Shoshana Flax

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Auspicious occasions

Purim begins tonight! For more on this Jewish holiday of disguises and deliciousness, see the Holidays--Purim tag in the Guide/Reviews Database. And (hat-tip to Cindy), today is also Bertha Mahony Miller’s 143rd birthday! For more on the Horn Book’s founder, see the Bertha Mahony Miller tag on hbook.com. Happy Purim…happy...
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Review of True Life in Uncanny Valley

True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb CalettiHigh School    Labyrinth Road/Random    416 pp.3/25    9780593708613    $19.99e-book ed.  9780593708637    $10.99Sixteen-year-old Eleanor is obsessed with learning all she can about her birth father, tech mogul Hugo Harrison, who ended his relationship with her mother long before Eleanor can remember. When the opportunity presents...

Happy Tu Bishvat!

Tomorrow is Tu Bishvat, the Jewish holiday (of many spellings) considered the New Year of the Trees. Looking for tree-related inspiration? See the Trees tag, or the more specific Holidays --Tu B’Shvat tag, in the Guide/Reviews Database. Or see the Trees tag on hbook.com, especially this verdant veritable forest from a few...

Joyful Song: Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour 2025

Welcome to our stop on the Sydney Taylor Book Award blog tour! Author Lesléa Newman and illustrator Susan Gal were kind enough to answer our questions about Joyful Song: A Naming Story, which received a Sydney Taylor Honor in the Picture Book category and was on the Horn Book’s 2024...
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Review of Bog Myrtle

Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp; illus. by the authorPrimary, Intermediate    Annick    144 pp.10/24    9781773218922    $19.99e-book ed.  9781773218946    $14.99An unconventional graphic novel for the budding young activist with a sense of humor. Sunny Beatrice lives with her selfish, scowling sister, Magnolia. On a well-intentioned errand, Beatrice takes a few treasures from...
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Review of A Dragon for Hanukkah

A Dragon for Hanukkah by Sarah Mlynowski; illus. by Ariel LandyPreschool, Primary    Orchard/Scholastic    40 pp.9/24    9781338897524    $18.99e-book ed.  9781338897555    $18.99The young narrator receives a dragon the first night of Hanukkah, a rainbow the second night…a time-travel machine to visit the Maccabees on the fifth night. It’s all fanciful, but with...
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Review of Gingerbread Dreidels

Gingerbread Dreidels by Jane Breskin Zalben; illus. by Thai PhuongPreschool, Primary    Charlesbridge    32 pp.8/24    9781623543655    $17.99e-book ed.  9781632893420    $9.99Just in time for Christmas 2024’s coinciding with the first night of Chanukah, here’s a story of an interfaith family enjoying both holidays. After some confused apprehension on the part of young...
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Review of Winter Light

Winter Light by Aaron Becker; illus. by the authorPreschool    Candlewick Studio    16 pp.10/24    9781536236460    $17.99In this beautifully designed board book in the vein of Becker’s You Are Light (rev. 9/19) and others, the die-cuts are just part of the attraction. Brief, lyrical text encourages stillness and assures readers and listeners,...
PREMIUM

Review of Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah

Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah by Karen Rostoker-Gruber; illus. by Carles ArbatPreschool, Primary    Apples & Honey/Behrman    32 pp.11/24    9781681156422    $19.95An offstage narrator addresses a child who ignores the titular advice. The ursine guest helps—and “helps”—with preparations; the digital-looking illustrations show that, for example, picking out tiny candles isn’t...
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