(2) 4-6 In this novel set in 1973, all seventh grader Melanie wants is to be one of the popular Shimmers. As her best friend, Vicky, seems to be having more success achieving that goal than Melanie is, the sudden appearance of a new friend is welcome. New classmate Dorit was born in Israel and has moved from place to place, and she and Melanie discover they have a lot in common. In fact, each has a parent with symptoms of what the author's note identifies as PTSD -- Melanie's mother from a car accident and Dorit's father from fighting in the Six-Day War. The Shimmers are less than compassionate, and in an attempt to impress them, Melanie crosses a line in what she shares about Dorit and her family. The start of the Yom Kippur War believably heightens emotions, while Melanie's growing understanding of the Watergate scandal mirrors issues of trust among Melanie and her peers in this tale of friendship dynamics that doesn't reach for easy resolutions or immediate forgiveness.

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

(4) K-3 Translated by Nancy Wellins. Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia. In ancient Jerusalem, Itamar searches for a golden bell missing from a garment he’s helping to mend; in 2011, an archaeologist finds it. The ending is abrupt, and back matter would be useful to give context to the real-life find, but the book demonstrates the human stories behind archaeology. Smoothly translated text and cartoon-style illustrations add interest and bring the long-ago setting to life.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Illustrated by André Ceolin. During the Hanukkah season, Edgar finds a hamster left in his taxicab. He tells "Chickpea" all about his life in Tel Aviv (and shares hamster smartphone pix with his family back in Israel) and feels less lonesome while lighting the Hanukkah candles in his now not-quite-as-empty apartment. Edgar eventually finds the hamster's owners--and makes two more friends in the process. Warmhearted, unfussy illustrations keep this fanciful Hanukkah tale grounded in a contemporary city.

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

(3) 4-6 In 1986, eleven-year-old Molly travels with her parents and brother to Israel for a month over the summer. She's nervous about meeting her extended family, including her maternal grandparents who don't speak English, but she comes away with a better appreciation of her Jewish heritage. Detailed descriptions highlight the beauty and diversity of the country, along with occasional discussions of its challenges and conflicts.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chiara Fedele. Gilani-Williams adapts a traditionally male-centered folktale with both Jewish and Arab roots to focus on a Jewish woman (Yaffa) and a Muslim woman (Fatima), who are neighbors and friends. Both women's daily lives reveal their similarities and their compassion, particularly during a poor harvest. Fedele's evocative illustrations use texture and color (mainly red, blue, and brown) to introduce a distant land and distinct cultures.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(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

(3) YA This inclusive history of Jerusalem's Temple Mount and the Noble Sanctuary profiles its several incarnations as a holy place of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Beginning almost four thousand years ago, Cooper relates the site's convoluted, volatile history through objective text, black-and-white photographs, maps, and detailed architectural drawings. It's a valuable source for research or general enlightenment. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(2) YA In this Romeo and Juliet–inspired verse novel set in present-day Israel, teenagers Ronit (an Israeli girl) and Jamil (a Palestinian boy) meet while accompanying their fathers (a Jewish pharmacist and Muslim doctor, respectively) to an East Jerusalem clinic. First-person poems in various forms convey characters' curiosity, confusion, and desires; the protagonists have strikingly similar voices, requiring close reading. Supplementary information offers context.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Karla Gudeon. The story of Hebrew's rebirth as a modern language is told through the experience of lonely child Ben-Zion and his parents Eliezer and Devorah. Starting in the late 1800s, Eliezer revised Hebrew to reflect the modern world, developing a new dictionary and championing schools to teach Hebrew. A critical story of Jewish history illustrated with folk-style pen and watercolor art. Includes biographical and historical afterwords. Reading list.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(3) K-3 Photographs by Eliyahu Alpern. Tisha B'Av, a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of two ancient temples in Jerusalem, has "become a symbol of Jewish suffering and loss." With few children's books on the topic, this unique photo-essay focuses on contemporary children from a religious Israeli family, who visit the archaeological sites and learn about the temples and holiday practices. More about Tisha B'Av is appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Translated by Gilah Kahn-Hoffman. Three short episodes (originally published in Israel as separate books) detail Julie's adventures with her new puppy, her family, and classmates. American readers may be slightly discomfited by Julie's mother's brusque humor and the incessant, low-key bullying that Julie and her classmates endure; but Julie is a realistic kid, accepting of the idiosyncratic behavior of the people and animals in her life.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA The authors visited schools and community centers, interviewing young Palestinians about their lives under Israeli occupation. Children, teens, and twenty-somethings speak candidly about daily life; interests; and difficulties of living with checkpoints, security walls, and poor living conditions. Some context about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is provided, but this book concentrates on the Palestinian point of view. Small color photographs appear throughout. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Avi Ofer. Anticipation builds as young Uri and his grandmother travel through Tel Aviv to the first concert of what would become the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in December 1936. Back matter explains how, in response to the Nazis expelling Jews from orchestras, violinist Bronislaw Huberman brought seventy European Jewish musicians to perform. Loose illustrations, full of energy and movement, capture the bustle of this vibrant city and occasion.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) PS Shalom Sesame series. Illustrated by Tom Leigh. "Shalom everybodeee!" With this constant (quickly tiresome) greeting, Grover writes emails to his Sesame Street friends about his travels in Israel: climbing Masada, wishing at the Western Wall, floating in the Dead Sea, etc. The writing approximates Grover's enthusiastic speaking style ("Is that not totally awesome?"), and the bright, flat illustrations ("photos" of Grover enjoying himself) showcase the country's geographical diversity.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. Shmulik is asked to paint a mural celebrating Israeli Independence Day. He struggles to find inspiration, and while he is exploring the wonders of his town, his dog paints a masterpiece. The pictures tell their own story and alternate strategically between black-and-white and color. Unfortunately, both text and illustrations often miss opportunities to depict a specifically Israeli setting.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tamar Blumenfeld. With Asher Naim. Ethiopian boy Yosef dreams that a giant eagle will fly his Jewish family to a new home; they're soon brought to Israel by airplane, his eagle come to life. This is an engaging fictionalized recollection of Operation Solomon, which in 1991 brought fourteen thousand Ethiopian Jews to Israel in two days, with (coauthor) Ambassador Naim's assistance. Blumenfeld's stylized paintings add specificity.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Flea, part of a first-century Jerusalem street gang, witnesses the arrival, public reception, and crucifixion of "Magician" Yeshua in a retelling that casts Jesus and Judas in new light. Flea's brutally conveyed desperation is a compelling backdrop for the well-paced narrative, which is skillfully built from the source material, but anachronistic dialogue ("Look, lady...") and a passive protagonist tend to undercut both believability and impact.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(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

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter in each book often highlights a holiday or festival (Israel includes a minor error). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: India, Israel, The Philippines, China, Japan, and Vietnam.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Goodreau. In this retelling of the classic Aesop's fable, the animals' contest runs throughout Israel, from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea as their finish line. Along the way, Hare frolics in olive groves, buys dried apricots, and enjoys a falafel. The occasional Hebrew word appears both in the text and Goodreau's stylish illustrations. A map shows the animals' course through the country.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth