(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gosia Mosz. For Hanukkah, Isobel visits her aunt Luisa, who "just moved here from Mexico," and learns new holiday traditions. Though the educational aspect of the text can overwhelm its sense of story, the depiction of Sephardic traditions is welcome. Mosz's earthy desert tones and deep purple-hued nights evoke the warmth of this contemporary Hanukkah celebration. Glos.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu. Avi, a young Jew living in Jerusalem, follows a stray cat he's befriended only to discover that Hamudi, an Arab boy, is caring for the animal in the Muslim quarter. The watercolor paintings that accompany this familiar, somewhat didactic tale realistically depict the ancient city and successfully extend the story's hopeful mood. An author's note is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn