The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Max's Mask: A Purim Story by Havvah Deevon, illustrated by Itay Bekin Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Amy Schreibman Walter   Buy at Bookshop.org Max starts kindergarten at a new school and, while he likes his class and his new teacher, he’s not completely comfortable just yet. Fortunately, wearing his superhero costume and mask gives him the confidence he needs to deal with big emotions and new stressors. When a classmate knocks over Max’s block tower, kicks over Max’s neatly lined up row of toy cars, and then sticks his tongue out, Max's superhero costume and mask give him strength. A little while later, when Purim comes, everybody in the class chooses a costume - except Max. He decides to come to Purim unmasked, as his true self. Max realizes that he is strong just as he is - no costume necessary. This book makes a great social/emotional read-aloud for the classroom - for preschoolers, kindergarteners and beyo...

Rachel Friedman Is Not the Queen by Sarah Kapit, illustrated by Genevieve Kote Henry Holt & Co., 2025 Category: Early Chapter Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaw   Buy at Bookshop.org Rachel Friedman is Not the Queen , the most recent entry in Sarah Kapit’s early chapter book series, is a warm, relatable friendship story that teaches about Purim and the importance of seeing others’ perspectives.   In this installment, goodhearted but impulsive Rachel falls out with her best friend Maya when Maya nabs the coveted role of Esther in their synagogue’s 3rd grade Purimspiel. Rachel, appropriately cast as the stubborn Vashti, takes her jealousy and disappointment out on Maya in harsh words, avoidance, and competitiveness. The caring adults in Rachel’s life notice the friction and help Rachel understand how her behavior is hurting her treasured friendship. Rachel apologizes and the two girls support each other through the challenges of the final performance of the play.  Rachel is...

Kayla and Kugel's Playful Purim written and illustrated by Ann Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Susan Tarcov   Buy at Bookshop.org   This book is part of a series of picture books about the Jewish holidays, featuring Kayla and her dog, Kugel. This newest entry celebrates the holiday of Purim. Kayla and Kugel bake hamantashen, dress up in costumes (Kayla dresses up as Kugel, and Kugel as Kayla), go to synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah, and then home for a Purim feast with family and friends. The cartoon-style illustrations are cheerful, and Kayla’s red braids point up or down, expressing her emotions. What fun to see dogs and cats in synagogue—all the better to make noise to drown out Haman’s name! And there’s a very nice touch at the end: the story says that a Purim meal is most fun with friends, and the following final note to the reader begins “Dear Friends.” This book is a great introduction to t...

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...

Mighty Micah by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Steliyana Doneva Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Linda Elovitz Marshall Buy at Bookshop.org As Micah returns home from a Purim party, he recalls how powerful he’d felt when he whirled his gragger (Purim noisemaker). With it, he could “stand up to anyone – even that bad man Haman!” That night, while Micah is asleep, his gragger is carried off by a raccoon, then a fish, then a heron. Before school that morning, however, it is returned to the lawn in front of Micah’s home. In school, Micah shows the gragger to his teacher, Mrs. Mack, who tells the class how Brave Queen Esther saved her people from the evil Haman. Mrs. Mack adds that “everyone needs to feel powerful sometimes” and gives the gragger to the smallest girl in the class. Story and language are cute and clear, combining elements of a “lost mitten” folktale with an anti-bullying story and a tie-in to Purim. A rhyming refrain abo...

Happy Purim, Grover! by Joni Kibort Sussman, illustrated by Tom Leigh Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Julie Ditton Buy at Bookshop.org Happy Purim, Grover! is a perfect Purim board book for Jewish toddlers. This book presents the familiar Sesame Street character as he celebrates Purim. Don’t expect the whole Megillah. This is a board book after all. But in just a few pages, little ones see these adorable characters doing all the things that they would do. After Grover bakes hamantaschen with his mommy, he celebrates with his friends. They deliver Purim goody baskets, dress up for the costume parade, listen to the Megillah reading and shake their groggers. Of course, they finish the day enjoying the fresh hamantaschen. Joni Sussman has included the key elements of the holiday that are important to the little ones. Children will delight in the bright colorful pictures, created by Tom Leigh who has illustrated numerous Sesam...

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...

Purr-im Time! by Jenna Waldman, illustrated by Erica J. Chen Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Arlene Schenker Buy at Bookshop.org This imaginative rhyming story of a Purim day in the life of three kittens has all the joyful elements of the holiday. From the moment the kitties wake up until they fall into bed, weary from a full day of baking hamantaschen, marching in the Purim parade, and going to the Purim carnival, they are celebrating the holiday. The megillah reading tells the story of Purim in a child-friendly way, so all can revel in the defeat of Haman and take pride in Esther’s heroism. And the dynamic movement of Erica Chen’s beautifully illustrated kitties shows them practically jumping off the page with their delight at the holiday. As a bonus, the back matter includes a mishloach manot craft idea with instructions. There is also a note to families stressing the kindness and charity that are important elements of the ...

Lily Blue Riding Hood: A Purim Story by Sandy Lanton, illustrated by Kim Barnes Intergalactic Afikomen, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Arlene Schenker Buy at Bookshop.org Lily Blue Riding Hood is pure delight, giving the reader a smile or a laugh on every page. Author Sandy Lanton remakes the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale into a perfect Purim story with a spunky, skateboarding Jewish heroine and even a Jewish big, bad wolf. The reader will know he’s Jewish when he exclaims “oy vey.” Pickle-baller Grandma lives in a Florida condo, so for those who live there, or for readers with parents or grandparents there, this brings another knowing smile. As a bonus for parents, the book models proper safety measures for riding a skateboard.  There’s a Purim spiel played for a diverse crowd, with Thaddeus Wolf playing the most fitting character. It ends with Lily, Thaddeus, and Grandma all engaging in a mitzvah together. Back matter includes a hamantashen recipe and a short explana...

Duct Tape Purim by Carolyn Bernhardt & Jill Collela Bloomfield Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2023 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Sandy Wasserman Buy at Bookshop.org The title of this book expresses exactly what it offers. It's a lovely craft book perfectly suited for Jewish children in grades 2-3, especially children who are excited about creating Purim costumes of their own with a bit of help from their parents. Though some of the text is a bit above the readability level for those grades, the colorful and attractive illustrations perfectly suit the skills of children eager to create costumes in unusual ways - using duct tape! Most families have that standard silver roll, and the authors add additional colorful tape options in addition to directions for every possible costume, from crowns to rings and bracelets, hats and shields, horses and robes, bows and carry totes. Woven throughout the directions for each costume is the Purim story and all the ...

Yummy Hamantaschen Text by Harold Grinspoon Foundation, illustrated by Elena Resko PJ Publishing, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Heidi Rabinowitz This is a very brief interactive board book that will familiarize babies and toddlers with the Purim treat, hamantaschen. The text addresses the audience directly, inviting them to pat, scoop, and fold to form the traditional three-cornered pastry. Die cut pages and fold-lines bring realism to the hamantaschen. This is the sort of book that will seem like a magic trick to very young children. The illustrations feature plump, inviting hamantaschen on boldly colored pages. A sprinkle of white makes the dough look floury. The black filling has a raised texture to evoke poppyseeds. The hamantaschen really do look yummy! A white child's hand is pictured on the cover but no other human elements appear in the imagery. Purim is never mentioned in the text, but a note for adults on the back cover explains the history of the holiday and the...

The Book of Elsie by Joanne Levy Orca Currents (imprint of Orca Book Publishers), 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rachel J. Fremmer Buy at Bookshop.org When Elsie’s synagogue threatens to close due to financial problems - and therefore cancel the Purim party that Elsie has been so looking forward to - she comes up with a plan to save the shul. Elsie's two dads, already sensitive to discrimination as gay men, are concerned about her plan to invite the wider, non-Jewish community to the party, but she wins them over and her plan is a go. But when antisemitic vandalism threatens the party a second time just hours before the event is set to begin, the community must rally together even more. This is a sweet story which addresses both antisemitism and homophobia and empowers readers to fight such discrimination. The book was specifically designed to appeal to reluctant readers and those with learning differences, including dyslexia, by using a dyslexia-friendly font and larger t...

Meet the Hamantaschen: A Purim Mystery written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg Viking (imprint of Penguin Random House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili Buy at Bookshop.org Three hamantaschen detectives – chocolate, poppy seed and jelly-filled, of course – receive a mysterious call to find a megillah that has gone missing from a Purim party, leading them to work on The Case of the Purim Problem. Such is the premise of Alan Silberberg’s latest title Meet the Hamantaschen: A Purim Mystery . In disguise as a cake, a cookbook, and a cactus, the three detectives arrive at the party and question the prime suspects in the play: Beth the lox (Vashti), Melvin the matzah ball (King Ahasuerus). Sam the blintz (Mordecai), Barry the kreplach (Haman) and Zelda the rugelach (Queen Esther). Eventually, the mystery of the missing megillah is solved after the play is performed, followed by a Purim party complete with singing and dancing. A glossary of terms, co...

A Persian Princess by Barbara Diamond Goldin, illustrated by Steliyana Doneva Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jane Kohuth In this book, Raya, a contemporary young Persian American Jewish girl, celebrates Purim with her family and friends from her neighborhood. Raya bakes koloocheh, traditional Persian Purim cookies with her stylish grandmother Maman joon, who recounts eating the crunchy cookies shaped like little “Hamans,” (the Purim villain) when she was a child in Hamadan, Iran. Raya is disappointed that she is not old enough to be in the Religious School Purim play like her brother Nati, who is playing the important role of Mordecai, Queen Esther’s cousin. Raya wants to be a sparkly princess for Purim, so, to cheer her up, Maman joon takes her up to her bedroom, which is decorated with colorful Persian items, perhaps brought from Iran. Maman joon wraps Raya in layers of colorful scarves and strands of gold coins to create a Persian princess costume. Raya is delighted ...

Sweet Tamales for Purim by Barbara Bietz, illustrated by John Kanzler Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield This charming story is set in the American Southwest during the late 1800s and was inspired by a Purim Ball hosted by the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society of Tucson, AZ. The whole town is invited to the Purim Ball. Rebecca plans to attend in her Esther costume, while her best friend, Luis, decides to go as a vaquero, (Spanish for cowboy). Rebecca explains Purim to Luis, including drawing out the story of Esther and describing how graggers are used to blot out Hamen’s name. When they discover that their wayward goat, Kitzel, has eaten all the hamantaschen, Mama sadly says there will be no cookies this year – all the flour, butter and apricot jam are gone. Unfortunately, Luis’ mama does not any of the ingredients either. Fortunately, she does have masa (corn flour) and raisins, enough to make sweet tamales for Purim. The story is told in clear, engaging lan...

Our next few reviews will feature Purim and Passover stories, just a little out of season. This topsy turvy posting seems fitting in our current pandemic situation, where things feel so mixed up. It made us think that this was a good time to check in and see how everyone is doing. How are you, readers? If you like, let us know in the comments. We hope that you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe. We want to acknowledge the amazing job being done by our Shmooze reviewers, who are persevering despite the chaos. We hope that our continuing stream of book reviews brings a little normalcy to you, and helps showcase great titles that aren't getting their normal exposure in bookstores and libraries. Above you can see Shmooze editor Susan Kusel in a Highlights Foundation Zoom meeting held on April 27, 2020 for members of the Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook group. Panelists Susan Kusel, Linda Epstein, Becca Podos, Erica Perl, Ruth Horowitz, and Veera Hiranandani discussed...