The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

A Dragon for Hanukkah by Sarah Mlynowski, illustrated by Ariel Landy Orchard Books (imprint of Scholastic), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili   Buy at Bookshop.org   A Dragon for Hanukkah follows Hannah as she receives a gift on each successive night of the holiday. Or does she? Does she really receive gifts of a dragon, a rainbow, a treasure chest and the like? No . . . Yes? With her signature flair for fantasy, author Mlynowski spins an imaginative story in which children will recognize all the elements of Hanukkah, including the menorah, latkes, the Maccabees, and dreidels. Well incorporated is also the idea of tzedakah when children (and adults) may get too focused on gift-giving. Illustrator Landy's vibrant and whimsical expressive artwork add to the magical feel of the tale, while the rich purple and blue palette bring the reader right into the feel of the wintertime setting. Back matter is presented in a fun manner with a Q and A...

Best Wishes by Sarah Mlynowski Scholastic Press, 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Stacey Rattner Buy at Bookshop.org Becca lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her mom and brother, Brahm. Her parents have been divorced for a while but her Dad moved recently to California and this will be Becca’s first birthday without him. She also seems to be losing her best friend Harper, who is becoming more interested in chess,n ew friend Georgette, and Friendstagram than hanging out with Becca. But when Becca receives a mysterious box containing a magical bracelet, her life changes instantly. “Speak one wish to make it true,” the note attached to the bracelet says. “I wish I had friends. Not just one friend. But lots and lots of friends. So many friends,” Becca wishes. Suddenly, everyone, including her principal and teacher, wants to be her friend. At first, of course, it’s great. The wish worked! Best present ever! “Better than a gift certificate…better than a phone,” thinks ...