Eon: My Pet Tardigrade – written by Cybèle Young, illustrated by Cybèle Young and Nell JocelynTundra Books, 2026 This enthralling picture book has several potential audiences. It could be categorized as part of STEAM, since the tardigrade is an actual microscopic animal, one that can survive in an array of environments, and even emerge from … Continue reading Small, Hearty, and Transcendent
Author: Emily Schneider
Emily Schneider is a writer and educator living in New York City. She has published on children's literature, feminism, and politics in Tablet, The Foward, Jewcy, and Family Reading at The Horn Book. She is a regular reviewer for The Jewish Book Council.
A Crowded Nap
The Fluffy Futon – written and illustrated by Yuichi Kusano, translated from the Japanese by Cathy HiranoGecko Press, 2026 In Yuichi Kusano’s The Fluffy Futon, a grandmother takes a nap on the bedding of the title. What begins as a solitary rest soon becomes crowded with farm animals, who take up a great deal of … Continue reading A Crowded Nap
Meeting of the Minds in Jewish Authors Mural
I have reviewed many books from the British publisher, Green Bean Books.* Specializing in “original and inspiring Jewish stories for children,” their releases are most notable for an impressive range of authors and illustrators from different countries and backgrounds. When Green Bean Publisher Michael Leventhal conceived the idea for a mural as a memorial to … Continue reading Meeting of the Minds in Jewish Authors Mural
In Which Noodle Discovers Art
Twig Friends – written by Andrew McDonald, illustrated by Ben WoodBright Light (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing), 2024 Twig Friends Go Wild – written by Andrew McDonald, illustrated by Ben WoodBright Light (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing), 2025 I’ve already written about the two other volumes in the Twig Friends graphic novel series. The first book by … Continue reading In Which Noodle Discovers Art
Remarkable Quest
The Magic Library of Waterfall Way – by Julie AbeBloomsbury Children’s Books, 2026 Imagine that you’re a child whose fate will be determined by your membership in one of the following categories: Extraordinarily Remarkable, Quite Remarkable, Slightly Remarkable, or Unremarkable. Of course, those harsh judgments often seem to be part of any childhood. In Julie … Continue reading Remarkable Quest
Perishable, but Lasting
My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash – written by Heather Smith, illustrated by Kass ReichTundra Books, 2026 It’s hard to see how the title of Heather Smith and Kass Reich’s new picture book could not be intriguing. Is it literal, or a metaphor? Children sometimes develop attachments to unusual toys, or, in psychological parlance, … Continue reading Perishable, but Lasting
Creation and Compassion
The Children of the Sun – written by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Juan Palomino, translated from the Spanish by Lawrence SchimelEerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 Based on a traditional creation story of the Inca civilization, The Children of the Sun incorporates evocative language to tell children (and adults) about the origins of this Andean … Continue reading Creation and Compassion
Cinematic Love Story
Mint to Be – by Katie Cicatelli-KucScholastic, 2025 I don’t want to give up away any keep developments in my review of this wonderful young adult, or adult, novel. Mint To Be is the second in a series from Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, set in Briar Glen, a New England Village whose competing coffee shops debuted in … Continue reading Cinematic Love Story
Jewish American Readers Are Still Here
It is halfway through May. I am posting a follow-up to my recent comments on Jewish American Heritage Month, and Asian American Heritage Month, at School Library Journal. Please find that post here, which includes links to previous attempts to understand that publication’s policy about celebrating both communities in May. After my recent post, I … Continue reading Jewish American Readers Are Still Here
Dad, Grandma, and Fixing Cars
Sarabeth’s Garage – written by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Nadia AlamTundra Books, 2026 Books about grandparents and grandchildren fill a special role. Children’s books that emphasize the right for girls to push boundaries and find their place in the world, without regard to restrictive gender norms, are also promising. Of course, literary and artistic excellence … Continue reading Dad, Grandma, and Fixing Cars