(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

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shahar Kober. Engineer Ari drives a train to Jerusalem and back before Passover, picking up food for his seder plate from friends along the way. The meandering and wordy story doesn't have enough of a payoff (Ari falls asleep when he gets home), though the cheery illustrations depict a friendly, helpful community. An author's note introduces the historic Jaffa-to-Jerusalem railway. Glos.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shahar Kober. When Engineer Ari's train breaks down, he ends up in Modi'in ("The ancient home of the Maccabees...Where the miracle of Hanukkah began"). There he celebrates Hanukkah with Kalil, a Bedouin who offers to help. The text, while wordy, provides a fresh take on the story. Illustrations emphasize the lush greenery of a Middle Eastern winter. An author's note is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shahar Kober. Engineer Ari travels all over Israel gathering materials to build his sukkah. He's sad that his faraway friends can't be with him, until his neighborhood pals solve the problem (though it's questionable whether Ari's traditional community would dismantle a sukkah or travel during the holiday). Inviting pictures introduce readers to Ari's tight-knit group. An author's note discusses the Israeli railway. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jago. Nachshon, a Jewish slave, grows up longing for freedom and fearing only swimming. Moses helps him overcome his fear when the Israelites are forced to flee Egypt. Cohen's text is accessible, and Jago's illustrations in yellows, oranges, and browns dramatically convey the dry heat of the Egyptian desert.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shahar Kober. In 1892, Ari is chosen to drive the first train from Jaffa to Jersusalem at Rosh Hashanah. In his excitement and pride, he ignores two friends, which he later regrets. Ari returns to Jaffa as soon as possible to do teshuvah, the annual New Year's effort to do better. Cheerful illustrations accompany the pleasant but didactic text. With an author's note. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Dippold. A gentile grandfather tells his Jewish granddaughter the story of Jethro (Moses's Midianite father-in-law) and his Jewish grandson, Moses's son Gershom. The parallels between modern-day family and the biblical one are effective, but the storytelling is confusing. An author's note and the text itself promote the agenda of encouraging acceptance within interfaith families. Sand-color illustrations exude familial warmth.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Melanie Hall. If you like your creation story overly flowery, this book is for you. God works to put together a world that is crowned with the creation of a boy and girl. At the end of the sixth day, a tired but satisfied God offers a Shabbat blessing. The pastel-colored illustrations charting God's progress are filled with movement reflecting a fresh, ideal world.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman