does emphasize the violence of

 Gottika by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Vero Navarro Green Bean Books Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org This book is a younger middle grade version of the graphic novel, Gottika , published in 2014 for older readers. Based on the Golem legend and set in a dystopian future, this is the story of Dany and his family and their life as Stoons in Gottika. The Stoons are oppressed by the Gottikins. Stoons are made to wear red berets when they leave their homes. They are physically, verbally, and economically abused, are under a strict curfew, and live in a walled off part of the city (the favala.) There are many obvious parallels to Jewish life in Nazi Germany. This is a wild story filled with deceit, betrayal, mystery and redemption. There are a few graphic novel style illustrations in the book. When “the Troubles” come, Dany’s father, Reb Judah, returns to his magician roots and creates a man out of clay – a Gol. As in the legend, the Gol protects the

 A Rainy Day Story by Ruth Calderon, illustrated by Noa Kelner Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org This very short story is found in Talmud Taanit 24b: “Rabbi Ḥanina ben Dosa was traveling along a road when it began to rain. He said before God: Master of the Universe, the entire world is comfortable, because they needed rain, but Ḥanina is suffering, as he is getting wet. The rain ceased. When he arrived at his home, he said before God: Master of the Universe, the entire world is suffering that the rain stopped, and Ḥanina is comfortable? The rain began to come again.” The Talmudic Scholar and former Knesset member Ruth Calderon simply, yet eloquently expands upon it. The addition of beautiful watercolor and colored pencil illustrations by Noa Kelner provide the strong visual associations with suffering and comfort that will lead to further discussion about the appropriateness of asking God to

Soosie: The Horse That Saved Shabbat by Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt Kalaniot Books Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org This charming book is based on a memory from the grandson of the owners of Angel Bakery in Jerusalem, the largest commercial bakery in Israel. When the baker’s delivery boy gets sick and cannot deliver the Shabbat challah to the residents of Jerusalem, his horse, Soosie, takes over and “clip-clops, clip-clops” her way through the entire delivery route on her own. The delightful, cartoon-like illustrations reflect the diverse nature of Jerusalem in the early 20th century with Jews from all over the world, illustrated by their clothing styles and physical features, coming together for their Shabbat challah. This true story turned folktale is a wonderful look at Israel prior to the founding of the State. “Some Notes from the Author” in the back of the book provide historical background, Information about Shabba

The Trouble with Good Ideas  by Amanda Panitch Roaring Brook Press (imprint of Macmillan)  Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rachel Simon Buy at Bookshop.org Leah Nevins is going through a lot of change. She and her parents have moved to a new town, where her Zaide (her great-grandfather) lives, and she has to switch from her familiar Jewish day school (Solomon Schechter) to a public school. She’s struggling to make friends. And now she’s struggling because she overhears her parents wanting to put Zaide in an assisted living home. He’s sometimes forgetful and confused, but Leah doesn’t want to lose one more thing. With the story Zaide told her of the Prague Golem during the Holocaust, she creates one of her own in Zaide’s backyard. Named Elsa (yes, like the Disney princess), she instructs it to protect Zaide. But soon, Elsa is taking over Leah’s life and Leah must figure out how to protect herself from her creation. The book offers a strong portrayal of Judaism from Leah’s family gather