New Releases by Jane Breskin Zalben

Chanukah and Christmas come together in this story of an interfaith, intergenerational family''s blended holiday. Gelt and gingerbread, menorahs and trees, red and green and blue and white . . . When Christmas and the first night of Chanukah occur on the same day, Sophie and Max are confused. The children are used to the two parts of their identity remaining separate, celebrating with each part of their family in turn. But this year is different: all their grandparents are coming to partake in both Jewish and Christian traditions together. Complete with a sweet acknowledgment of the concern at the forefront of each child’s mind—how will this affect the presents?—Gingerbread Dreidels is a story for interfaith families that shows how love is at the center of every holiday.

From Rosh Hashanah through Shavout, Beni and his family celebrate Jewish holidays through the year. Includes craft activities and recipes.

When Bimi’s refugee family immigrates to America and moves into Evie’s neighborhood, not everybody is welcoming. But with the help of Evie’s teddy bear, Bimi’s family becomes part of the neighborhood and Evie makes a new friend.

An interfaith friendship develops when Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, overlaps with the Muslim holiday of Ramadan--an occurence that happens only once every thirty years or so. Moses Feldman, a Jewish boy, lives at one end of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, while Mohammed Hassan, a Muslim boy, lives at the other. One day they meet at Sahadi''s market while out shopping with their mothers and are mistaken for brothers. A friendship is born, and the boys bring their families together to share rugelach and date cookies in the park as they make a wish for peace.

It''s time for Passover and Pearl and her brother, Avi, are helping to prepare the house for company. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Rachel, Uncle Solly, and "the two terrors from Teaneck," cousins Harry and Sophie, are coming to spend the holiday at Pearl''s house. Pearl frets about getting along with her cousins. Her brother, Avi, is anxious about reciting the Four Questions at the Seder. But as soon as the guests arrive, Pearl and her cousins are too busy baking matzoh, making Passover place cards, matzoh covers, and preparing the Seder plate to worry about anything. As Pearl''s family comes together for Passover, she learns the importance of family and faith and finds out that the real meaning of the holiday only grows stronger when it is shared with loved ones. Jane Breskin Zalben''s intricately detailed, jewel-like illustrations are a delight to the eye and evoke the warmth and joy of Passover. Easy-to-follow instructions and recipes are included for each activity, making this ideal for families who want to include their children in their holiday festivities.

When the Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe runs out of room for her big family, she turns to her trusted real estate agent. Mama Goose has the perfect house: Snow White''s cottage, complete with seven small beds. Snow White and the dwarfs take over Rapunzel''s castle; Rapunzel moves in with Rumpelstiltskin, and so on, until all of the residents of Fairy Tale Land are bumped into a different dwelling.

In the beginning there was emptiness, like a blank canvas. Then, in a swirl of motion, the Creator made the world. The Creator wanted to finish everything with a special kind of light—a light so powerful it had to be stored away from sight. When the Creator tried to open the jar of light, it shattered, and sparks of light flew everywhere. Jane Breskin Zalben brings to life this timeless legend about why people were created: to find the light and repair the world.

When Pearl arrives home from school one day, her mother is waiting to tell her that Grandpa has died. Pearl discovers a way to keep her grandfather''s memory alive --- by bringing life to marigolds, as he did every year. This book is built around the ritual of sitting shiva.

A charming introduction to the Jewish tree-planting holiday of Tu B''Sh''Vat is accompanied by information on tree-planting holidays around the world, instructions for growing a tree, and the story of young Pearl as she and her grandfather nurture and plant her tree.

Janson the mouse, who lives in a museum, becomes an acclaimed artist by copying the styles of paintings she sees there. Includes notes about the artists and works featured.

Chanukah''s here, and Pearl is looking forward to celebrating it with her family. But there''s one problem -- Pearl''s just found out that her cousins Harry and Sophie will be joining them for all eight nights of Chanukah, and she fears the worst. After all, it was Sophie who once put a latke on Pearl''s chair for her to sit on! Fortunately, Pearl doesn''t have time to worry about her cousins, because each night they do something special: They make menorahs, prepare latkes and jelly doughnuts, and make dreidels and puppets. It''s then that Pearl realizes the true joy of Chanukah comes from being with loved ones! With easy-to-follow instructions included for each activity, Pearl''s Eight Days of Chanukah is ideal for families who wish to create their own special Chanukah traditions.

Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four. But these aren''t just any piano lessons. She studies at the Julliard School in New York, where careers are being formed—or not. Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn''t have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she''s never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother. So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?

IT''S RAINING CATS AND DOGS! PIGLETS AND BABY BEARS, TOO! Just the right weather for a girl who wants a pet and just the right book to celebrate a new arrival. Zoe wants a pet more than anything in the whole world. Then on the night before her aunt Ellie’s baby shower, it actually starts raining cats and dogs . . . and ducklings and piglets, too. Or does it? This charming book by a favorite author and illustrator is the perfect gift to celebrate a new arrival—human or otherwise.

Starred Review. Entertainingly headstrong Brenda is devastated that her favorite uncle is getting married. And her longstanding dream of wearing a gold lam flower girl frock fizzles when she hears that the bride, Florrie, envisions her flower girls in lavender taffeta. On top of that, she''ll be walking the aisle with Florrie''s niece, Lucy, whose golden curls are a far cry from Brenda''s strands of spaghetti tresses. Just when she''s sure things can''t get any worse, her uncle and Florrie elope. Since they now have robbed her of her happiness not once but twice, Brenda announces, with characteristic melodrama, I''m never, ever going to speak to them again for as long as I live. Not easily defeated, Brenda and Lucy pull together a heartwarming after-the-fact celebration. Cake and punch recipes make for an appropriately festive appendix to this lively early chapter book from the creators of Baby Babka, the Gorgeous Genius. Brenda''s robust personality drives the narrative as well as the art, as Chess''s folksy watercolors capture the girl''s expressions, which vacillate wildly between outrage and exhilaration. Ages 69. (May) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In the midst of the usual teenaged angst over romantic relationships and figuring out their place in the world, childhood friends Krista and Daniel reconnect when, in the sixth grade, Daniel is temporarily paralyzed.

Chanukah¿s here, & Pearl is looking forward to celebrating it with her family. But there¿s one problem -- Pearl¿s just found out that her cousins Harry & Sophie will be joining them for all eight nights of Chanukah, & she fears the worst. After all, it was Sophie who once put a latke on Pearl¿s chair for her to sit on! Fortunately, Pearl doesn¿t have time to worry about her cousins, because each night they do something special: they make menorahs, prepare latkes & jelly doughnuts, & make dreidels & puppets. It¿s then that Pearl realizes the true joy of Chanukah comes from being with loved ones! With easy-to-follow instructions included for each activity, this book is ideal for families who wish to create their own special Chanukah traditions. Ages 3-8. Full-color illus.

Biographies of sixteen peacemakers who made a difference in the world.-- Provided by publisher.

Dinner is served at the Beastro, and it''s like no meal seen before! Fang-smacking delicacies grace the tables, with sloths, slugs, and crunchy bugs wiggling on platters. And for dessert, there''s nothing like batwing pudding to delight the palate -- all washed down with a glass of skunk juice!For this rowdy gathering of hungry monsters, the Beastro is well prepared to satisfy the strangest of appetites. Jane Breskin Zalben and Steven Zalben''s unique verse and eclectic artwork -- created with original photography, digital manipulation, hand painting, and detailed collage -- combine to make this one of the most stunningly stylish and unusually elegant affairs ever!

Unhappy when her baby sister turns out to be a brother, Beryl schemes with her brother Sam to make the newborn disappear, but Uncle Morty helps by telling stories of the love his big sisters had for him, even when he squirted one with pickle juice and ruined another''s doll.

Stanley does not look forward to spending another Chanukah with all his relatives, but when an old man comes out of a tarnished menorah in the attic and grants Stanley three wishes, he changes his mind.

A collection of episodes in the lives of Beni and his family shows them observing their Jewish traditions as they celebrate the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, and Passover.

Jason, a nine-year-old Jewish boy, pursues his dream of becoming a great violinist even as he deals with disappointments and deaths of his grandfather and his principal who is dying of AIDS.

Papa and the little bears make latkes for Chanukah. Includes the song "O Chanukah" and a recipe for latkes.

"A warm story of two girls as they grow up and begin to find their place in the world." Publishers Weekly

Would-be comedian Andrew tutors Mr. Pearlstein in Hebrew in return for use of the former vaudevillian''s 101 best jokes and soon discovers that the older man is falling for Andrew''s grandmother

During her sophomore year in high school, Nicole Bernstein of New York City learns that relationships with girlfriends or admired boys can be painful, and that not everyone is capable of giving or loving to the same degree.

Seventeen-year-old Eric, movie buff and Chinese food connoisseur, considers frizzy-haired, slightly overweight Enid his best friend, but dreams of dating the beautiful blonde pompon girl Kimberley.

Her music and a special friend help Beth, who now lives with her remarried father, through the difficult period following her mother''s suicide.

Saddened by the separation from his mate who has gone in search of food, Saba learns to survive with the help of friends who keep him busy.