(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniele Fabbri. Bezalel, an Israelite slave in Ancient Egypt, collects unusual things. When the Exodus begins, the boy insists on bringing his Beautiful Things Box with him. When God asks Moses to build a mishkan, a house filled with beautiful things, Bezalel is the only one ready to provide treasures. Soft paintings convey a sense of wonder in this unusual retelling of a biblical story (discussed in the author's note).

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniela Stamatiadi. Kurt wants to join his brother and older friends in fighting against Hitler Youth: he proves he's brave enough through his trumpet playing. This story of resistance in Nazi Germany keeps the focus on blues music, letting anti-Semitism be a backdrop rather than the focus. Thoughtful, intricate illustrations include swastikas and depictions of Hitler. An author's note provides more information about the real Edelweiss Pirates.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cosei Kawa. Instead of wearing heavy iron braces for her weak legs, the doctor lets young Lily Marks take dance lessons to strengthen them. Thus begins the ascent of the first Jewish prima ballerina assoluta, later known as Alicia Markova. Goddu tells the true story with elegant simplicity; an afterword offers more straightforward biography. Kawa's ornately detailed, stylized illustrations capture the wonder and magic of ballet.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ellen Kahan Zager. The Jewish creation story is retold in simple rhyming verses (for example, Day Six concludes: "Creatures that slither and crawl and alight, / Beasts that run wild and howl in the night"). The inventive illustrations use the Hebrew letters that name each object, animal, or person in the text as design elements. An excellent glossary shows the images, the English words, the transliterations, and the original Hebrew words.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gary Cherrington. A rare Jewish Major League player, Moe Berg took a hiatus from baseball to work as a spy for the OSS during World War II, parachuting into Yugoslavia, reporting on the Nazi’s progress toward developing the atom bomb, and more. The interesting biography is illustrated with emotive cartoons. No sourcing is provided, but an afterword (with a couple of photos) expands on Berg's interesting life story.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kristina Swarner. This useful volume features brief, short-lined, free-verse poems and "reflections" for each night of the holiday, connecting the ritual of candle-lighting to broader themes. It also provides Hebrew blessings with English transliterations and translations, historical background, dreidel-playing instructions, recipes, crafts, and sheet music. Mottled illustrations in warm pinks and blues evoke the hushed atmosphere around a lit menorah, while the text provides room for contemplation along with practical information.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elissambura. In this joyously colorful, culturally specific cumulative book featuring Ugandan Jews, Auntie Sanyu prepares for Sukkot: "It was time to build the sukkah. It took her three long days. / She hung plantains and paper chains and asked her friends to stay." Lion, Parrot, Camel, and others celebrate appropriately, but Warthog hogs the etrog--until Auntie's niece, Sara, arrives. A paragraph about Jews in Uganda is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Fortenberry. Despite wintry weather, Sadie searches for a way to plant a tree on Tu B'Shevat, the "birthday of the trees." The problem is a relatable one for many Jewish readers not in warm-climate Israel (where the holiday was created), but the solutions from family members come a bit too easily. Sometimes-blurry illustrations effectively vary colors to distinguish between the present and Grandma's memories.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Abigail Tompkins. In this hybrid potty-training/religious story, Noah and Naamah want the animals on the ark to be comfortable, and that includes having potties for all creatures. Everyone celebrates taking care of their bodies and learns that food goes in and waste comes out. Owl teaches a prayer, based on a real Hebrew prayer. Though the story is slight, the illustrations depict sweetly personified animals adjusting to their surroundings.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 4-6 In 1986, eleven-year-old Molly travels with her parents and brother to Israel for a month over the summer. She's nervous about meeting her extended family, including her maternal grandparents who don't speak English, but she comes away with a better appreciation of her Jewish heritage. Detailed descriptions highlight the beauty and diversity of the country, along with occasional discussions of its challenges and conflicts.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker. A large Brooklyn-of-yore family's new parrot, Hametz, gets a little too involved in the Seder, repeating the Four Questions it learned from young narrator Lily and swiping the afikomen. In this thirty-fifth anniversary edition, the humorous, slightly revised text and new oil and collage illustrations are full of accurate Passover details as well as warm nostalgia.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chiara Fedele. Gilani-Williams adapts a traditionally male-centered folktale with both Jewish and Arab roots to focus on a Jewish woman (Yaffa) and a Muslim woman (Fatima), who are neighbors and friends. Both women's daily lives reveal their similarities and their compassion, particularly during a poor harvest. Fedele's evocative illustrations use texture and color (mainly red, blue, and brown) to introduce a distant land and distinct cultures.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Yael Kimhi Orrelle. Arielle is the great-great-granddaughter of Engineer Ari in Cohen's previous books (Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride, et al.). She drives her more modern light-rail train through Israel on Yom Ha'Atzma'ut (Israel's Independence Day) to watch her brother fly in the annual air show. The long explanatory text's main purpose is to highlight particular sites throughout Israel. The illustrations are light and spacious but sometimes awkward.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Mola. Youngest child Lila tries to help her koala family prepare for Shabbat, but she keeps making a mess. Finally, she offers to make the challah; she practices all week, and after several failed attempts, Lila bakes a delicious challah with a special koala-perfect ingredient: eucalyptus. Gehl's story offers a unique perspective on a weekly ritual, and Mola's textured illustrations reinforce the warm, supportive family environment.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic. When Faigel forgets how to make potato pancakes for Hanukkah, the hungry rabbi's advice leads to more latkes than any one person can eat. They solve the problem by inviting all the villagers to celebrate together. The original tale reads like a traditional Chelm story; the illustrations, which set the tale in what looks like early-twentieth-century Eastern Europe, have a more modern Disney-cartoon vibe.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. After learning about the concept of tikkun olam (doing good deeds to repair the world), Rosie sets out to accomplish a list of "Save-the-World" tasks. But while aiding others, she ignores numerous help requests from her family. Rosie eventually learns that good deeds start at home. Rosie's enthusiasm comes across in cheerful, colorful illustrations that enhance a slightly drawn-out story.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alida Massari. An old tradition of lighting an oil lamp instead of candles for Shabbat is recounted in this modern-day tale of suburban neighbors gathering for the traditional Sabbath meal and sharing stories about Jewish heirlooms and family rituals. A storyteller's cadence and gouache paintings in auburn tones reflect the spirit of the Friday night celebration.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon Harmer. Monty Nudelman helps his neighbors shovel after a snowstorm and injures his back. On Shabbat afternoon, the neighborhood kids bring the man cholent (Jewish stew), and they share a communal feast. The story highlights themes of community within the traditions of the Jewish sabbath. The friendly illustrations show happy kids and adults in a suburban setting with some nods toward diversity. A cholent recipe is appended.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg. Jules's fluid narrative and Nayberg's evocative textured paintings recount the fictionalized story of an illiterate shepherd encouraged midlife to begin studying by his devoted, loving wife. How his slow and steady progress ("I can learn--just like water cuts through stone--a little bit each day") allowed him to succeed in becoming a great learned man, scholar, and renowned rabbi is inspiring and well crafted.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau. Jessica is concerned that her bedridden grandfather will not be able to attend this year's Passover seder, let alone lead the ceremony as usual. In spite of this year's changed circumstances, Jessica finds a way for Grandpa to guide the readings right from his bedroom. Softly textured illustrations depict preparation for the traditional meal as related in the sincere first-person narrative.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan