(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

(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(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

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Seven-year-old Sofia's enthusiasm can have unexpected results for her Hispanic American family, such as when she won't stop singing (Superstar) or when she mistakes salt for sugar while cooking arroz con leche (Recipe). Smith's color illustrations make Sofia's energy endearing, but the stories are weakened when they are resolved too easily. Spanish phrases peppered liberally throughout (in pink font) are defined in glossaries. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Secret Recipe and Singing Superstar.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Seven-year-old Sofia's enthusiasm can have unexpected results for her Hispanic American family, such as when she won't stop singing (Superstar) or when she mistakes salt for sugar while cooking arroz con leche (Recipe). Smith's color illustrations make Sofia's energy endearing, but the stories are weakened when they are resolved too easily. Spanish phrases peppered liberally throughout (in pink font) are defined in glossaries. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Secret Recipe and Singing Superstar.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Whether Sofia is saving the day with the board games she packed for the (rainy) beach trip or finding a unique way to illuminate her family's house during a power outage, the young Hispanic American girl "always make[s] things interesting." Still, Sofia's spunk and cleverness aren't really enough to raise the stakes in these lightweight stories. Spanish phrases are peppered liberally throughout. Glos. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Beach Trip and Lights Out.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Whether Sofia is saving the day with the board games she packed for the (rainy) beach trip or finding a unique way to illuminate her family's house during a power outage, the young Hispanic American girl "always make[s] things interesting." Still, Sofia's spunk and cleverness aren't really enough to raise the stakes in these lightweight stories. Spanish phrases are peppered liberally throughout. Glos. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Beach Trip and Lights Out.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. Freddie outgrows his original super-powered sneakers, and he has to leave for New York before he can test out his new pair (and his new powers). In NYC, the big surprise Uncle Jorge is planning goes awry; can Freddie's zapato powers help? The introduction of new powers and new characters helps freshen up this sixth chapter book in the Zapato Power series.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. When a snowstorm hits, Freddie Ramos is happy to use his Zapato Power to help clear the snow, but he is less happy about helping a neighborhood bully when her grandmother's purse is stolen. Some arbitrary subplots distract from the main story of this fifth installment, but Freddie's super-powered sneakers remain an entertaining premise and black-and-white cartoons support the light tone.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Judy Stead. A series of accidents prevents Dina and her family, who've just moved, from celebrating Rosh Hashanah with their former neighbors. Luckily, a new family invites them to dinner after services, making them feel welcome. The be-nice-to-your-neighbor message, reinforced by friendly illustrations, is noble but unsubtle; kids may enjoy reciting the book's exasperated refrain (also the title). An explanation of the holiday is included.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. In his fourth book, young Freddie Ramos, whose special sneakers give him super powers, loses then retrieves his magic footwear, stands up to a thief/bully, and learns to swim. The story elements don't fit together seamlessly, but they all add up to a mildly entertaining, small-scale adventure. Black-and-white illustrations (including two spreads of simple cartoon-panel art) support the story's light tone.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Melmon. Sara and Carly become fast friends after meeting at Camp Shalom. That is, until Sara thinks Carly has made fun of her last name (Frankfurter) and subsequently ignores her. At a Shabbat singing session, Carly reveals her own meat-related surname, and the friendship is restored. The very slight, if warmhearted, story is accompanied by friendly cartoon illustrations featuring emotive, big-round-headed campers.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. Freddie Ramos, kid superhero with super-speedy shoes, is back for his third adventure. He has a new pair of silver goggles to help him solve the mystery of a strange squirrel. He also saves a trainload of people from crashing. Though the story can be hard to follow, the series continues to have appeal, especially for young Latino boys.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. In his second story, superhero kid Freddie Ramos--who's faster than a train when he dons his purple sneakers, ready to help his neighbors--embarks on another series of episodic adventures. Large font, first-person text (though it can be stilted) and cartoon action will attract young readers to this Hispanic-themed superhero story.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Natascia Ugliano. As Bezalel watches his grandmother Miriam (Moses' sister) comfort the Israelites on their trek through the desert, he draws pictures in the sand that extend or amplify Miriam's words and deeds. As a result, he's chosen to design and fashion the Holy Ark. Readers familiar with the Exodus story will appreciate this accessible and enjoyable interpretation illustrated with flowing desert-hued pictures.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Miguel Benítez. Freddie Ramos receives a pair of special sneakers that give him super speed. He uses this power to retrieve a classmate's lunch, identify the perpetrator of graffiti, and ultimately discover the source of the shoes themselves. With its cartoon-style black-and-white illustrations and mostly breezy text, this book is tailor-made for the chapter book set.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham