(2) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Smart. This book opens at a suspenseful point in its subject's story: "Even with war raging around them [in 1995], the people of Sarajevo were worrying about a book." The text then flashes back and gives the history of a hand-painted, hand-lettered Haggadah (guide for the Passover seder) given as a wedding gift in Spain around 1350 and passed from generation to generation and place to place. It survived the Spanish Inquisition...and scribbles and wine spills...before being sold to the National Museum in Sarajevo in 1894. Strauss spotlights the ways the rare Haggadah became "everybody's treasure"; e.g., a Muslim curator and a Catholic museum director each had a hand in protecting it from the Nazis. Her accessible text clearly explains key moments in the book's sweeping history. Smart's illustrations portray these moments with varied compositions and perspectives, keeping pages turning. In addition to depictions of the Haggadah itself, occasional borders nod at its intricate design. Source notes or other more extensive back matter (beyond the brief author's note) would have enhanced this title, but it serves as an engaging introduction to a volume with a remarkable history.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) K-3 Framing the book as an autobiographical recollection, Raschka provides a guide to "Saint Spotting," a sort of game he and his mother would play while visiting a (saints-having) Christian church and looking for the images of saints throughout. For each of the thirty-plus saints shown in small, icon-like watercolor vignettes, Raschka provides a thumbnail, child-friendly description of how the saint is generally portrayed ("Saint Nicholas's symbol is three bags of gold, which he gave to the poor") and why he or she is remembered ("Our story of Santa Claus comes from him"). While the tone is always gentle and devout, Raschka is honest about the gruesome appeal of some of the hagiographical detail, such as Saint Lucy's eyes on a ­platter and Saint Sebastian's piercings ("Saint Sebastian was always my favorite, because he's easy to spot"). When the narrator and his mother get to the front of the church and the images of Jesus and Mary, Raschka explains the Crucifixion well enough but, oddly, omits any mention or image of the Resurrection. But the book is respectful, agreeably idiosyncratic, and conveys much of the mystery of a space deemed sacred. The tall and narrow orientation of the volume suggests both a church spire and a tourist's guidebook and definitely invites opening.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(3) PS Illustrated by Hatem Aly. "As-salaamu Alaykum!" Young readers are welcomed to a mosque brimming with faithful family, friends, and community. A child narrator tells us about the people, sights, and sounds encountered in their mosque; engaging digital illustrations incorporate scans of ink washes, textures, and patterns that add culturally meaningful detail to the colorful scenes. Both text and art convey some tenets of Islam and emphasize the mosque's role as a place for faith and celebration. An author's note provides some more information; an annotated list of historic mosques around the world might inspire further research. A glossary and source list are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 DePaola distills the Nativity story of the Three Wise Men in this gorgeous book first published in 1983, the sumptuous acrylic paintings glowing with blues, greens, and pinks. A brief text follows kings Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar as they discover and follow a new, unfamiliar star; consult with the malign Herod; proceed to Bethlehem to deliver their gifts to the baby Jesus; and then, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, return to their home countries. An informative note describes the evolution of the story, beginning with its first, detail-less written account in the Gospel of Matthew (the names and number of the Wise Men were added later). A welcome reissue of another title in dePaola's copious Christmas oeuvre.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(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 Illustrated by Mélanie Florian. Marcy's excited to be the question-asker at her Passover seder, since "she knew a lot about questions. She asked them all the time." But her four questions--e.g., "Are worms kosher for Passover?"--aren't what her family expected. It's a gentle misunderstanding with a satisfying resolution; cartoonlike, emotive illustrations capture Marcy's enthusiasm. The actual Four Questions (and their answers) are included.

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

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lisa Aisato. This is a lyrical meditation on Christ's birth, told by His mother Mary as the newborn sleeps in her arms. "Can you believe it? God's anointed one upon my breast, with milk, just there, at the corner of his tiny mouth." Although unduly ponderous for a picture-book audience, the text reads aloud beautifully, and the watery, speckled illustrations convey the humble humanity of mother and Child alike.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sonya Abby Soekarno. Accompanied by colorful cartoonlike illustrations, half-page first-person narratives introduce fifteen Old and New Testament women, including Eve, Hagar, Miriam, and Mary Magdalene. Each entry ends with the refrain: "God did great things for me--and I did great things for God." The relevant biblical verse is taken from the New International Version. The whole is slight, but religious or home settings may find this useful.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniele Fabbri. Bezalel, an Israelite slave in Ancient Egypt, collects unusual things. When the Exodus begins, the boy insists on bringing his Beautiful Things Box with him. When God asks Moses to build a mishkan, a house filled with beautiful things, Bezalel is the only one ready to provide treasures. Soft paintings convey a sense of wonder in this unusual retelling of a biblical story (discussed in the author's note).

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(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

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ellen Kahan Zager. The Jewish creation story is retold in simple rhyming verses (for example, Day Six concludes: "Creatures that slither and crawl and alight, / Beasts that run wild and howl in the night"). The inventive illustrations use the Hebrew letters that name each object, animal, or person in the text as design elements. An excellent glossary shows the images, the English words, the transliterations, and the original Hebrew words.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA Understanding World Religions and Beliefs series. These primers take on each faith's history, beliefs, politics, and contemporary issues. The well-designed, accessible volumes include plenty of photos and other images; the series' broad scope results in a few errors (Judaism doesn't mention Halacha (Jewish law) or the Shulchan Aruch, which codifies the law; Christianity conflates communion with confirmation in the Catholic Church). Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding World Religions and Beliefs titles: Understanding Christianity, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Hinduism, Understanding Buddhism, Understanding the Nonreligious, Understanding Scientology, Understanding Islam, Understanding Sikhism, and Understanding Judaism.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(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

(3) 4-6 Orca Origins series. This introduction to Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and prayer, balances information with personal stories and uses a variety of visual storytelling techniques (sidebars, pull-out quotes, recipes, etc.). Mindfulness of cultural nuances ("there really is no such thing as a single 'Muslim world'"); a chatty, down-to-earth narrative voice; and an attractive, photo-heavy design make the volume both informative and engaging. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Xanthe Bouma. Because his father is king, Sid's every wish is granted, but he still isn't happy. Going up the mountain to find happiness, Sid experiences a change in perspective when he lives in the moment and enjoys the deliciousness of a strawberry. Digital illustrations with doe-eyed, Disney-esque characters accompany this fanciful (unsourced) adaptation of Buddhist lore. Includes a brief note on "Siddhārtha Gautama aka the Buddha."

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey