1. The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah

1. The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah. Jane Yolen. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

First sentence: The first problem Rochel-Leah had was that she was a girl. 

Premise/plot: This picture book is set in a small Russian village--a shtetl--in the 1830s. Rochel-Leah, our heroine, wants more than anything to learn to read. But there are many, many, many obstacles standing in the way. She has spunk and determination, but will that be enough???

My thoughts: This picture book is based on a story passed down through many generations in Jane Yolen's family as happening to a cousin of a cousin of a cousin or some such like way back when. Regardless of its origin, the story celebrates gumption and a LOVE of words, of stories, of the power of such. 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

149. The Tree of Life

149. The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World. Elisa Boxer. Illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig. 2024. 41 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction; j nonfiction] [5 stars]

First sentence: In a season of sadness, hope came to the children as a tiny tree, tucked inside a boot. It was winter, World War Two, and the boot belonged to a prisoner in a ghetto called Terezin. There were children in the ghetto too. The prisoner saw they were scared and separated from their families.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction picture book for older readers. (Older readers being mid-elementary school on up). It tells the story of a tree--a sapling--nurtured by those in great peril. Despair perhaps was the easier choice, but hope the better one. This is the story of how the tree survived...and continued to inspire hope for generations.

My thoughts: Definitely worth reading. Words don't really do justice. I don't even know what to say beyond that. 

 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

59. Madame Alexander

Madame Alexander. The Creator of the Iconic American Doll. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Sarah Dvojack. 2022. [October 18] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: More than one hundred years ago, a little girl named Beatrice Alexander looked out her window to the bustle below. Beatrice's parents had come across the ocean to America and settled in New York City. Many families like theirs had moved into a neighborhood called the Lower East Side, where the buildings overflowed with people.

Premise/plot: Madame Alexander is a picture book biography of Beatrice Alexander (aka Madame Alexander). Her parents owned a doll hospital in New York City. Her father (step-father) repaired dolls. She sometimes helped especially as she grew older. (Though even when she was younger, she 'helped' by comforting the broken dolls.) As an adult she started her own doll business--but not a doll hospital. She wanted to make dolls that wouldn't break, a more affordable, "American," doll. (As opposed to the porcelain dolls imported from Europe). 

My thoughts: I loved every page of this one. I found it fascinating through and through. I also appreciated how her Jewishness was shown/depicted. I loved the author's note though the font size was super-teeny-tiny. (Granted, this will be more for adults than young people.) 

Picture book biographies can be so very good. This one definitely falls into that "very good" category. Can't wait to recommend this one to others.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

148. Measuring a Year

Measuring a Year: A Rosh Hashanah Story. Linda Elovitz Marshall. Illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang. 2022. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: How do you measure a year? By looking at how much you grew...or all the things you learned to do? 

Premise/plot: From the afterward, The Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year. This book talks about the different ways you can measure a year. The text is straight forward and basic, but the illustrations really offer more food for thought, if you will. They offer stories. 

My thoughts: I would recommend reading this one twice. The first time focusing on the text and the second time focusing on the illustrations. I think for Jewish readers--probably, almost certainly--the prominence of apples and honey will be obvious. For other readers, a tiny little note might help out. That being said, I don't expect every book to fill in the blanks and educate. I don't. Regardless of your faith or beliefs, a book about new beginnings always fits.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

30. The People's Painter

The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art. Cynthia Levinson. Illustrated by Evan Turk. 2021. [April] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: From the time he could grasp a pencil, Ben Shahn yearned to draw everything he saw in his village in Lithuania.

Premise/plot: The People's Painter is a picture book biography of Ben Shahn. 

My thoughts: I love learning. I do. And picture books are a great format for learning new-to-me stories. I had never heard of Ben Shahn, a Jewish artist and activist before reading this award-winning picture book. I am SO glad I read it. I thought it was packed with information--in an age appropriate way. The art and text work together so well. (As you'd expect in a picture book about an artist.)

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

70. Stranger Danger

Mr. Mensch and His Magical Meshugenahmobile: Stranger Danger. David Michael Slater. Illustrated by Michelle Simpson. 2020. 66 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Asher, Ezra, Benjy, Sadi, Zara, and Abi all stood in the hallway. They were great friends and thrilled to see each other after a long summer break.

Premise/plot: Six friends are turned off by the idea of a new student joining their Sunday School class. They send her out the door without a second thought. But their new teacher, Mr. Mensch, who is dressed up as the Statue of Liberty challenges them to rethink the situation. The kids--and teacher--set off on an adventure aboard the Magical Meshugenahmobile. (Think the show The Cat In the Hat Knows All About That). Their adventure will take them back in time--to a summer day in 1903--to Ellis Island where they will witness the arrival of a new ship of immigrants. Will the poem by Emma Lazarus convince these kids to be more welcoming and accepting?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It is a children's chapter book. The class the students are taking is a Jewish Ethics class. The framework of the story is that of teaching morals and ethics literally to children characters. The book includes discussion questions geared towards a specific audience--Jewish children. I'm not sure if that's because they can't imagine non-Jewish children reading it or if the author/publisher is primarily seeking a Jewish target? Regardless, I enjoyed reading this one.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah. Emily Jenkins. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinksy. 2018. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: When darkness comes, it will be the first night of Hanukkah, 1912.

Premise/plot: This new picture book stars Sydney Taylor's All-of-a-Kind family. It is set in New York City in 1912 during Hanukkah. It is told from the perspective of the youngest sister, Gertie.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It has been years since I read the All-of-a-Kind family series. I remember reading them as a kid. And I have definitely reread the first book since I've started blogging. Reading this picture book makes me want to reread them all. I loved "meeting" the family again. I loved the historical setting. I loved the focus on family and faith.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10 

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Make A Wish, Molly

Make A Wish, Molly. Barbara Cohen. 1994. 48 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: I didn't know about birthdays. In Russia we hadn't celebrated birthdays. But I learned once we came to Winter Hill. I had started school in the fall, and I'd hated it. But by spring I didn't hate it anymore. That's because I had a friend. Her name was Emma. Her desk was next to mine.

Premise/plot: Molly gets the chance to learn about birthdays--and birthday parties--in this early chapter book by Barbara Cohen. But perhaps more importantly she gets the chance to learn something about herself.

Molly sees a BEAUTIFUL decorated cake in a shop window. Her friend says she'll have a cake like that and her birthday party in a few weeks. Molly might get a chance to taste such a delectable cake for herself--it seems almost too good to be true.

Unfortunately, the birthday party takes place during Passover week. Molly does NOT want to take her own food to snack on--not while her friends are enjoying that incredible cake. Could she--should she--eat the cake anyway?

My thoughts: What a lovely little story! It's historical fiction--presumably early to mid-twentieth century. The family of our wonderful little heroine is Jewish--recently arrived from Russia. Their traditions are not the same as everyone else. Part of Molly longs to fit in no matter what. Coming-of-age novels address the question who am I? This does just that. I loved Molly's confidence by the end of the novel!

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Justin Case: School, Drool, And Other Daily Disasters

Justin Case: School, Drool, And Other Daily Disasters. Rachel Vail. 2010. Feiwel & Friends. 256 pages.

September 1, Tuesday
Okay, yes. I'm worried.
Already.
I can't help it.

I loved Justin Case. I did. True, his name isn't really Justin Case. It's Justin Krzeszewski. But Justin Case is his nickname. (He's not all that fond of it--at least not at first.) Justin is an anxious third-grader who tends to make lists in his journal.

Many things make Justin anxious--or worried--change being one of them. And third grade is all about change. He's put in the "wrong" third grade class. He's separated from his friends. And one of those friends, Daisy, has realized that boys and girls shouldn't be best friends. So she's dropped him completely. So Justin has a "scary" teacher and no friends. And that's just the start...

What I loved best about Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters was the writing.

From October 7:

I figured out why it is called cursive: because of the bad words you think when you can't draw the dumb letters right. How many bumps can one M possibly have? (37)

From May 18:

If I had to choose which is worst of:

a) climbing a rope up higher than a gym teacher's bald head
b) practicing my squeaky violin
c) hanging upside down by my knees so my shirt falls up
d) getting driven somewhere by Gingy, the slowest driver on the planet
e) walking my drooly dog every day because my parents went away

I would have to choose

f) All of the above

Welcome to my life as a third grader. (206)

There were so many moments where Justin Case made me smile. (Reading about Justin's trouble with his stuffed animals!) I also loved the book for its relationships. How Justin relates to his family--his mom, his dad, his younger sister, Elizabeth, and especially his relationship with his grandparents Poopsie and Gingy. These family scenes were some of my favorites. I also loved to see Justin making new friends in third grade! I loved getting to know others in his class--like Montana C and Gianni Schicci.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah

The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah. By Leslie Kimmelman. Illustrated by Paul Meisel. 2010. February 2010. Holiday House. 32 pages.

The year was passing. The Little Red Hen could feel the change of the seasons in the tips of her tail feathers. She could smell it in the barnyard air. She could see it on her calendar...
"Oy gevalt!" exclaimed the Little Red Hen, thinking ahead to spring. "Before I know it, it will be time for Passover. I will need some matzah for my Seder dinner, and that begins with some grains of wheat."

You're probably already familiar with the story of the Little Red Hen. But in The Little Red Hen And The Passover Matzah, Leslie Kimmelman puts a unique twist on a familiar story. What if The Little Red Hen and all of her friends--the horse, the sheep, the dog--were Jewish?

Before she knew it, it was spring, the morning of the first night of Passover. The Little Red Hen had cleaned her house, top to bottom. There wasn't a crumb of bread to be found anywhere.
"Time to make the matzah," the Little Red Hen announced to her friends. "Who wants to help?" Everyone deserves a second--or fourth chance, she reminded herself. But what do you think the Little Red Hen heard?

I liked this one. I really liked it. I thought it added some much-needed character to the original story!

The book does include a recipe for matzah. In addition there is a glossary of Yiddish words used in the book.

I believe it has received two starred reviews, one in School Library Journal, the second in Publishers Weekly.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Golden Dreydl

Kushner, Ellen. 2007. The Golden Dreydl.

Before it was a book, it was a musical performance. It is performed live, and there are also radio productions of it. And a CD.

"The Golden Dreydl" is an award-winning family entertainment featuring the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as interpreted by Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, with original story and narration by Ellen Kushner. Together, they have created a brand-new retelling of an old tale: Sara is a little girl with a problem: she hates the annual family Chanukah party! But when a mysterious party guest gives her the gift of a golden dreydl, Sara is catapulted into a magical world of demons and fools, sorcerers and sages.

Knowing that it is a "Jewish" interpretation of The Nutcracker helps when you're reading the book. You know in some ways what to expect.

Sara is a young girl who is not excited about Chanukah. She'd much rather be celebrating just like her friends--with Christmas trees and such. But Sara is on her way to a Chanukah celebration she'll never forget. A most magical time is about to be had--at least for Sara. And it all starts with a gift that is not what it seems. A gift that comes to life. A golden dreydl.

I really enjoyed this one.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Hanukkah!

Schotter, Roni. 1990. (Rereleased in October 2008). Hanukkah! Illustrated by Marylin Hafner.

This is a simple but joyful introduction to Hanukkah. It begins simply,

"In darkest December
Night steals in early
And whisks away the light.

But warm inside,
Mama, Papa, and Grandma Rose
Light the sun that is the menorah.

While Nora and Dan,
Ruthie and Sam
Sing a song that is a prayer."

That will give you some hint what the text is like. This one has won the National Jewish Book Award. Definitely recommended.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers