Day: January 7, 2008

2008 Sydney Taylor Book Awards

| Tasha

The Association of Jewish Libraries has announced the 2008 Sydney Taylor Book Awards.  The awards are given to “new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.”  The award is given in memory of one of my favorite authors from my childhood, Sydney Taylor.

Here are the winners:

Young Readers



The Bedtime Sh’ma: A Good Night Book by Sarah Gershman and Kristina Swarner.

Older Readers

The Entertainer and the Dybbuk by Sid Fleischman.

Teen Readers

Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin.

Honor books were also given in each category:

Younger Readers

The Castle on Hester Street by Linda Heller
Letter on the Wind by Sarah Lamstein
Light by Jane Breskin Zalben

Older Readers

Holocaust: The Events and Their Impact on Real People by Angela Gluck Wood
The Secret of the Priest’s Grotto by Peter Lane Taylor

Teen Readers



Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Mirjam Pressler

We're Sailing Down the Nile

| Tasha

We’re Sailing Down the Nile: A Journey through Egypt by Laurie Krebs and Anne Wilson.

This book has been waiting on my desk for a shamefully long time, but I am slowly starting to whittle down books that have piled up over the last year. 

This picture book takes you to Egypt on a colorful, fascinating journey that will work well for children interested in the wonder of the pyramids and mummies, but will also open their eyes to other parts of life in Egypt.  Though the illustrations are whimsical, it is nice to see a Cairo skyline and a modern depiction of Egypt.  Readers will also find a map of Egypt and the Nile as well as a fact page on the various places visited in the book.  Keep turning pages and you will find historical information, information on gods and goddesses, and even heiroglyphs covered.  By putting this detailed information at the back, the story part of the book can be shared with young children and older children who will also enjoy the poetic and rhythmic text can immerse themselves in more details.

Recommended for ages 4-9, thanks to the information in the back of the book.