(1) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Gal. It's Zachary's baby sister's first Shabbat, and the whole family is on their way to the synagogue for her naming ceremony. As they bump into people throughout their diverse neighborhood, a sweet pattern emerges: a neighbor asks the baby's name; Zachary is bursting to tell, but the family answers with a nickname (e.g., "Little Babka"), since her real name won't be announced until the ceremony; the neighbor is then invited along. At the ceremony itself, in which Zachary plays an active role, the happy suspense culminates in the reveal of an aptly chosen name. This welcome, positive, inclusive story (the family is interracial and has two mothers) portrays a child infectiously excited about a new sister and about a Jewish ritual. Vibrant illustrations depict a synagogue bathed in warmth and light through stained-glass windows and a cheerful neighborhood complete with palm trees and colorful flora; even a rainstorm doesn't break the joyful mood. An author's note discusses the varied traditions around Jewish baby-naming ceremonies.

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

(3) YA After her father's death, New Yorker Ruth moves with her mother and younger sister to Mom's hometown, Atlanta. It's 1958, and Ruth takes to the debutante scene. Unfortunately she must hide her Jewishness (Dad was Jewish; Mom converted)--until a synagogue bombing forces the issue. Carlton paints a vivid portrait of time, place, and family. An appended author's note elaborates on the story's inspiration.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Photographs by Tod Cohen. While their parents are in services on Saturday mornings, preschoolers enjoy having fun at "Shabbat Club." They play with toys, listen to stories, hold stuffed-toy Torahs, and say the blessings over a Shabbat snack. Clear photographs of adorable children accompany the text. The book's joyful portrayal of Judaism makes it a good choice for inclusion in a synagogue or home library. Glos.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Podwal tells of a place on a hill in Prague "where, stone by stone, the angels built a synagogue": the Old-New (or Altneuschul) Synagogue, the oldest in Europe. Poetic text, accompanied by dramatic acrylic, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations in shades of orange, red, and blue, emphasizes the legends and history surrounding the place of worship. An author's note provides more detail. Bib.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman