The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Robot Shabbat by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Dave Williams Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House Publishers), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathryn Hall Buy at Bookshop.org This short picture book is about a young girl who, from the illustrations, appears to be white and to live on another planet. She builds a robot, prepares for Shabbat, and celebrates with the help of the robot, her parents, and a cat. No other humans or other living creatures are seen, but there are flowers which seem non-terrestrial. The simple repeating rhymes tell some of the story, but much of the message is carried by the cheerful child-friendly art, which show futuristic colorful clothing (think Star Trek), long sleeves and pants, and a father in a kippah. There is a touch of whimsy when the robot lights the Shabbat candles with its finger. This book is suitable for very young children. The book includes a brief afterward about Shabbat, and the story does a nice job of carrying the idea of...

The Not-Quite-Perfect Passover (Ruby Celebrates! series) by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Olga & Aleksey Ivanov Albert Whitman & Co., 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathryn Hall Buy at Bookshop.org This lovely book is another entry in Laura Gehl's "Ruby Celebrates!" Jewish holiday series. In this episode, mistakes are made, accidents happen, but obstacles are overcome, and of course there is a happy ending. The art is pleasantly childlike, is in tune with the cheerful nature of the story, shows familial resemblances, and helps to tell the tale. Ruby and her brother appear to be about five and two years old respectively, and their actions, interactions and emotions are extremely realistic--they are just like my grandchildren! The representation appears authentic for Ashkenazi Conservative or Reform Jews, with Passover an integral part of the story. Non-Jewish readers will still be able to appreciate the gentle humor of this book. It helps the reader understan...

The Purim Panic (Ruby Celebrates! series) by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov Albert Whitman, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rinat Siegel Buy at Bookshop.org The Purim Panic is a new addition to the Jewish holiday series; Ruby Celebrates! by Laura Gehl. It is a fun and easy-to-read Purim mystery tale suitable for pre-k through first-grade readers. Ruby and her family are happily busy, getting ready for Purim. Ruby is making hamantaschen. Her toddler brother, Benny, is making a grogger while their father and Bubbe (grandmother) are helping navigate these fun tasks.  The characters are smiling and depict a modern Ashkenazi family with bright and colorful illustrations. All the preparations run smoothly until Ruby realizes the special ring she received from her grandmother is missing. The whole family tries to help while Benny is making noise with his grogger, trying to grab Ruby’s attention. One by one, different family members arrive and try to help, but t...

The Hanukkah Hunt (Ruby Celebrates! series) by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov Albert Whitman & Company, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sandy Wasserman Buy at Bookshop.org Two cousins discuss the upcoming Hanukkah holiday, but Ruby learns that her cousin Avital is sad. Nothing can cheer Avital because her mother has to travel for work and will be missing the holiday. But that's what cousins are for, and the entire family gets involved in cheering Avital. Ruby arranges a treasure hunt, and each day of Hanukkah, she comes up with a rhyming clue; Avital guesses and we see her smile. By the eighth day, Ruby has run out of ideas, but in a final twist, Mom comes home early, a gift that surprises and delights the whole family.  Hanukkah customs are woven throughout the story, which features features a diverse extended family: most members are white, but biracial Cousin Avital's Dad is Black, and Cousin Ethan has two moms. Backmatter explains the history...

The Rosh Hashanah Recipe (Ruby Celebrates! series) by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov Albert Whitman & Company, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sandy Wasserman Buy at Bookshop.org Ruby, her cousins, and even the dog are off to the apple orchard, baskets in hand! Apple picking turns into a contest, the kids versus the adults. When the kids win, they realize that together they've collected so many apples they don't know what to do with them all. Ruby comes up with a creative idea, to have a cooking show called "Cooking with the Cousins!" Together, they make apple lasagna, apple pizza and apple pancakes, and still have enough to give a basket of apples to a neighbor. After Rosh Hashanah services at synagogue, the family has a sweet New Year back at Bubbe's house. Only the dog still looks longingly at just one more apple! The story features a diverse extended family: most members are white, but biracial Cousin Avital's Dad is Black, a...

  Happy Llamakkah! by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Lydia Nichols Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rachel Kamin Buy at Bookshop.org Llamas started showing up on goofy Hanukkah sweaters, t-shirts, greeting cards, wrapping paper and more since as early as 2016 so it was only a matter of time before someone turned the catch phrase "Happy Llamakkah!” into a children’s book. With a simple rhyming text, a family of llamas and their friends light the menorah, spin the dreidel, fry latkes, sing songs, and eat donuts and chocolate gelt. Adorable, bright, festive illustrations depicting a multi-generational llama family add to the fun and a rather comprehensive author’s note adds value to this quirky, gimmicky addition to the “animals celebrating Hanukkah” canon that began in 1988 with Jane Breskin Zalben’s bears ( Beni's First Chanukah ), rabbits ( Hanukkah Delight! by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Amy Husband, and Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Daniel Howarth), gorill...