Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

“Challah for Shabbat Tonight” by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Alona Millgram, tells the ages-old story of the baking of challah for Friday night Shabbat dinner, a Jewish tradition. The holiday of Shabbat, which occurs weekly on Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown, is one that has a lot...

“Think: A Celebration of Mindfulness” by Katie Wilson looks like a simple board book, but the idea is quite deep. It presses readers to think in a more focused way, to consider their contributions and to see how to work with others to see a more heightened version of what...

“Ellis Island Passover” by Marissa Moss tells the story of Great-Uncle Ezra, as he tells how he first came to America from the old country looking for a better life, where he could be Jewish and free to live his life and practice his religion. When he arrives in America,...

“Uri and the King of Darkness: A Hanukkah Story” by Nati Bait, illustrated by Carmel Ben Ami, tells the story of Uri and Shir while they wait for their dad to arrive home on the first night of Chanukah. Looking out the window, they see shadows coming closer and darkness...

“The Midnight Mitzvah” by Ruth Horowitz, art by Jenny Meilihove, shares the story of Hanina Chipmunk. She loves giving gifts and helping others. Doing mitzvahs, otherwise known as commandments in Judaism, or good deeds, gives her a positive feeling. It is disappointing to her when Mathilda Squirrel doesn’t want Hanina’s...

“When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary” by Alice Hoffman delves into Anne’s life before she went into hiding, yet the experiences are still harrowing and strike a nerve in the fabric of society. Anne’s life is pretty good overall....

“A Turkish Rosh Hashanah” by Etan Basseri, illustrated by Zeynep Ozatalay, shares the story of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and how one family is busy preparing for it. When Rafael and his cousins, Alegra and Leon, go shopping in the Turkish market to prepare for their Rosh Hashanah...

“I Like Your Chutzpah: And Other Yiddish Words You’ll Like” by Suzy Ultman is a cute, to the point board book with words such as “punim,” “schmutz,” “schpiel,” “kvetch,” “schpilkes,” “meshugas,” and a handful more. The illustrations show off the meaning of the words in cute, childlike ways. The definition...

“Welcome to Camp Snoopy” by Charles M. Schulz, adapted by Jason Cooper from the show, Camp Snoopy, engages readers by taking them on a trip through the world of camping, from how to prepare for it, to dealing with homesickness, taking part in activities like arts and crafts, singing, pizza...

“How to Make a Picture Book” by Elys Dolan provides the ultimate step-by-step guide to ensuring that when one starts a picture book, that person knows just where to go and how to get to the end point. Cute characters share the inner workings of writing a story that will...

“A Mitzvah for George Washington” by Rachelle Burk, illustrated by Chiara Fedele, allows readers the opportunity to see, through a work of historical fiction, how religious freedom is so very important in our lives. The genuine goodness the children in the story feel about sharing their thanks with President Washington...

“Mighty Mindsets” by Niamh Doyle, illustrated by Carol Betera, explores questions that any person might have about how to be more mindful of issues that take place in one’s life. Geared toward children, life’s challenges are discussed in a clear, succinct way, allowing children to discover ways to be more...

“Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body” by Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen, shares the journey through puberty with readers who are nearing or going through the process themselves. Leading readers from birth through understanding gender, to dealing with bodily changes, this book strives to...

“The Magical Moroccan Rug” by Naveed Mir takes readers on a fantastical journey through time. It all begins when Yusuf’s grandfather comes to visit. When Grandpa gives Yusuf a rug as a gift, Yusuf and his friend Jack can’t figure out what the importance of it is, if any. It...

“Birth of the Bicycle: A Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America” by Sarah Nelson, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno, shares the beginnings of bicycles, from those without pedals to the way bikes look today. It was not a simple process to create the bike as it is currently known. There...