(2) K-3 Illustrated by Fede Combi. Lehman-Wilzig and Prinz set their story during Hanukkah 1773 in the American colonies, centering ­Sephardic New England Jews. Protagonist ­Joshua's friend Isaac and his family have meager resources to celebrate Janucá (the Spanish name for Hanukkah), but innovation from Joshua, and chocolate (an alternative to tea!) imported by Joshuas father and his crew, provide help. The Boston Tea Party actually took place on the last night of Hanukkah; the somewhat lengthy text draws connections between the colonists' "fight for freedom" and the ­Maccabees'. The muted palette of Combi's digital-looking illustrations lends a historic feel. Back ­matter provides more information about Hanukkah, the Boston Tea Party, and early ­American Sephardic Jews--and, of course, recipes.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Greg Harlin. Krensky's Revolutionary War–set Hanukkah tale, based on a historical anecdote and featuring General George Washington learning about the holiday from an unnamed Jewish soldier, has been modestly revised from its 2006 edition, with small edits and a new appended author's note. A Sydney Taylor Book Award winner, the story, which draws parallels between the Maccabees and the Continental Army, is illustrated with watercolor paintings both somber and luminous, reflecting the struggles for freedom--and the light of Hanukkah.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse. Food-truck owner Big Larry (an alligator) has always sold latkes made from Grandma Golda Gator's recipe, but this year he decides to try new flavors. The farmers' market provides options, but his peach-, turnip-, and Camembert-based latkes are each missing a key ingredient. Never fear: he comes to his senses, and the results are a delicious innovation in fusion dining. A well-metered text and friendly, cartoonish digital illustrations make for an inviting story of mixing old and new. Back matter gives brief, miracle-focused information about the holiday as well as a recipe for latkes--with fresh rainbow salsa.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) PS Illustrated by Christine Grove. "Today is Friday. On Fridays I wait...and wait...and wait." A boy eagerly anticipates the arrival of Shabbat as his family members grocery shop, buy flowers, do laundry, and cook. Finally, when the sun goes down and everyone sits down for a festive meal, "Shabbat is here." The cheery illustrations depict a perpetually smiling, interracial family enjoying their holiday preparations.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Koffsky retells the biblical story of Creation through the colors of each new day. "In the beginning there was nothing," and the accompanying illustrations are shades of gray and black. On day six, God created people, and "soon there were many, many more in every shade and hue." Koffsky's textural, layered cut-paper collages give readers a new perspective on a familiar story.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS "BROTHER, SISTER, / FRIENDSHIP faces, / faces of all RACES and PLACES, / we are JEWISH faces." A scrapbook-like format features bright photographs and lilting rhymes depicting the diversity of Jewish people--of various ages, skin colors, abilities, etc.--and highlighting some of their special occasions. Most of the faces are smiling ones; the "just-BRISSED" baby is (thankfully) asleep.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) K-3 Photographs by Eliyahu Alpern. "Did you ever wonder HOW a menorah is made?" Ofanansky spotlights three artists working with different materials to craft menorahs; she also highlights a candle-maker and explores the olive oil–harvesting process. The conversational text provides history and details about Hanukkah and presents simple tips young readers can use to make their own menorahs, dreidels, and holiday treats. Vivid photographs in a scrapbook-like format engagingly capture the hands-on details.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Margeaux Lucas. In 1930s Germany, women's roles were clearly defined and being a rabbi wasn't an option. But Regina Jonas charted her own path and became the first female rabbi. This powerful picture-book biography deftly addresses sexism, anti-Semitism, and changing societal attitudes. The muted illustrations depict Jonas as a powerful and inspiring figure. An afterword provides historical context.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bob McMahon. A prolonged case of the hiccups has Hannah worried about her solo at her school's Hanukkah program. She tries various cures suggested by a multicultural group of neighbors in her building. Nothing helps, and she performs in spite of her hiccups. On the final night of Hanukkah, while celebrating with neighbors, the hiccups stop. The story is slight but amusing; the muted-color illustrations show Hannah's family's holiday activities.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Andre Ceolin. Jacob is devoted to his Little League team--and also to his family's practice of Judaism. When the championship game lands on Yom Kippur, Jacob is torn between whether to play ball or observe the solemn holiday. Although he does make the expected choice (synagogue), his decision-making is believably complex. Cheery illustrations show the various diverse and dynamic "teams" to which Jacob belongs.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gina Capaldi. Recently arrived Russian immigrant Jacob invites his new friend Benito to his family's first Passover Seder in Argentina, a meal that must overcome a few mishaps. The plot is thin, but both the text and realistic full-page gouache paintings convey the warmth of the ceremonial spring meal, and of the new friendship. An author's note discusses nineteenth-century Russian Jewish immigration to Argentina.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Starr. Jewish giant Samson bakes an enormous challah for Rosh Hashanah and in the process creates some U.S. landmarks (e.g., his mixing bowl is the freshly dug Grand Canyon). "Big Sam" also repairs some natural environments he damaged while baking (after all, the Jewish New Year is about "mending the world") before celebrating with figures from American folklore. Lush paintings illustrate this entertaining if overtly instructive holiday tall tale.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Beth Bogert. Three goblins torment a town by tangling children's hair. The children, all with challah-related punny names (e.g., Franklin Frenchtoast, Dana Dipitinsoup), work together to trick the goblins and trap them in twisted dough, creating the challah. An author's note discusses challah's connection to Jewish traditions, something the twee narrative doesn't make clear. The pastel-toned illustrations give the story a dreamy, folktale-like look.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Talitha Shipman. A contemporary little boy named Judah tries to be the "best and bravest" brother (like Judah Maccabee, the hero of Hanukkah) for his baby sister--but she isn't interested in the block tower he builds, the cereal he offers, etc. When he needs a shot that will protect them both, he finds inner and outer courage. Colorful illustrations show a warm and loving family at Hanukkah.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Photographs by Eliyahu Alpern. This book focuses on the steps of and rules for making matzo by hand or by machine. A few spreads give broader context about Passover; some layouts include more elements than necessary. Text and photos acknowledge differences within the Jewish community, and activities encourage readers to make matzo or other Passover-related items (some of which require adult supervision unmentioned in the text).

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steliyana Doneva. The rabbi author writes a midrash "that 'fills in the gaps' of Torah"--in this case, Genesis. Adam names the animals, including unfamiliar species, in alphabetical order; some are amusingly dissatisfied with their names. At book's end, "lonely" Adam meets Eve, and "off they went, hand in hand." Brown-skinned and black-haired Adam and Eve appear rather cartoonish while the animals are more realistic although not to scale.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dave Mottram. Grubman riffs on the Jewish folktale about the overcrowded house (à la Zemach's It Could Always Be Worse) and "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe." The clever retelling mostly works, but some of the rhymes are a stretch. Energetic cartoon illustrations show thirteen children, two parents, and farm animals bouncing off the walls--of the shoe.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mónica Gutierrez. Little Red Rosie is baking challah for Rosh Hashanah, and Toucan, Parrot, and Hornbill enthusiastically offer to help with every step (unlike the characters in the story's presumed inspiration, "The Little Red Hen"). The text, in which Rosie patiently encourages the birds, is tedious and saccharine, but the bright illustrations add humor by showing Rosie's well-meaning helpers making a huge mess.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Lumer. This straightforward retelling of the Old Testament story about the origin of languages explores faith and human pride. Remembering the recent flood, the people of Babel build a tower so high they grow arrogant and are punished with erasure of common language. The resulting misunderstandings are depicted humorously in the detailed illustrations, which feature non-English speech balloons (with translations) as the diversely rendered people scatter.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Photographs by Eliyahu Alpern. This book honors both tradition and modernity by looking at the many different ways that Torah scrolls are made and used--artistically, historically, textually, and religiously. The text is organized around specific tasks and the artisans involved; activities and questions encourage readers to further their understanding. Page layouts are slightly haphazard, but the photographs mirror the diversity of the Jewish people.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth