(2) PS In this eight-nights-of-Hanukkah counting book, Silberberg (Meet the Latkes, rev. 11/18) simplifies his signature absurdity for the board book set. Latkes celebrate and count with anthropomorphized applesauce, which argues with the sour cream; dreidels who “drop by, dizzy”; and sufganiyot who are “full of joy (and jelly).” Illustrations are bold and color-saturated (one includes dreidel letters out of order). Loose-lined latkes’ expressive eyes show them as variously rapt or overwhelmed by it all. An intro to Hanukkah that’s sure to grab the attention of small...fry.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 A family of anthropomorphized latkes decorates the house, spins dreidels, and quibbles over spelling the holiday's name. Then Grandpa tells the story of Hanukkah/Chanukah/CHHanukah, and things get really kooky. Amid frenetic silliness, there's helpful information: dog Applesauce's speech-bubble interjections set everyone straight. Illustrations of goggle-eyed potato pancakes are expectedly cartoonish; images of, say, "tater tyrants" shooting lasers are appropriately childlike. An absurd mishmash that miraculously works. Glos.

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

(3) 4-6 Best friends Matt and Craz enjoy creating cartoons together but wish their work got more attention. Things start to look up when they obtain a magical pen that brings their drawings to life, though the mysterious power soon leads to serious complications for the boys--and all of Kilgore Junior High. Fittingly, small cartoon illustrations help tell this imaginative and humorous story.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Milo is starting seventh grade at a new school. He's also beginning to deal with his mother's death a few years earlier; slipped in among droll descriptions of everyday life (e.g., lunch seating, the hell of gym class) are poignant memories. Leavened with wry cartoons throughout, it's a rich and real story of grief and growing up.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2010