The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Charley & Seymour's Hanukkah Miracle by Melody Howard Ritt, illustrated by Nia Gould Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org In this story, we meet best friends Charley Chipmunk and Seymour Squirrel. The pair does everything together, but in particular, they love to celebrate Hanukkah. When Charley forgets that he’s meant to bring candles to light the menorah, he finds lots of other things starting with the letter C instead. Younger kids will appreciate this subtle humor and the repetition of all the “C” items. Improvisation has the duo make do with oil, in a parallel to the Hanukkah miracle of old. This clever problem solving makes for a happy ending. This book is appropriate for the stated 4-8 age group, and indeed would serve as a good Hanukkah primer to non-Jewish readers as well. The characters are friendly-looking and there is much Jewish imagery in the art: gelt, menorahs, Stars of D

Miri's Moving Day by Adam R. Chang and Stephanie Wildman, illustrated by Dream Chen Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org   Miri, who is of mixed Jewish and Chinese ancestry, is preparing for her family’s moving day. She is reluctant to leave her current home and worries she will miss the stone lions that flank her building’s entrance. These lions represent the familiar, but also serve as spiritual guardians from her Chinese heritage. Miri’s transition is made smoother by her grandfathers, Zayde and Yeh Yeh, who present her with a new mezuzah and a smaller pair of stone lions for her new apartment. This story captures the wonderful relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, particularly when the grandparents are part of the regular care-taking and routine. The two sides of the family, refreshingly, respect each other’s cultures and traditions. The family unit has a nice blend of bo

One More Story, Tata! by Julie Salamon, illustrated by Jill Weber Minerva (imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers), 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org   Ruby, the story’s precocious toddler protagonist, goes with her parents to spend each Friday with her grandparents, Yaya and Papa, and great grandmother, Tata, culminating in a celebratory Shabbat dinner. Ruby is fascinated with Tata, who is “very old,” and has many stories and dreams to share. Parallels between the young Ruby and the elderly Tata are subtly shown, such as the stroller/walker, naptime, and wanting to do things independently. While I found the names confusing at times, Weber’s illustrations help tell the story and depict a happy Jewish multi-generational family. There is no conflict or problem solving in this book; rather, it focuses on the importance of family traditions, including sharing stories and photos, and Shabbat. I found it interesting that although Ruby’s father is depic

Harry and the High Wire: Houdini's First Amazing Act by Julie Carpenter, illustrated by Laura Catalán Green Bean Books, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org Picture book biography Harry and The High Wire takes place during Houdini’s childhood, when he became enthralled with a tightrope walking act at the circus. For an ordinary boy, this taste of the extraordinary sparked his first interest in the performative arts. Harry became obsessed with mastering the tightrope walk, and with the encouragement of his supportive mother, he began practicing. The message from Pirkei Avot that “according to the effort is the reward,” shows the value of putting time into following a passion and developing a craft. Central to Harry’s eventual success were the failures along the way, when perseverance and self-belief propelled him to continue. The fully fold-out book is cleverly laid out so that the art continues on the pages that eventually lay out to 4 meters wid

Mrs. Maccabee's Miracle by Elka Weber, illustrated by Amélie Videlo Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org Welcome to the Maccabee house. Five brothers are always misplacing their things, and look to their mom to locate the objects. Mom gently reminds them that items remain where they are left. This repeating theme will strike a familiar chord with both parents and children. As the story progresses, the situation in Modi’in worsens for the Jews when the Greek ruler, Antiochus, demands that Jewish life and practice cease. The Maccabee boys, like many other Jews, continue to study Torah and practice Judaism in secret. When the great battle between the Jews and Greeks ensues, Mama Maccabee’s lessons about locating lost items is an integral part of the Hanukkah miracle. It’s wonderful to see a woman of importance play a part in a story that’s usually male centered. Illustrations by Videlo help mak

How to Welcome an Alien by Rebecca Klempner, illustrated by Shirley Waisman Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org How to Welcome an Alien is rooted in the long-standing Jewish values of hospitality and kindness. An alien spaceship crash lands in a residential neighborhood. The protagonist, Dina, welcomes the strange creatures into her home, even reminding her doubtful mother about the mitzvah of giving guests food, drink, and a place to rest. Humor leads this tale as the hosts and guests struggle to communicate and the creatures find unusual uses for the human objects. The alien vocabulary is funny-sounding, but familiar enough to be understood. A surprise ending brings the tale and lesson full-circle. The aliens are illustrated in a non-threatening way with a color scheme that matches those of their human hosts. The art reminds us that commonalities can be found even in seemingly different spe

There's a Goblin on the Ark! by Susan Tarcov, illustrated by Mackinzie Rekers Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva   Buy at Bookshop.org There’s A Goblin on the Ark! is a new picture book twist on the Noah’s Ark biblical story. Told from the animals’ point of view, it’s the first night on the ark and the animals are settling in. Strange noises keep them awake. As they try to identify the source through a pleasing rhyming of animal sounds, it becomes clear that the sound is coming from a lone goblin. Although initially afraid, the animals realize the goblin is just another passenger looking for its mate. A search ensues to help the goblin. By the end, everyone is comfortable on the ark as the rain pelts outside. An author’s note explains that a traditional interpretation of the text surmises that goblins were indeed on the ark. Tarcov has fun exploring this story’s possibilities.   The art by Rekers features expre

Daddy, Can You Make Me Tall? by Rona Milch Novick, PhD, illustrated by Ana Sebastián Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org Daddy, Can You Make Me Tall? centers around a child preparing for Shabbat and needing help with various tasks. In each scenario, one of his parents shows him how to complete the task on his own, thus fostering his independence. There’s a message here for both parents and children. Parents are gently reminded to show kids how to do things for themselves. Children learn that a feeling of accomplishment is its own reward. An author’s note delves further into the psychological components. All readers will see that preparing for Shabbat is a family affair that everyone can participate in and enjoy together. The illustrations by Sebastián are a treasure! Pages contains delightful little nuggets of children’s toys, a warm home, and a precious dog. Each subsequent revisiting will reveal

Ava's Homemade Hanukkah by Geraldine Woberg, illustrated by Julia Seal Albert Whitman & Company, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org   Ava’s family has a Hanukkah tradition: each person brings their own menorah, which tells a piece of their unique story. This year, Ava is old enough to have a menorah of her own. For inspiration, she looks at the other menorahs and tells the story behind each of them to her adorable pet bunny, Maccabee. Ava learns that menorahs can have a connection to people and places you miss, can commemorate a special event, can serve as a bond to one’s history, or can reflect something one cares about. Ava carefully selects important items from her life to make her own menorah. This is a sweet book and presents a family tradition that can be emulated. The story doesn’t have conflict or stakes for the main character, but the value of each person’s story is enough to advance the plot. Thoughtful diversity is portrayed in th

Tizzy the Dizzy Dreidel by Allison & Wayne Marks, illustrated by Francesca Assirelli Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org In this rhyming story, poor Tizzy the dreidel has a self-confidence problem, because she gets dizzy when she spins. When the family competes for the longest spin, Tizzy feels she’ll be overlooked and discounted. Kids will identify with the theme of feeling left out. It’s reminiscent of waiting to be picked for a team in gym, and the disheartening feeling of being chosen last. But four-year-old Sara chooses Tizzy and is excited to play the game. Tizzy is thrilled with getting a chance to shine, and she doesn’t want to disappoint. Tizzy spins through the house for the entire eight days of Hanukkah, winning the contest and the respect of her dreidel friends. The gentle lessons of giving the underdog a chance and overcoming fears and self-doubt are good reminders for kids. Th

Until the Blueberries Grow by Jennifer Wolf Kam, illustrated by Sally Walker PJ Publishing, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva The reader is introduced to Ben and his Zayde, who are best buds. They spend a lot of time together and Zayde appears to be Ben’s primary male role model (the illustrations feature a mom and younger sibling, but no dad). When it’s time for Zayde to downsize and move, Ben is unable to accept this change. He convinces Zayde to delay his plans multiple times. A "for sale" sign subtly shows the reader the status of the move. During the postponement, Ben and Zayde celebrate Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Passover. Interestingly, the larger family is not shown celebrating holidays or spending time together. It’s all about Ben and his smartly dressed Zayde. As time passes, it’s clear that Zayde can’t defer any longer. An ominous illustration of a steep staircase shows the reader what Zayde sees, and how his needs have changed with age. Eventually, he

Strangers in Jerusalem by Kerry Olitzky & Inas Younis, illustrated by Maryana Kachmar Brandylane Publishers, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org Strangers in Jerusalem is, at its core, a book about kindness and embracing people who are different from oneself. Three girls, strangers at first, help each other locate holy sites in Jerusalem. Each has been asked to visit a house of worship that is not her own: Muslim Leila visits a church for a Christian friend, Jewish Rachel visits a mosque to give charity on behalf of a Muslim neighbor, and Muslim Asma visits the Western Wall to place a note for a Jewish friend. Differing backgrounds are no barrier to friendship here, as kindness and helpfulness bond the girls in friendship. The story shows an idealized and hopeful world of peaceful co-existence, where commonalities are more important than differences. The innocence of the children, who are naïve to the frictions between religious groups in Israel,

  Sally Opened Doors: The Story of the First Woman Rabbi by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas Apples & Honey (imprint of Behrman House), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silver Buy at Bookshop.org   Sally Priesand was America’s first female ordained rabbi. This picture book biography is about her dream, realized through self-confidence and persistence. Young Sally fantasizes about being on the bimah and teaching Torah. In the 1970’s, women were claiming their places in the career world as pilots, doctors and lawyers. Growing up in this era, Sally visualized herself becoming a rabbi in the completely male-dominated field. She was undeterred by the nay-sayers and gatekeepers who couldn’t envision a female rabbi. By age 16, Sally used her admirable chutzpah to inquire about admission to the Hebrew Union College. When she finally received a response, it was neither encouraging nor welcoming. The art shows Sally nonchalantly tossing the letter into the ga

The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Katie Hickey Quill Tree Books (imprint of HarperCollins), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org The Greatest Song of All, How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall , is easily one of my favorite picture book biographies. It’s a dual story about violinist Isaac Stern and the cultural significance of New York’s Carnegie Hall. These story lines weave together as Isaac develops his extraordinary talents and falls in love with the venue whose stage has been graced by the likes of Marion Anderson, Albert Einstein, Duke Ellington, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Written in beautiful prose that uses the five senses to place the reader in Carnegie Hall and New York, it’s complemented by sophisticated illustrations that depict a diverse, vibrant city. Isaac is the child of poor Jewish immigrants from Ukraine (particularly resonant with current event

Rena Glickman, Queen of Judo by Eve Nadel Catarevas, illustrated by Martina Peluso Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva   Buy at Bookshop.org Rena “Rusty” Glickman was a scrappy Coney Island teenager in the 1950’s. As a young girl, Rena’s interests leaned toward conventionally male pursuits, including weight lifting and judo. There was no space for women in the world that interested her. Disguising herself as a man, she won a judo competition only to have the trophy revoked upon her gender revelation. Still, Rena refused to bend to societal norms. Her innate strong sense of self and persistence led her to become a judo master, no small feat for a woman in a men’s sport. Her trailblazing story lays out her path to what became her life’s work: creating a space for women in judo and developing it as a legitimized Olympic sport. Throughout her life, Rena was unconventional and fierce, never wavering in her mission des

Bedtime for Maziks by Yael Levy, illustrated by Nabila Adani Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shanna Silva Buy at Bookshop.org In Bedtime for Maziks , the story opens with a definition of the Yiddish word “mazik,” to explain to readers (like me), who may be unfamiliar with the term. A mazik is a mischief maker, and in this book’s context, a rambunctious child, who is “rumbly tumbly” and causes a “ruckus.” Told in gentle rhyme, it takes the reader through the day and nighttime routine of adorable sibling maziks. The illustrations are done in a colorful, playful palette, and the book features a number of wordless spreads where the art speaks for itself. The maziks are portrayed with fangs, animal ears and paws, yet they are endearing and friendly. Their messy playfulness will be a familiar sight to parents and kids alike. Subtle Judaic elements are woven into the art: Stars of David, Hebrew letters, a Jewish folklore book and