The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Real Sydney Taylor Book Awards were announced on January 24, 2022! Here is the press release , and below are the real winners, honors, and notable books for 2022! We've linked to the Shmooze reviews, but you'll notice that there are a few books we didn't review. We try to cover all the Jewish books published each year but sometimes we miss a few.  You're invited to AJL's After Party with guest of honor Jo Taylor Marshall, daughter of Sydney Taylor and sponsor of the book awards, Sunday January 30 at 12:30pm ET! Register HERE . Listen to a podcast interview with awards chair Martha Seif Simpson on The Book of Life about this year's winners! The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin. Published by Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House. In Washington, D.C. during the Great Depression, Muriel invites a ragged juggler to celebrate Passover with her family. When he arrives, they are stunned to discover a magnificent feast to share w...

We are pleased to announce our second year of Mock Sydney Taylor Book Awards! The top Jewish juvenile books published in 2021 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: Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi by Sigal Samuel Mock Honor: Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom by Melissa Stoller, Callie Metler, and Shirin Rahman Mock Notable: Let Liberty Rise! How America's Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefel MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS Mock Winner: The Unfinished Corner by Dani Colman Mock Honor: Sorry for Your Loss by Joanne Levy Mock Notable: Starfish by Lisa Fipps YOUNG ADULT BOOKS Mock Winner: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros Mock Honor: Rebel Daughter by Lori Kauffman Mock Notable The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier   The Real Sydney Taylor Book Awards wil...

  BALLOT: ROUND 2 In Round 1, we noticed that there was a lot of campaigning for votes happening. This is not within the spirit of this event, so we ask that this activity be discontinued during Round 2. We are happy to have you publicize the Mock Sydney Taylor Book Award and remind people to vote, but please do not ask that they vote for any individual title. Instead, you are welcome to share the ballot along with a statement such as "Don't forget to vote for your favorite in the Mock Sydney Taylor Book Awards!" Click on the words BALLOT: ROUND 2 above to be taken to the ballot for Round 2 of the 2022 Mock Sydney Taylor Book Award vote. This ballot is active January 9-14, 2022. The Mock Winners will be announced on January 20, 2022. Anyone may vote for the 2022 Mock Sydney Taylor Book Awards (except for current members of AJL's Sydney Taylor Book Award committee). Voters may select one title in each of three categories (Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adul...

BALLOT: ROUND 1 Click on the words BALLOT: ROUND 1 above to be taken to the ballot for Round 1 of the 2022 Mock Sydney Taylor Book Award vote. This ballot is active January 2-7, 2022. Round 2 will take place January 9-14, 2022. The Mock Winners will be announced on January 20, 2022. Anyone may vote for the 2022 Mock Sydney Taylor Book Awards (except for current members of AJL's Sydney Taylor Book Award committee). Voters may select one title in each of three categories (Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult). Please vote for the titles you think are most worthy of receiving the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Criteria are here: https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/p/criteria.html Every (c)2021 book reviewed on the blog is on the ballot. To read reviews of all eligible titles, please see: PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS: https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2021/12/mock-overview-pb.html MIDDLE GRADE REVIEWS: https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2021/12/mock-overview-mg.html YOUNG ADULT REVIEWS: http...

Not sure which book should get your vote? Here are the reviews to help you decide: Alma Presses Play by Tina Cane Reviewed by A.R. Vishney As If on Cue by Marisa Kanter Reviewed by Rebecca Levitan Bluebird by Sharon Cameron Reviewed by Meg Wiviott The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros Reviewed by A.R. Vishney Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler Reviewed by A.R. Vishney Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli Reviewed by Meira Drazin Last Witnesses by Svetlana Alexievich Reviewed by Meg Wiviott The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier Reviewed by Michelle Falkoff Lessons in Fusion by Primrose Madayag Knazan Reviewed by Heidi Rabinowitz Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize by Margo Raab Reviewed by Stacie Ramey The Papercutter by Cindy Rizzo Reviewed by Dena Bach The Poetry of Secrets by Cambria Gordon Reviewed by Cheryl Strausberg Rebel Daughter by Lori Kaufmann Reviewed by A.R. Vishney Some Other Now by Sarah Everett Reviewed by Cheryl Strausberg Strange Creatures by Phoebe North Revie...

Not sure which book should get your vote? Here are the reviews to help you decide: Abby, Tried and True by Donna Gephart Reviewed by Judy Greenblatt AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler Reviewed by Heidi Rabinowitz Albert Einstein: Genius of Space and Time by Mark Shulman Reviewed by Jane Koluth The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler by Karen Pokras Reviewed by Stacy Mozer Boy from Buchenwald by Robbie Waisman Reviewed by Sandy Wasserman A Boy Is Not a Ghost by Edeet Ravel Reviewed by Merle Carrus The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell by Jordan Sonnenblick Reviewed by Beth Gallego Call Across the Sea by Kathy Kacer Reviewed by Sandy Wasserman Camp Mah Tovu by Yael Mermelstein Reviewed by Judy Greenblatt Chunky by Yehudi Mercado Reviewed by Beth Gallego The Clever Little Tailor/Dos Kluge Shnayderl by Solomon Simon Reviewed by Karin Fisher-Golton Eddie Whatever by Lois Ruby Reviewed by Shirley Vernick The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin Reviewe...