(1) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. Chess and a chessboard become defining features of a young Viennese Jewish girl’s life at the turn of the twentieth century. Elsa, age six, loves to watch her three brothers play the game, begging them to teach her. After one of them does, “Elsa thought about chess all the time.” For her tenth birthday, her brothers give her a portable chess set. She plays and grows, one day falling in love with a chess-playing librarian, who later flees with her and their daughter -- and her chessboard -- to the United States when Nazism threatens. Chess becomes a way for German-speaking Elsa to make friends with her polyglot coworkers in San Francisco. Basing her story on her grandmother’s experiences (with some coming “from my imagination”), Andrus pens an economical, heartfelt narrative. Downing likewise invests her watercolors with thoughtful details. Particularly effective are occasional four-panel grids that offer tiny montages, such as one depicting a white-haired Elsa with her granddaughters, playing “the games the girls loved”: cards, checkers, Twister, and, at Hanukkah, dreidel. She’s lost her chessboard during a move, a sorrow brought home by a double-page spread of Elsa in her darkened bedroom, tracing her late husband’s face in a framed photo. Readers will be as happy as Elsa when the chessboard is rediscovered, its longevity documented in one of the family snapshots that accompany an author’s note and recommended resources about chess.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2025

(2) K-3 Following the same format as The House by the Lake (rev. 9/20), Harding and Teckentrup tell the story of the building where Anne Frank and seven others hid from the Nazis in WWII Amsterdam. The narrative begins in 1580 when the future building site is a bucolic marsh. Amsterdam grows rapidly during the late 1500s; the titular canal is created in the early 1600s, and in 1635 a stonemason builds the house and annex for his family. Over the next three hundred years, the house welcomes different families (e.g., a woman and her twelve children fleeing religious persecution), businesses, and for a while some horses in need of a stable. Neglected, it’s repaired over and over, including after a fire in 1884. ­Teckentrup’s textured mixed-media illustrations keep the pages engaging -- not an easy assignment when the setting is the same throughout. While Harding’s accessible text is light on details, a helpful endnote provides more information about inhabitants and businesses mentioned in the main text, including the tragic fate of Otto Frank’s family during the Holocaust and how he worked to preserve Anne Frank Huis for future generations. Readers don’t need to be familiar with Anne’s diary to appreciate the history of the house and its environs, but for those that are, this adds rich context.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2025

(3) YA When fourteen-year-old trans boy A discovers that the conversion therapy group his parents force him to attend has connections to evil supernatural forces, he runs away hoping to save one friend who disappeared from that group. His quest, set during the Jewish High Holidays, features allies including a golem-like creature; A’s rabbi; and the unhoused young residents of “the Transhack,” who have complicated emotional dynamics. Though its messages are at times overexplained, this is a welcome fantasy starring a trans and Jewish hero that engages thoughtfully with both those identities.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. This nonfiction picture book (likely with invented dialogue) begins with the first White House Passover Seder, in 2011, and then flashes back to the new tradition’s origins on Barack Obama’s campaign trail the previous year, when Jewish staff members missed their family Seders. The (somewhat lengthy) text presents Passover and the biblical Exodus story accessibly and makes connections to Obama and earlier civil rights figures. Varied perspectives in the watercolor illustrations add visual interest. Back matter gives more information about the first White House Seder.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) YA In the lead-up to Becky’s bat mitzvah, she and her teenage sister, Sara, keep secrets for each other. The circumstances around Sara’s secret, an interfaith relationship, escalate with tragic consequences, foreshadowed with suspense-building flash-forwards. The story, if dramatic, addresses a sensitive topic with a welcome portrayal of characters rethinking long-held assumptions.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cinzia Battistel. It’s 1660, and young Yeshiva student Samuel is a part-time apprentice to famous painter Rembrandt. Rembrandt needs inspiration for a Purim scene, but finds none of the models as “courageous, faithful, and modest” as Queen Esther. Samuel recruits his sister, pleasing both his father and Rembrandt, who both newly see how the student’s faith and art can coalesce. Well-composed, inviting illustrations capture the period dress, decor, and architecture of seventeenth-century Amsterdam. Short, factual spotlights on the Purim holiday and Rembrandt’s life are appended and emphasize the Christian artist’s real-life collaboration with his city’s Jewish population.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Selina Alko. In 1966, a "trusted keeper [of stories]" (identified in the back matter as the library at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City) suffered a terrible fire, which destroyed thousands of books and other items, many not found elsewhere -- including books and ritual objects that had been rescued from the Nazis. Books that didn't burn were waterlogged and becoming more damaged by the minute. But through the help and persistence of the surrounding community, all was not lost. Idea after idea was proposed, but the ultimate solution was a simple yet elegant one that saved 170,000 volumes: layering paper towels between the pages of each sodden book. This story focuses equally on the effort that brought a community together, on the importance of libraries as repositories of stories, and on the books themselves as representatives of history and culture. Evocative illustrations combine painting and collage, including words in multiple languages, with occasional references to specific titles and others to language and content more generally. The narrative ends with the resonant refrain "our stories were not consumed." Back matter includes information about the Jewish Theological Seminary Library, a brief bibliography, and period photographs of the fire and its aftermath. An author's note provides additional historical context and draws contemporary connections between the fire, the importance of books, and the divisiveness of our current society.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) PS An effusively affectionate grandma plays with her little grandchild, expressing wonder at the baby’s cuteness (“Look. At. This. Baby!”). Yiddish words are integrated throughout her exclamations (“Let me kiss this keppie...I see a tuchus!!”). The boldly colored, cartoonish illustrations can be garish at times, but the simple, silly text lends itself to playing and giggling along -- and maybe even learning some Yiddish. A glossary is appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Erica J. Chen. A family of excited cats prepares for and celebrates Passover: they clean the house, set the table, pray and sing at the seder, and eat a special meal. The singsongy rhymes and cat-themed puns (“Meow-nishtanah...” begins the cat chanting the Four Questions) can grow tiresome, but the book is faithful to the traditions of the holiday. Energetic if somewhat one-note illustrations show the kitties having a blast. Instructions for making a “meow-tzah cover” are appended.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Shannon Hochman. In this collection of fourteen Passover-themed tales by different authors -- Laurel Snyder, Adam Gidwitz, Veera Hiranandani, among others -- one story is assigned to each step of the Seder. Each piece is preceded by an explanation of that step and four reflection questions. The engaging tales cover a vast range of Jewish experiences, including emigration from Eastern Europe and Cuba, Orthodox family life, women's varied roles in Jewish ritual, and interfaith families; as well as parts of life beyond the holiday, including losing a grandparent, coming out, being bullied, and neurodiversity. Most readers will find something that speaks to them and reflects who they are. The formats are also diverse, including realistic fiction, autobiography, fantasy, verse, and a story partially told in comics format. The tales invite readers to think about their personal relationships to the themes of family, freedom, and identity. Hochman's stark and atmospheric black-and-white drawings at the start of each story may remind readers of some Haggadah illustrations. Appended recipes invite hands-on interaction.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 This welcome historical novel traces a Sephardic Jewish family whose members travel from one country to another with first-person narrators from four generations and spanning centuries. In 1492, Benvenida and her family leave Toledo, Spain, for what is then Constantinople to escape the Spanish Inquisition. In 1923, Reina sneaks out at night and sings for a group of boys against her father's wishes and is sent from Turkey to Cuba for an arranged marriage. In 1961, Alegra teaches literacy as a brigadista but then flees Cuba for Miami with Operation Pedro Pan. And in 2003, Paloma and her family travel back to Toledo and learn what they can about their long-ago family history. The family saga provides glimpses of several moments in world history and gives readers opportunities to spot connections among the generations, sometimes knowing details about the past that the characters can only guess at. (An overly earnest tone in narration and dialogue sometimes detracts from the characters' believability.) A Ladino song and the oud that it is played on add echoes from one section to another. The author's note provides context and personal connections; back matter also includes source notes with accessible explanations.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(1) YA In this coming-of-age novel set in an insular Orthodox Jewish community (adjacent to the one in The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, rev. 11/22), Yocheved "Yoyo" Gold is the eldest daughter of the local rabbi and has been cast in a particular and demanding role by those around her. After her best friend leaves town under questionable circumstances, Yoyo begins to notice cracks in the standards of behavior she has always accepted and feels an urge to call out the hypocrisy she sees. New friends -- one from outside her tight-knit community and one who is pushing boundaries within it -- lead her to question both her responsibilities and her beliefs. Social media, alcohol, and physical relationships feature heavily in the story, and each potential hot-button issue is handled with delicacy and nuance as Yoyo approaches these new experiences from her sheltered but mature perspective. While the book critiques Orthodoxy, it also treats its norms and traditions with respect. Even at the height of mean-girl drama, the characters have dimension and agency, and Yoyo models a level of integrity that feels both genuine and aspirational. The story's depictions of teens grappling with expectations are specific to this community and also represent universal themes of growing up, friendship, family pressures, and being true to oneself.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) YA After Shiloh receives a box of clay as a bar mitzvah present, he and his younger sister, Faye, meet their estranged grandfather, who sent it, for the first time. The siblings learn that, on their father's side, they are part of a lineage that can create golems: "human figure[s] formed from clay and brought to life with the Hebrew alphabet." While visiting their grandfather's apartment to practice harnessing this power, they encounter in dreams their ancestors' traumatic stories of antisemitism and oppression at various points in history. (These dreams include strong descriptions of cruelty and death that make this book best suited for readers who can handle realistic violence.) What they learn about their past sheds light on the present day as they grapple with contemporary antisemitism. In addition to the historical Jewish golemcrafters they meet, Shiloh and Faye also face questions of identity that arise from their Japanese ancestors on their mother's side. This memorable story takes a strong stance against victim-blaming in favor of defending oneself and one's beliefs. Caring familial relationships are centered, and while sibling rivalry is a factor in their dynamic (Faye has more golemcrafting power than Shiloh), the two love and support each other above all.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lindsey Yankey. A little girl and her father explore his hometown of Isfahan in Iran. They visit the ruins of a fire temple at dawn and meet her father's friend in his Jewish neighborhood, then meet up with another friend near the centuries-old Vank church. At the city center, the girl is awed by the grand palace and mosques and reflects on how the "lace-shaped windows" of the mosque mirror the arcs in the synagogue, church, and temple. They make their way to her father's house, past the coppersmith's bazaar, where her father laughingly recalls childhood antics. At home, they are greeted by his grandmother and his former nanny, who shares some freshly baked sangak bread. Later, they sit down for a winter's meal of chicken and rice with walnut and pomegranate sauce before sleep and dreams take over. This nostalgic story is framed through Isfahan's historical monuments and the interiors of the father's house. The mixed-media illustrations are in a muted palette with bright pops of color -- tiles, fabrics, household decorations. A glimpse into the rich architecture, cuisine, and interreligious history of Iran, this is also an ode to a cherished childhood and a shared past with people of different faiths. An author's note makes personal connections; a glossary is also appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Genevieve Kote. When eight-year-old Rachel crosses the street by herself to rescue her cat, she breaks one of her dad’s rules. Her punishment is to miss her favorite gymnast’s show. In protest, Rachel breaks the rules at Shabbat services; afterwards, the rabbi helps Rachel (and her dad) learn that challenging and questioning rules is a very Jewish endeavor. This breezy first entry in a chapter-book series introduces an enthusiastic, funny, and proudly Jewish protagonist; interspersed black-and-white drawings add to the humor.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) PS Illustrated by Ana Zurita. "MARCH like a Maccabee -- stomping your feet! / SHAKE like the jelly in a doughnut treat." This board book dances through the details of Hanukkah, urging young listeners to spin like a dreidel and jump like a latke in a pan. Bold illustrations feature a diverse group of kids (and one mischievous cat) hippity-hopping their holiday hearts out amid Hanukkah treats, decorations, and spinning dreidels. A jaunty introduction to Hanukkah activities for the toddler set.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(1) YA "On a full moon night, after a day of fasting, the young bride Sorel Kalmans leapt from a window and left her life behind." Seventeen-year-old Sorel is betrothed to the rebbe's son, a rather milquetoast character, but something compels her to flee. That something turns out to be both her own impulse and an otherworldly force, which is revealed partway through this unique and absorbing novel. Disguised as a boy, she doubles back to her own pre-wedding "beggars' feast" and encounters a young peddler, Sam, who helps protect her from the city guards after a case of mistaken identity (or is it?) gone wrong. The two are joined by a third ally, revolution-minded Adela, in helping find the missing boy whom Sorel so resembles. There are many gripping twists and turns, along with dubious motivations, questions of faith and orthodoxy, friendship, identity (gender and otherwise) -- and a stolen book that was "written by an angel, with its own hand." Says Sam: "Paradise is a book...a place built of the same Hebrew letters that built the world. No book a human hand could write contains all of Paradise, but a book that captures even one chapter of it can change the world." In this worthy follow-up to When the Angels Left the Old Country (rev. 1/23), Lamb demonstrates a deep commitment to this heady idea while crafting another page-turning and un-put-downable narrative.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) YA Finn and Ezra, both thirteen, are destined to relive their bar mitzvah weekends, from Friday through Sunday afternoon, countless times. While their overlapping plights initially seem coincidental, as they progress through more and more inescapable loops, their stories become increasingly intertwined. On the surface, the boys are very different from each other, but through their trials trying to get to Monday, they discover commonalities and universal truths. Ezra's life within an insular Orthodox community is presented in contrast to Finn's more worldly outlook, and both boys grapple with judgment and occasionally with jealousy of each other. Many aspects of traditional Jewish life and culture are explained through the lens of Finn's encountering them for the first time, with a lightly informative rather than preachy approach. Themes of trust, friendship, family, and growing up are thoughtfully interspersed with madcap adventures involving physicists, bank heists, and elaborate lies. Ethical dilemmas within a fantastical premise nonetheless raise real questions about how adolescents can decide what kind of people they want to be. An unexpectedly poignant resolution offers the main characters a chance to prove that they made the most of their time, while not-so-subtly encouraging readers to do the same.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy. A young first-person narrator describes the steps of making challah with Ima (mother) and preparing for and enjoying Shabbat. The gentle text provides a welcome positive portrayal of the weekly family ritual of the Jewish day of rest. The soft palette of the mixed-media illustrations shifts gradually from pale purples to moonlit blues, creating a sense of Shabbat descending. An author’s note, challah recipe (of course!), and glossary of the Hebrew terms used throughout are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Siona Benjamin. The Bene Israel, one of the "three largest groups of Jews in India," arrived around 175 BCE. They were fleeing the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes just before "the Maccabean Revolt...better known as the story of Hanukkah." Lyons's tale begins with a nani (grandmother) telling her granddaughter about their ancestors' dangerous sea voyage. A storm hits, and there are few survivors; those who do make it are welcomed to Alibag, India, a place where people "had their own religions, but respected the new traditions brought from far away." Benjamin's sumptuous-hued mixed-media illustrations swirl with color and movement in this story of an underrepresented aspect of Jewish history.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024