(4) PS Illustrated by Helen Poole. For each letter of the alphabet, this picture book introduces a Passover-themed concept and poses a rhymed question about it; the accompanying illustration provides multiple-choice options or a related puzzle. Ordering the elements alphabetically (for a holiday that's very much concerned with chronological order) makes the text disjointed, though it's useful as review for readers already familiar with Passover.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) PS Shalom Sesame series. Illustrated by Tom Leigh. "Shalom everybodeee!" With this constant (quickly tiresome) greeting, Grover writes emails to his Sesame Street friends about his travels in Israel: climbing Masada, wishing at the Western Wall, floating in the Dead Sea, etc. The writing approximates Grover's enthusiastic speaking style ("Is that not totally awesome?"), and the bright, flat illustrations ("photos" of Grover enjoying himself) showcase the country's geographical diversity.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) PS Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas. A girl enumerates her boo-boos, one through ten; when she's finished, her mom treats each one in reverse order. The rhymes are sharp ("My tongue is 7. It feels awful! / I burned it on a toaster waffle"), and the art, while unremarkable, relays the young character's believable versatility: she's frills and fairy wings up top, shorts and high-tops below.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Helen Poole. "It's Hanukkah from A to Z / An alphabet of things to see." Rhyming couplets loosely describe Hanukkah's story and traditions, from King Antiochus to bedtime "Zzzzzzzzz." The format is too constrained to impart significant information about the holiday, but kids will get a cursory introduction. Bright illustrations featuring pink-cheeked, Rugrats-looking children playing with dreidels and making latkes accompany the text.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) PS Shalom Sesame series. Illustrated by Tom Leigh. Sesame Street characters in Israel relate two stories involving doing good deeds. In Mitzvah, Grover and friends clean up a playground after a storm, though Moishe the grouch hesitates to participate. In Passover, Big Bird joins Grover and learns about Passover as they do mitzvot en route to a seder. The tone is un-preachy and preschoolers will recognize the friendly cast of characters. Review covers these Shalom Sesame titles: Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration and It's a Mitzvah, Grover!.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) PS Shalom Sesame series. Illustrated by Tom Leigh. Sesame Street characters in Israel relate two stories involving doing good deeds. In Mitzvah, Grover and friends clean up a playground after a storm, though Moishe the grouch hesitates to participate. In Passover, Big Bird joins Grover and learns about Passover as they do mitzvot en route to a seder. The tone is un-preachy and preschoolers will recognize the friendly cast of characters. Review covers these Shalom Sesame titles: Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration and It's a Mitzvah, Grover!.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jago. This retelling of "Jonah and the Great Fish" uses contemporary language ("That Nineveh's a horror show") in sometimes-awkward rhyming lines. The refrain, "Oh no, Jonah!" allows listeners to chime in as Jonah continually fights God's will. Jago's art brings biblical characters, the desert, the sea, and a giant fish to life in electrifying colors. This may be useful for religious instruction.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) PS Illustrated by Tom Leigh. Grover and the Count star, with Israeli friends Avigail and Brosh, in this Shalom Sesame celebration of Hanukkah. Friends and family come together to light the menorah, feast on latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and listen to a retelling of the Hanukkah story. Bright illustrations complement the text, which features a successful imitation of Grover's singsong cadence. Bold-face numbers emphasize the Count's favorite pastime.

Reviewer: Allison Cole | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Harrington. Rhyming text recounts the Maccabees' stand for religious freedom; clever moments balance out some preachy ones. The text works better to reinforce the story for celebrants than to introduce it to readers of other faiths. Appropriately for the Festival of Lights, Harrington's use of light is the illustrations' greatest strength.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax