Children’s / Teenage general interest: Celebrations, holidays, festivals

Book SynopsisThis title introduces readers to different days that families celebrate. Simple text, fun pictures, and a photo glossary make this title the perfect introduction to family celebrations.

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Book SynopsisThis title introduces readers to different days that families celebrate. Simple text, fun pictures, and a photo glossary make this title the perfect introduction to family celebrations.

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Book SynopsisCount along with Ten Little Reindeer and watch as they disappear! Ten little reindeer as the Christmas lights shine, along came a snowman and then there were…nine! Learning to count has never been more fun. This unique board book counts from ten little reindeer all the way down to one with adorable illustrations. With each page, one more reindeer disappears. To demonstrate this concept, this book uses tactile reindeer buttons to help children count how many little reindeer are left as the story progresses. Follow along with the easy rhythm and rhymes of this story and let your child touch the colorful, built-in reindeer toys for a creative, hands-on approach to counting. Start young ones on a lifetime of loving reading and learning with Ten Little Reindeer.

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Book Synopsis"A sweet and compassionate introduction to an important Jewish custom." --Kirkus ReviewsSydney Taylor Notable Book Award.Sara watches from her apartment window as her mom goes to work. One day, she sees an old man pick up a bruised apple from the discarded pile next to Sol’s Market. Why would he do that? She wonders if he’s hungry, as she eats her own breakfast. She wonders if he’s lonely, as she shares Shabbat dinner with Mom and Grandma. As Hanukkah approaches, a season of light and hope, Sara discovers that tzedakah can be as bright and colorful as a Hanukkah cookie with sprinkles.Trade ReviewA little girl watches a poor man take a bruised apple from the market's discard pile and finds a way to help him. Sara's keen observation from her apartment window makes her wonder if the man is hungry all the time and if he might need a friend. In school, she keeps thinking about him, and at snack time, she saves her cookie to leave by the discard fruit bin the next day. At the oneg Shabbat after services on Friday, Sara recognizes the man eating challah and drinking grape juice. She then creates and leaves a Hanukkah goody bag complete with a homemade menorah, latkes, and cookies. When the rabbi tells her that his name is Morris and that he lives alone and helps each Friday with setting up for the reception, Sara then decides to invite him for a Shabbat and Hanukkah dinner. The importance of tzedakah, or giving to those less fortunate, is the overlying theme in this gentle story about generosity and caring for others, something to be mindful of each Shabbat and on Hanukkah. Full-bleed paintings show exaggerated and elongated cartoon-style figures living in an ethnically diverse urban neighborhood. Many scenes are viewed from below, offering a child's perspective, and light and shadows from a sunny window are also some of the many artistic details that give this narrative depth. A sweet and compassionate introduction to an important Jewish custom. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8) --Kirkus Reviews Oftentimes, stories about giving tzedakah (charity) are heavy-handed and pedantic, then along comes a jewel of a story that shows how this mitzvah enriches the giver as well as the receiver. The lively acrylic illustrations are filled with whimsy and humor. With varying perspectives and an appealing layout, Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles is a book that will give pleasure many times over. A Note for Families about the story of Hanukkah and its customs is included at the back. --AJL Reviews, Anne Dublin, author of 44 Hours or Strike

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Book SynopsisNational Jewish Book Award Finalist!Church and Synagogue Library Association Award For Children's Literature“an assured comic rhythm” –Publisher’s WeeklyFarmer Kobi's well-mannered animals try hard to charm a haughty Hanukkah guest. Farmer Kobi’s goats, donkey, and sheep know just how to play host, and they give Polly, Kobi’s Hanukkah guest, a gracious welcome. But when Polly isn’t sure animals belong in a house, what will happen next? Find out with laugh-out-loud pictures and puns that are sure to entertain all readers. As donkey says: Hee-Haw-Yahoo!Trade ReviewOnce upon a time in modern Israel, there lived a handsome farmer named Kobi. He has an impressive spread of land in the moshav (a cooperative farming community) and doting animal friends, yet he yearns to find his perfect match. Farmer Kobi and the animals have high hopes for their Hanukkah dinner guest, but fashionista Polly is not cut out for a life in which animals eagerly involve themselves in everything from serving food to handing out Hanukkah song sheets ( Shouldn't you animals be outside chasing things? she sneers). This being a rom-com, however, true love is waiting in the wings. There s a surfeit of groan-worthy animal punning (Her name was Polly Ester she was a faaake, baaed the sheep ), but the scenes between Polly and the animals have an assured comic rhythm, and Decker s stylish, editorial watercolors handle the anthropomorphic interspecies humor with aplomb. Ages 4 8. --Publisher's Weekly

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Book Synopsis“Sweet, endearing, colorful illustrations bring out the humor in the actions of the puppy, who is clearly loved as an equal member of his young family.” – Kirkus ReviewsKayla loves having Passover seder with her family and her dog, Kugel—even though he almost spills the grape juice, makes a mess of the matzah, and takes off with the afikoman! This story touches on the highlights of the Passover seder with warmth and humor.An author note at the end explores how Passover songs can lift our spirits and help us imagine how our great-, great-, great-, great-, great- (lots of greats) grandparents felt when they became free. Discussion prompts help children relate the ideas to their own lives.Trade ReviewKayla welcomes young readers into her home for a typical Passover Seder while contending with the antics of her frisky puppy, Kugel.Kayla is busy getting ready for the dinner and briefly points out some of the key aspects of the holiday, while Kugel’s eagerness to participate has him almost spilling the grape juice, making a mess with the matzah, and stealing the afikomen as soon as Kayla finds it hidden under an easy chair. After the four questions are asked, the story told, and the special foods eaten, a somber-looking Kugel makes sure to remind Kayla that the Seder is not complete without the best part, the concluding songs. As in the introductory Kayla and Kugel (2015), which highlighted Shabbat, it is the family pet that provides both comic relief and a way to keep the central theme on track. Sweet, endearing, colorful illustrations bring out the humor in the actions of the puppy, who is clearly loved as an equal member of his young family. A simple glossary and author’s note with suggestions for simple discussion and some downloadable activities are included.A good basic introduction for the youngest attendees. (Picture Book. 3-5) – Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisA beautiful Sukkot picture book about friendship and community.“Delightful” –David Adler, author of the popular Cam Jansen seriesLeah lives high up in an apartment building overlooking the city and dreams of having a sukkah of her own. But there's no place to build it. With some help from the neighbors, Leah and her friend Ari find a way to have their own sukkah — on the roof.Includes a note for families about the Jewish value of kehilla (community).Trade Review​“Sky-High Sukkah is a delightful story of how good deeds can bring people together. I look forward to reading it to my grandchildren.” -- David A. Adler, author of the popular Cam Jansen mystery series and many other books, including Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles

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Book SynopsisA bouncy, colorful picture book by award-winning author Eric Kimmel for Rosh Hashanah.“A beautiful retelling with a kinder, more inclusive ending.” –Midwest Book ReviewIn this playful version of The Little Red Hen, a young girl enlists her animal friends to help make the challah for Rosh Hashanah.The whole diverse neighborhood joins in the Rosh Hashanah celebration at the end of the story, emphasizing the universality of our resolve to build a better world in the new year.Trade Review"Little Red Rosie" is the delightful retelling of the story of the little red hen, with a Rosh Hashanah twist. [It is] a beautiful retelling of an old children's tale with a kinder, more inclusive ending. Rosh Hashanah is honored and celebrated by the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, or welcoming guests. The universality of Rosh Hashanah is emphasized as Rosie and her friends wish everyone a good year to come!"- Midwest Book Review

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Book Synopsis“... the idea of Shabbat being a time to get together, eat, and sing songs is transferred wonderfully to the reader and would be enjoyed by young readers as they learn the greeting "Shabbat Shalom." – Rinat Hadad Siegel, Sydney Taylor ShmoozeFollow a group of babies and toddlers as they celebrate Shabbat and learn the greeting Shabbat Shalom.Sharon Ng's colorful illustrations emphasize baby faces and show the diversity of our Jewish community.Trade Review"In the vein of the legendary board books by Helen Oxenbury." --Susan Kusel on The Book of Life PodcastShabbat Shalom is part of a collection of four board books for very young children, which also includes Start the Day, A New Week, and Time for Bed. This particular title welcomes the reader into Shabbat with a cover showcasing children cheerfully eating and drinking while wearing bibs that say, "Shabbat Shalom."The reader meets toddlers who participate in Shabbat rituals like lighting candles and eating challah. Basic Shabbat vocabulary is introduced, as well as the Hebrew (transliterated) words "Saba" for grandfather and "Savta" for grandmother. I was thrilled to see the toddlers blessed by their parents with the Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim), a customary blessing for Friday night, which is not often portrayed in children's books. The illustrations are bright and contemporary. We can find a modern challah cover, and bibs of different colors with Jewish symbols and wording. The characters have a variety of skin tones, adding welcome diversity. The overall experience is cheery with a joyful simple rhyme, and depicts a happy and inclusive communal Shabbat experience.I was confused by the lack of a spread dedicated to the Kiddush, as we moved from lighting the candles straight to the challahs. However, the idea of Shabbat being a time to get together, eat, and sing songs is transferred wonderfully to the reader and would be enjoyed by young readers as they learn the greeting "Shabbat Shalom." – Rinat Hadad Siegel, Sydney Taylor Shmooze

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Book Synopsis"A welcome addition" --School Library Journal"This rollicking, perfectly rhymed journey through the Jewish year . . . [is]a wonderful introduction to Jewish holidays for children of all backgrounds" --The Sydney Taylor ShmoozeA colorful year of Jewish holidays with apples as the central theme. Trade ReviewThis deceptively simple story celebrates a year of Jewish holidays using apples as the through line. With sparse, rhyming text, each spread celebrates a different Jewish holiday, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and continuing through Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B’shevat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. While the minimal text doesn’t explain much, each short rhyme includes something about the holiday, whether it is the apples and honey eaten on Rosh Hashanah or the trees planted on Tu B’Shevat. The illustrations are collage style on solid white backgrounds. A fox, bear, and raccoon are depicted fairly realistically, with a slightly cartoony feel. They wear no clothes, but do sit at tables and wave flags. The simple, bold illustrations pop on the white backgrounds and will catch and engage the attention of toddlers and preschoolers. The sparse text and bright illustrations would work equally well for a story time or a one-on-one reading. The lack of explanation makes this book most effective for a knowledgeable Jewish adult to share with a child; the general appeal of food and holidays will speak even to the uninitiated. Brief back matter includes a short author’s note on the back cover. VERDICT This will be a welcome addition to Jewish schools and libraries looking for holiday books for their youngest readers. Public libraries will benefit from including this title as well. PreS-K– –Amy Lilien-Harper, School Library Journal Apples join the joy of Jewish holiday celebrations in this rollicking, perfectly rhymed journey through the Jewish year. Traditional apple treats include apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah, apple decorations for the Sukkah, applesauce to accompany Hanukkah latkes, apples in the Passover charoset and more, making this a book to share all year long. The artwork is bright and cheery, with lots of holiday symbols. Lively animal characters celebrating the special days will have young readers turning pages and coming back for more. Yum! This book is eligible for Sydney Taylor Book Award consideration. The book has literary merit with its spot-on, smoothly rhyming, memorable text. Bright, lively digital art with adorable animal characters and bold clear text style make this a perfect fit for children ages one through six. With its connection to many Jewish holiday traditions, it has positive Jewish cultural content, making it valuable for the Jewish community as well as a wonderful introduction to Jewish holidays for children of all backgrounds. --The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

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Book SynopsisShabbat is coming!I can't reach my shirt.Daddy, can you make me tall?I can't make you tall,but I can bring you a stooland hold your hand as you climb up and up and up to the top step,watching as you choose the perfect shirtand whisper, "I did it."In this gentle story, two patient parents help an eager young boy join in the preparations for Shabbat by allowing him to do the parts he can and helping him just enough to begin to do the rest.

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Book Synopsis"A wonderful addition to any collection of multicultural children's literature." --School Library Journal"A lovely book to read aloud at the start of a fresh new year." --Jewish Book Council"This authentic Jewish story is unique in connecting tradition with family farming.” --The Sydney Taylor ShmoozeThis count down to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah explores life and celebration on a family farm through the eyes of a young girl allowed to help with preparations for the first time.It’s just three days until the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. A young girl and her family are getting ready for the traditional holiday feast. Family and friends gather to help harvest and clean the fall root vegetables, mix them with honey and dried fruits, and cook them into the traditional sweet vegetable stew, called tzimmes, ‘for a sweet new year.’ It’s hard but satisfying work that leaves everyone with aching arms, sore feet and happy hearts. When Rosh Hashanah morning arrives, they join together at the synagogue to hear the shofar, the horn that is blown to announce that the holiday has arrived. Back at home on their farm with a diverse group of friends and neighbors, they celebrate both a new year and the joy of being together.This food and farm-focused story is sweetened by illustrations full of cheerful colors and textured patterns. Award-winning author Megan Hoyt helps readers explore both culturally specific Rosh Hashanah practices and life on a small family farm, while providing a universal message of community and tradition.Trade Review"It's almost time for Rosh Hashanah, and Tzipporah is finally old enough to help! She excitedly puts on her coat and boots and races outside to help her family dig up the root vegetables they planted on their farm. Hoyt (Bartali's Bicycle) thoroughly, but concisely, tells the story of family and friends celebrating Rosh Hashanah, including their time at the synagogue and the blowing of the shofar. The illustrations' color, bucolic scenery irrefutably support the text and the happiness Tzipporah feels about celebrating the autumn holiday and being old enough to help make the dish of tzimmes. Her playful brown poppy is in almost all the illustrations, as are many chickens, cats, cows, and other farm animals. The illustrations also show the diversity of Tzipporah's community. The text is a bit confusing at the beginning of the story; when Tzipporah races outside to help her family dig up vegetables, the text says she "races down the rows," but the illustrations show her racing down the stairs. VERDICT A wonderful addition to any collection of multicultural children's literature." -- School Library Journal"It is almost Rosh Hashanah, and the har­vest is ready. Tzip­po­rah and her fam­i­ly pick rutaba­gas, yams, turnips, pota­toes, and car­rots. Then, she and her friends choose the most beau­ti­ful of the veg­eta­bles and scrub them for the Rosh Hashanah meal. Tzip­po­rah is unsure whether these raw veg­eta­bles will make an entic­ing meal for the hol­i­day, but she driz­zles but­ter on them and adds brown sug­ar, hon­ey, cin­na­mon, and fruit. A deli­cious tzimmes is the result. After the syn­a­gogue ser­vice and the blow­ing of the sho­far, the fam­i­ly gath­ers for their feast, and the tzimmes is beau­ti­ful and sweet — just like Rosh Hashanah itself. A tzimmes recipe is append­ed, along with an author’s note that gives more infor­ma­tion about Rosh Hashanah and makes a spe­cial point of encour­ag­ing chil­dren to help pre­pare the fam­i­ly meal. The beau­ti­ful illus­tra­tions depict a farm that is burst­ing with autumn col­or and com­plete with a mul­ti­cul­tur­al group of smil­ing fam­i­ly and friends. This is a love­ly book to read aloud at the start of a fresh new year." --The Jewish Book Council"It's the first year that Tzipporah is old enough to help with the early fall harvest on her family's farm. Three days before the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, she rides on the tractor driven by her father, and they turn the soil. Tzipporah learns that the tractor has uncovered various root vegetables. Two days before Rosh Hashanah, our little main character helps gather the rutabagas, yams, turnips, potatoes, and carrots. She and her friends scrub off all the dirt. The day before Rosh Hashanah, Tzipporah and her folks ready the tzimmes, using an old family recipe. And on Rosh Hashanah they enjoy the tzimmes with friends and family after synagogue. A recipe and an author's note round out this sweet farm-to-table Rosh Hashanah story. The illustrations, which are bright and engaging, depict a light-skinned family with a darker-skinned friend. The tzimmes and brisket menu suggests an Ashkenazic family. The family drives to synagogue on the holiday, hence representing branches of Judaism whose members do so as well.The book is a good contender for the Sydney Taylor award. This authentic Jewish story is unique inconnecting tradition with family farming. Reading this book prior to Rosh Hashanah will give an opportunity to talk about where food comes from as well as ways to prepare for the holiday. Jewish and non-Jewish readers will learn about root vegetable farming, tzimmes, and basics about Rosh Hashanah." --The Sydney Taylor Schmooze

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Book SynopsisKayla and her mischievous dog Kugel are back to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and explain it to young children.In the fourth Kayla and Kugel book, Kayla helps her family build and decorate their sukkah in the backyard. As her puppy playfully interferes, Kayla energetically helps with the holiday preparations while explaining to her pup how and why they build and decorate this temporary house in their backyard as part of the holiday in simple, direct language that young children will find easy to grasp. Colorful Illustrations include a comparison of an ancient hut with a modern-day succah, as well as Kugel's puppy antics.An end note from the author further clarifies details of this harvest time celebration, with its emphasis on giving thanks and welcoming friends, and includes suggestions for creating decorations for a sukkah.Trade ReviewIn this new pic­ture book, Kay­la and her live­ly pup Kugel return for anoth­er delight­ful romp filled with hol­i­day spir­it. This time, the two young charm­ers are prepar­ing for Sukkot: they build a sukkah, set the table, make dec­o­ra­tions, and wel­come guests. As the hol­i­day arrange­ments come togeth­er, Kay­la and Kugel share many impor­tant details, all of which are impor­tant to know when build­ing a sukkah. They present the his­to­ry of Sukkot in acces­si­ble, easy-to-under­stand lan­guage and instill in the read­er a sense of hol­i­day excite­ment and fun.In an author’s note, Koff­sky presents some top­ics to think about and dis­cuss dur­ing the hol­i­day cel­e­bra­tions and sug­gests ways to enhance the experience.The art is, as always, a delight. Through cap­ti­vat­ing col­ors, Kay­la, Kugel, and their fam­i­ly come to life. This is a won­der­ful book about a hol­i­day that is filled to the brim with joy. --Jewish Book CouncilKayla and her parents are preparing for the holiday of Sukkot. Mom and Dad are building the sukkah, and Kayla, joined by her playful pup Kugel, join in the action, gathering items for the roof and making decorations.Woven in between the sukkah-building and Kugel’s silly antics are important mini-lessons about Sukkot, told with love and humor. For example, when Kugel offers a baseball bat he dug out from behind a bush for the sukkah roof, Kayla teaches him with gentleness that we only use things that grow. The affectionate tone grows along with the story, as when Kayla tells Kugel about her ancestors building and living in huts, and that we build a sukkah to remind us to be grateful for our homes. Kayla is a compassionate main character who models patience and compassion.Koffsky’s centering of the story on Kayla and Kugel highlights the message that everyone, including a young girl and a little dog, can play an important role in Jewish traditions. Employing sparse and precise language, coupled with active and playful illustrations, Sukkot comes alive on the page. The reader will feel as if they have been invited into Kayla and Kugel’s sukkah. Kayla and Kugel’s Silly Sukkot is perfect for young readers who will fall in love with Kugel, a pup who jumps off the page and into our hearts. The book will appeal to Jewish, Interfaith, and non-Jewish readers. Illustration Editor Dena Bach adds: The loose line quality gives energy to the illustrations that bring in Judaic images where possible - a mezuzah on the house door, a drawing of a lulav and etrog on the sukkah decorations, challah on the dinner table - making the home feel specifically like a Jewish home. The sukkah guests add a note of ethnic diversity. --The Sydney Taylor ShmoozeA cheery child, Kayla, and her exuberant dog, Kugel, construct a backyard sukkah for the family’s celebration of Sukkot in the fourth of this upbeat and culturally informative picture-book series. Kugel “helps” pigtailed Kayla collect the necessary items, including “fancy shmancy paper plates” and sticks, because a "sukkah’s roof needs to be made from things that grow.” Kugel listens attentively to Kayla’s telling of the historical origin story of Sukkot, a weeklong Jewish holiday celebrating the fall harvest. Bold colors and lively images pair well with the playful font, and the minimal text is mostly Kayla cheerfully redirecting Kugel’s efforts in service of the preparations. It will help readers to have existing knowledge of the celebration, as the festival isn’t really explained until an author’s note. That note also includes questions and additional context and functions as a helpful teaching guide for families or educators. Pair with other Sukkot stories or those introducing holiday preparations in various cultures, such as Hena Khan’s Night of the Moon (2008) and Raakhee Mirchandani’s My Diwali Light (2022). --Kit Ballenger, Booklist

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Book SynopsisSTARRED REVIEW! "A sweet, accessible, child-centric story." --School Library JournalA boy and his mom find a creative way to make a new apartment in a new city feel a bit more like home as they prepare to celebrate the fall holiday of Sukkot.Everything is different and nothing feels like home for a boy who has moved to a new city with his mom. As they unpack together, he can’t find his special blue blanket, he misses his old yard, and he worries that they won’t be able to celebrate holidays as they once did. Calm and sensitive guidance from his mom, who describes how the Israelites had to move and adapt to new surroundings throughout the ages, also includes some hilarious ideas from the rabbis of long ago as they tried to imagine where it might be possible to build a sukkah—the temporary hut where ancient Israelites sheltered during their pilgrimages. The boy begins to see that different isn’t necessarily worse, and a new place can begin to feel more like home, especially when family is together.Trade ReviewSTARRED REVIEW!! "A boy and his mom have just moved from a house to a city apartment. As they unpack, the child worries about finding his blanket and how they will celebrate Sukkot without a backyard. His mother tells stories of various unusual celebrations, and, after a trip to the park, they make an indoor sukkah out of moving boxes, with the rediscovered blanket serving as their starry sky. The first-person text is short and accessible, providing a true sense of the child's concerns. The mixed media illustrations, which are a nice combination of full-bleed single pages and spreads as well as some spot art, create a visually dynamic experience. The child and his mother are the only people depicted, except in memories, keeping the focus squarely on his emotions and dilemmas. The images, reminiscent of Lisa Brown's style, have a slightly cartoony feel, yet the sukkah and the park scene have nice detail. While the lulav and etrog are never mentioned, the reasoning behind the sukkah and the requirements for building one are made clear in text and back matter. Berkowitz successfully creates a sweet, accessible, child-centric story. VERDICT This lovely marriage of a story of moving and Sukkot will be a welcome addition to the shelf in any library serving Jewish patrons or looking to expand their holiday collections." --Amy Lilien-Harper, School Library JournalA young boy moves from a house to the sev­en­teenth floor of an apart­ment build­ing and wor­ries about the many ways his life will now change. One of his con­cerns is whether he will be able to cel­e­brate the hol­i­day of Sukkot with­out hav­ing a back­yard in which to build a sukkah. His moth­er tells him about the odd places that Jews have built their sukkot through­out his­to­ry, includ­ing on board a ship and on the back of a camel. She reminds him that the Jew­ish peo­ple have his­tor­i­cal­ly been forced to move from place to place; they even spent forty years trav­el­ing through a desert. She notes that they used their inge­nu­ity to cel­e­brate times of joy. The two decide to con­struct a sukkah out of their mov­ing box­es and a spe­cial blan­ket, mak­ing their new space feel just like home.Col­or­ful pic­tures of fan­ci­ful sukkot and beau­ti­ful scenery enhance this sat­is­fy­ing sto­ry. An author’s note dis­cuss­es a debate (in which rab­bis engaged long ago) about where it is pos­si­ble to build a sukkah. It also reminds read­ers that age-old tra­di­tions can be observed in new ways, no mat­ter the cir­cum­stances. One must only think cre­ative­ly and keep a pos­i­tive attitude. --Michal Hoschan­der Malen, Jewish Book CouncilA few years ago on the campus of my synagogue, Adat Ari El in North Hollywood CA, Rabbi Jessica Yarkin taught a super cool religious school autumn lesson by using her car as the foundation for a sukkah. Two open doors plus the main car body plus some pine fronds, and there's room for a chair underneath. Et voilà! In The Moving Box Sukkah, author Berkowitz and illustrator Vargo do the same, in a poignant mother-son story of moving, displacement, adaptation, improvisation, and reconnection to both the distant and immediate past. The narrator is a boy whose mom has just moved him to the city from a place where sukkah-building was not hard. No dad in the picture, literally or figuratively. Here in the city, the boy longs for his transitional object from the past, a blue blanket, somehow missing in the unpacking. He worries about how one might build a sukkah in the city. Mom cleverly teaches a little Talmud in the most accessible way about sukkahs, and some gentle history of Jewish displacement and adaptation. The title is the solution, for a book that is finally as much about resilience as anything else. It's not a short narrative, but the text is supported well by Vargo's accessible art, including some clever spot drawings. And yes, the missing blanket ends up playing a bershert role in the story.It's all Jewish content, from the smallest to the largest themes. I'm going to guess that the mother and son here are not Orthodox, since this sukkah is apparently built indoors and not on the roof of the building, and the boy has no kippah, but that's more a point of information than anything else. What's super good is the Talmud lesson -- the author provides the tractate reference in the afterword -- and how this story is placed in a larger context of a history of movement. Plus, non-Jewish readers will totally get what's going on here. Nicely done. --Sydney Taylor Shmooze

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Book SynopsisWritten in a friendly voice, filled with dynamic photos, and featuring text crafted for the youngest of readers, these books touch upon the history and traditions of a diverse range of both secular and faith- based festive celebrations. Each Seedlings book closes with a labeled-image guide for further review.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the work teachers do in schools everywhere with this children's book from Gregory Lang, the perfect way to say thank you to the amazing educators, mentors, and coaches in your life!Say thank you to your favorite teacher with this sweet picture book brought to you by the same team behind the New York Times and USA Today bestseller Why a Daughter Needs a Dad! Filled with genuine sentiment, adorable animal illustrations, and gentle, heartfelt rhymes, this charming picture book is the perfect thank you gift for the teachers making a difference opening minds and touching hearts every day.Why We Need Teachers is the perfect read aloud to connect students and mentors together with a meaningful story that will inspire repeat reads! A wonderful book for kids 4-7, graduation gift, back-to-school gift, teacher appreciation gift or a simple way to say "thank you" any time of year.Who changes the world one day at a time?Taking the pieces and making them rhyme?Who gives us the tools to face the hard climbs?The teachers we see every day!More heartfelt children's books by Gregory E. Lang:Why a Daughter Needs a DadWhy a Daughter Needs a MomWhy a Son Needs a DadWhy a Son Needs a MomWhy the World Needs Love

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Book SynopsisHooray Hooray!It's Mermaid Day!Shake your tailfin!Splash and play!Bubbles popping,One, two, three,Mermaid magicFills the sea!On Mermaid Day, the mer-queen throws a big bash. She decorates with seashell garlands and seaweed bows. Creatures of all kinds arrive. Dolphins dance, narwhals play ring toss. But who's that lurking in the dark - is that a shark? But mermaids know this shark won't bite. He's just shy. As night falls the guests say goodbye to a mer-mazing day.

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Book SynopsisMalaika learns about her father, who came to Canada as a migrant farm worker when she was just a baby and who shared her love of carnival. Malaika dreams about a man with a basket of fruit and guesses that the dream is about her father. Mummy explains that her daddy passed away long ago, and Grandma decides it’s time Malaika knew more about her father’s life. The family drives to a far-off farm where they receive a warm welcome and visit the orchard where Malaika’s father picked fruit. The farm workers tell Malaika that her daddy had always dreamed of celebrating carnival there, just like back home. Will Malaika agree to be their Carnival Queen for the harvest festival? Nadia L. Hohn and Irene Luxbacher have created another compelling story about Malaika, who finds a way to cope with her sadness about her father through their shared love of carnival. Includes an author's note. Key Text Features dialogue glossary illustrations vignettes Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6 With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.Trade ReviewA lovely story that intertwines a girl’s past and present into an honest reflection of her family. * Kirkus *A heartwarming story. * School Library Journal *This breathtaking addition to the Malaika picture book series does not disappoint. … Malaika, Carnival Queen is a beautiful depiction of the desire to connect to personal genealogy, but it is also a depiction of black culture and Jamaican heritage. * CM: Canadian Review of Materials *

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Book SynopsisA seasonal sequel to one of our most beloved children's books, voted the public's favourite Kate Greenaway medal-winner."There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes" ObserverOver 40 years after Dogger was published, comes this magical follow-up: Dogger's Christmas.It's that special time of year: Christmas.The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger?The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found...Praise for Dogger:"This is Hughes' most heartwarming picture book . . . Hughes has a kindly, inexhaustible eye - she misses nothing" ObserverTrade ReviewShirley Hughes's classic Dogger is here touchingly revisited with all the warmth and charm of the original ... A nostalgic comfort blanket for us all * Daily Mail *Hughes's storytelling and pictures are as captivatingly timeless as ever * Financial Times *There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes * Observer *Exquisite * Sunday Times Books of the Year *This sequel is as charming as the first * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisA whirlwind tour of the entire globe, this beautifully illustrated atlas is jam-packed with facts about every country in the world, perfect for readers 8+.Where would you like to visit next? Take a tour of every single country in the world within the pages of The World Book. Featuring a special diecut globe cover, this book is packed with facts, stats and flags explore different cultures and the best things to see, do and taste on this planet. Find out how to say ''good morning'' in Maltese, the most popular dishes in Colombian cuisine, and where you can see over 60 species of hummingbird. Seek out the tallest mountain, the longest river, and everything in between.

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Book SynopsisIt is another day at Workitu’s village. As usual, she is awoken by the morning sounds of the village. However, for Workitu, something doesn’t feel right. She knows that today, ahead of the Passover celebrations, she will have to break all of the crockery she had become so used to, including her favourite cup, the one she made all by herself. She can’t help but feel that she will be losing something valuable and meaningful to her. Then, an incident makes her drop the cup she was holding on to the ground, breaking it into pieces. Workitu begins to cry, but then her auntie shares a secret she learned a long time ago, and Workitu is finally able to see this tradition in a new light: “It’s good to break things sometimes. To let go of old things . . . I break, and then I make. All with the same hands.” With beautiful illustrations throughout, this is a meaningful tale about the importance of letting go of the old to make space for the new, and how family traditions are passed on through generations.

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Book SynopsisI love you like pizza loves cheese, like a sailor loves a breeze, and like a lemon loves a squeeze. How do I love you? The comparisons are endless! From the bestselling creators of ME WITHOUT YOU comes an irresistible, heartfelt, and humorous ode to love, just right for gift-giving on Valentine’s Day and EVERY day! Kids and adults alike will delight in these charming, clever ways to express affection and say “I love you,” ranging from the familiar (“like a candle loves a flame”) to the unexpected (“like a pirate loves an X”)—and always from the heart.

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Book SynopsisThis warm and welcoming New Year celebration invites readers to learn about Rosh Hashanah and Lunar New Year traditions and to reflect on the rich blends of cultures and traditions in their own lives. For this multicultural family, inspired by the author's own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! In the fall, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah offers an opportunity to bake challah, dip apples in honey, and lift voices in song. In the spring, the Chinese Lunar New Year brings a chance to eat dumplings, watch dragon dances, and release glowing lanterns that light up the sky. With bright, joyful prose and luminous illustrations, Richard Ho and Lynn Scurfield invite readers of all backgrounds to experience the beauty of two New Year traditions, paying homage to the practices that make each unique while illuminating the values of abundance, family, and hope that they share. Full of opportunities to reflect on the rich blends of cultures and traditions in our lives, this moving picture book is a beautiful reminder that, at heart, our celebrations might not be so different after all.

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Book SynopsisAn inviting feast of festivals, from well-known celebrations, such as Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Diwali, to more surprising events such as the Woolly Worm Caterpillar Race and the Hungry Ghosts' Feast. Young children can dip in at any page and feel all the fun of the celebration, while learning about different cultures and traditions.

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Book SynopsisA fun, spooky title in the Sticker Dolly Story fiction series, inspired by the best-selling Sticker Dolly Dressing - with a page of stickers to dress the Dolls. Perfect for fans of Holly Webb.It's Halloween and there's trouble on the Midnight Isle... There are strange goings on at Creaky Castle, with bumps in the night, ghostly sightings and eerie moaning noises echoing down the castle corridors. Can the Halloween Dolls, Meera, Zoe and Lily, solve the spooky mystery?Collect all the books in the Sticker Dolly Stories series!1. Unicorn Rescue (A Magic Dolls Story)2. Fairy Picnic (A Magic Dolls Story)3. Mermaid in Trouble (A Magic Dolls Story)4. Baby Dragon (A Magic Dolls Story)5. Castle in the Clouds (A Princess Dolls Story)6. Ice Palace (A Princess Dolls Story)7. Woodland Princess (A Princess Dolls Story)8. Waterlily Ball (A Princess Dolls Story)9. Dream Pony (An Animal Rescue Dolls Story)10. Lucky Bunnies (An Animal Rescue Dolls Story)11. Little Lost Deer (An Animal Rescue Dolls Story)12. Snow Puppy (An Animal Rescue Dolls Story)And look out for the seasonal specials:Dolphin Magic (A Summer special)Christmas Mystery (A Christmas special)Creaky Castle (A Halloween special)

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Book SynopsisCome and celebrate some of the world's biggest festivals with us! We willtake you on a step-by-step journey through each celebration, teaching youall about the stories and traditions we follow, as well as all the tasty food weeat. So, come and celebrate with us!

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Book SynopsisAn inviting feast of festivals, from well-known celebrations, such as Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Diwali, to more surprising events such as the Woolly Worm Caterpillar Race and the Hungry Ghosts' Feast. Young children can dip in at any page and feel all the fun of the celebration, while learning about different cultures and traditions.

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Book SynopsisThe highly-anticipated sequel to Waterstones Prize-winning and British Book Awards Children's Illustrated Book of the Year Grandad's Camper celebrates the power of community and the importance of LGBTQIA+ history. Milly can't wait to spend a summer at Grandad's cottage by the sea, and is even more excited when she discovers Grandad and Gramps’ Pride flag in the attic. Grandad insists he's too old to go to the London celebrations, especially now Gramps isn’t around any more, but Milly has an idea to get the local community together and bring Pride to Grandad . . . Praise for Grandad’s Camper, an ALA Stonewall Book and winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Award and the British Book Awards Children's Illustrated Book of the Year 2023: ‘A book to treasure … an utter delight’ David Walliams ‘A colour-flooded riot of memory ... beautiful ‘ GUARDIAN ‘Full of warmth, colour and joy’ BOOKTRUST ‘An instant classic’ DOWN THE RABBIT HOLETrade Review"The adorable and uplifting sequel to Waterstones Children's Book Prize category winner Grandad's Camper" * Waterstones *"A beautiful, positive picture book full of wonderful details, a heartfelt story and phenomenal use of colour" -- Steven Lenton"A beautiful book" -- Jo Cotterill"Beautiful... Perfect for Pride Month" -- Ian Eagleton"Grandad’s Pride is joy and kindness on every page. Young readers will discover the history and the meaning of Pride, and find so many delightful details in the illustrations to savour and enjoy. Harry Woodgate has ensured, in the words and the pictures, that nobody has been left out. It’s more important than ever that every child, and every family, can see themselves in the stories they read, and know that they belong. As Grandad says, ‘let’s celebrate love, joy, hope and families of all different kinds.’ You would need a heart of stone not to be moved by this warm, bold, beautiful book!" -- Clara Vulliamy

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Book SynopsisA heart-warming audio bundle of Dogger and Dogger's Christmas by Shirley Hughes, bringing together one of our most beloved children's audiobooks with a magical, festive follow-up story. Read by Olivia Colman. DoggerWhen Dave loses his favourite toy, Dogger, he is very sad. But when Dogger turns up on a stall at the garden fete, everything seems all right - until someone else buys him before Dave can get the money! Voted the public's favourite CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner, this is a tale to which all children and their parents can relate.Dogger's Christmas It's that special time of year: Christmas. The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger? The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found...

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Book SynopsisOver rivers and along the bay,the little lambs are on their wayto find the owners of the giftsthat fell from Santa''s sleigh.Five little lambs are on a rescue mission. They need to deliver missing Christmas gifts to their friends Albatross, Turtle, Dolphin and Crayfish before they can share their delicious Christmas feast.

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Book SynopsisThe Birthday Book is packed with recipes, stories, songs, games, and ideas for cards, decorations and presents. There are suggestions for ''oldies'', for teenagers, 18th and 21st parties as well as children''s parties. You will also find unusual celebrations for those celebrating birthdays on holiday, ill in bed, at Christmas or for rainy days.

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Book SynopsisThis multicultural children's book is full of activities, recipes, songs and stories! Brimming with ancient traditions, exciting decorations, and delicious, seasonal foods, Japanese Celebrations for Children will take you on a month-by-month tour of some of Japan's best-loved festivals.Beautifully illustrated and full of fascinating facts about Japanese holidays and family celebrations, this 48-page picture book offers a vivid picture of some of Japan's most festive events including New Year's, Children's Day, Cherry Blossom Festival, Harvest Moon Viewing, weddings, birthdays, Christmas in Japan and much more!With entertaining text and illustrations that explain the significance of the dress, decorations, foods, gifts and activities associated with these events, Japanese Celebrations for Children promises to delight and educate young readers and parents alike.

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Book SynopsisAn engaging Panda's Adventures travel journal. Get started by identifying the type of trip you'll be taking, where you'll be staying, who's coming, and for how long. Explore and record new foods, sights, and sounds on dedicated pages for each, as well as space to record priceless memories and scrapbook special mementos. Keep track of the days and their adventures in this imaginative, charming, and exciting travel companion. For parents and teachers, this journal offers an opportunity to involve children in planning and exploring, while getting in touch with their point-of-view and feelings. Ages: 8 plus

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