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Secret Seder, The

Doreen Rappaport

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( M ) -> McCully, Emily Arnold

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Jacques is determined to celebrate Passover with his father 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The Secret Seder receives Emily Arnold McCully's realistic illustrations as it tells of one Jacques, who is hiding from Nazis in a small village in France, pretending to be Catholics. They haven't given up their beliefs, and Jacques is determined to celebrate Passover with his father, risking his life to attend a secret seder in the mountains.

A Well-Written Story Appropriate for an Older Child 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Secret Seder is the story of a young Jewish boy's experience during the time of Nazi Germany. It vividly portrays the fears that were prevalent among Jews at that time. Even the Passover Seder had to be observed in secret.

The book is very well written and the portrayal of events is very accurate. The somber watercolor illustrations add to the darkness of the story.

Although I feel that this is a well-done book, I do not believe that the subject matter is appropriate for a five-year-old as the age recommendation indicates. Some of the text may be too harsh for such a young reader: "Papa yanks me into an alley. The clicking is closer and louder. Papa pulls out the knife. I hold my breath..." This may be a more appropriate book for a child who is eight or nine years old.

Editorial Review:

Jacques and his parents are hiding in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, pretending to be Catholics. On the first night of Passover, Jacques and his father elude Nazi soldiers to gather with other Jews and celebrate the Seder in secret. For this book, Doreen Rappaport researched the lives of resistance fighters and Jews in hiding: brave men and women who managed to survive one of the darkest times in history with their faith intact. Emily Arnold McCully's intense and respectful paintings illuminate the perils of a turbulent time and the triumphs of a resilient people.

Penina Levine Is a Potato Pancake

Rebecca O'Connell

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Roaring Brook Press Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $8.47

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Family Life -> Siblings -> Fiction

Editorial Review:

FRESH, FEISTY, FUNNY.

In this Hanukkah story, Penina fi nds that a glass of cold milk and a hot potato pancake go a long way. Penina Levine is the only member of her family who isn’t looking forward to Hanukkah. Not only is it another chance for her annoying sister to steal the spotlight, but her favorite teacher is taking a mysterious leave of absence, and her best friend is deserting her to go on a dream vacation to Aruba. Then Penina discovers why Mrs. Brown must go away and hears that a snowstorm may ruin Zozo’s trip, and Penina knows she’s the one who must bring some holiday spirit to her friends. Readers of all backgrounds will relate to Penina as she turns a pile of problems into a Hanukkah to remember.

Dinosaur on Shabbat

Diane Levin Rauchwerger

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Dinosaur on Shabbat 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The friendly, oversized dinosaur from Dinosaur on Hanukkah and Dinosaur on Passover, returns to celebrate Shabbat with a young boy and his contemporary family. In silly, rhyming text, Dino tries to help with Shabbat preparations: setting the table, lighting the candles, pouring the wine, and blessing the challah. He also joins the family in the synagogue on Shabbat morning and participates in Havdalah. As in the past, his size, enthusiasm, and clumsiness create havoc, but "when Shabbat is over Dino leaves without a fuss. But I know next Friday he'll be back to share Shabbat with us." The illustrations complement the fun and cheery mood of the text, but are a bit inconsistent. For example, the text refers to a white tablecloth while the illustration appears in blue, and Dino sometimes wears a baseball cap but at other times (like in synagogue) his head is bare. A brief end note explains Shabbat, however, there would be added value if it included the lyrics and music to "The Dinosaur Song" (There's a dinosaur knocking at my door, knocking one, two, three . . . there's a dinosaur knocking at my door and he wants to spend Shabbat with me . . .) - a natural pairing for a pre-school storytime program. For ages 3 - 5. Reviewed by Rachel Kamin

My First Chanukah

Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Grosset & Dunlap Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $2.00

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Editorial Review:

In My First Chanukah, Tomie dePaola’s gentle text and understated artwork provide insight and background into the holiday for young readers. Eye-catching foil lights up the cover!

The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story

Jacqueline Jules

List Price: $7.95 By: Kar-Ben Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $3.66

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Good for Yom Kippur and year round 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book was read during services last week at my mother's synagogue. I immediately asked the rabbi for information, so that I could order my own copy. I know that my daughter will use it when teaching at our religious school, and the book will eventually be given to our children's day school. The story is charming and, while it will captivate little ones, is told well enough to be of interest to those who read it aloud to their children.

The Hardest Word 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

What an absolutely wonderful book. It is appropriate not only for the holiday of Yom Kippur, but for every day of the year. It transcends religious beliefs, it helps children understand what to do when mistakes are made and reminds parents about forgiveness and how to nurture. Both my husband and I love the story! I just purchased the Noah and Channukah adventures as well. Our child is 5 and frequently asks to read this book.

Editorial Review:

The Ziz, a clumsy but goodhearted bird of folklore, accidentally destroys a vegetable garden, and when he asks God for advice, he learns the importance of apologizing.

The Ziz And the Hanukkah Miracle

Jacqueline Jules

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

ZIZ AND THE HANUKKAH MIRACLE 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle is a clever attempt to explain the Hanukkah miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. This non-traditional story is a lighthearted whimsical fantasy about the Ziz, a nearsighted bird who longs for more light in the winter so that he can make his dinner. He sets out on a solitary journey to find light. He catches fireflies, lantern fish, and even attempts to capture the moon. Frustrated with his lack of success, he finally asks for God's help. God provides the Ziz with an oil lamp, which he greedily refuses to share with the other animals. When the Ziz discovers the menorah in the Holy Temple needs oil, he relents. With the help of the other animals, the menorah burns brightly. With his new friends by his side, the Ziz's oil lamp burns even brighter. The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle is not a conventional Hanukkah story, but the value of friendship, working together, and even Tikkun Olam are nicely woven into the story. The illustrations are bold, colorful and full of light. Ages 3-7.

Barbara Bietz is a Jewish educator and freelance writer. Her work appears in numerous magazines and websites. Barbara's first children's book will be published in October 2006. Reviewed by Barbara Bietz

In God's Hands

Lawrence Kushner, Gary D. Schmidt

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Editorial Review:

David and Jacob live in the same little, ordinary town, but it's almost as if they're from different worlds. David is so poor he can barely feed his family. Jacob is so consumed with staying rich he thinks about nothing but money. But the two men have one thing in common: they both believe that miracles are big, magical things that can only happen somewhere else, to someone else.

But when Jacob wakes up from a nap in synagogue one day, sure that God has demanded twelve loaves of bread from him, all this changes in amazing ways you'd never expect.

A delightful, timeless legend based on Jewish tradition, In God's Hands tells of the ordinary miracles that occur when we really, truly open our eyes to the world around us.

Endorsed by Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Religious Leaders

How Does God Make Things Happen?

Lawrence Kushner, Karen Kushner

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

To young children, the world is full of things to see and touch. And by using those very examples, this enchanting book gently invites children to become aware of God's presence all around us.

Abridged from Because Nothing Looks Like God by Lawrence and Karen Kushner, How Does God Make Things Happen? has been specially adapted to board book format to delight and inspire younger readers.

Much has been written about the importance of reading simple, beautiful books to babies and preschoolers to stimulate brain development. But perhaps even more important, what you read begins to shape your child's world, and creates the images that will remain with him or her throughout life. We read books to our children about letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and safety, but do we give their minds the early food they need to think about life's bigger questions?

As spiritual development experts now tell us, each child develops an image of God by age 5, with or without religious instruction. How Does God Make Things Happen? takes you and your child on an imaginative journey designed to help you open not only your child's mind, but your child's heart and soul as well.

Bagels from Benny

Aubrey Davis

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Kids Can Press, Ltd. Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $3.14

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Benny adores helping out his Grandpa at the bagel bakery, the best in town. The young Jewish boy loves his grandfather's bagels so much, he wants to thank God for them. But how? One morning, he asks his Grandpa if he could pay him for his work with a big bag of bagels. So equipped, he heads for the synagogue, takes a deep breath, opens the big wooden cupboard that is the Holy Ark, and places the steaming bag inside: "King of the Universe," he whispered. "I brought You some bagels. I know You make them. But You never taste them, because Grandpa sells every last one." Benny keeps this up week after week until he discovers, to his dismay, that a poor man in a tattered coat has been eating his bagels, and not God. How will God know he is thanking Him if someone else is eating the bagels? Grandpa reassures him that by making the world better, he is indeed thanking God. Dusan Petricic's expressive, cross-hatched illustrations, each one as round and warm and brown as a freshly baked bagel, illuminate all of the story's best moments with humor and emotion. This simple, touching Jewish folktale from Spain transcends Judaism as a story of human kindness and generosity of spirit that will resonate with all children. --Karin Snelson

The Princess and the Ziz (Kar-Ben Favorites)

Jacqueline Jules

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths -> Other

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Stories for Children Magazine 5 Star Review 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

REVIEWED BY: Gayle Jacobson-Huset, Managing Editor

The team of Author Jacqueline Jules and Illustrator Katherine Janus Kahn has another success in this fourth story in a series about the Ziz, a gigantic bird-like creature taken from Jewish folklore.

King Solomon orders the Ziz to entertain his daughter, Magda. The king keeps her in a tower so she doesn't meet and marry the wrong man. The princess is bored, so the Ziz whisks her away from the tower and takes her on a trip around the world. They rescue a young man falling off a cliff. The man and the princess start to fall in love, and the Ziz gets jealous. He takes the Princess for more trips and just travels in circles so the Princess will never see the young man again. Does the Princess ever figure out what the Ziz is up to? You'll just have to read this fun book to find out. I give this book a high five for a great storyline and terrific illustrations. Ladies, you have another sure-winner here. If you want your kids to have fun and let their imaginations soar, this is the book for them (as are the other stories about the Ziz).

Editorial Review:

The Ziz, sent to guard King Solomon's daughter, takes the princess on a forbidden adventure to meet her husband-to-be.