Viviana Garofoli

Two young members of an extended family get ready for the Jewish New Year.

In single-page scenes, these white youngsters, one with short, blond hair topped with a yarmulke and the other sporting brunette pigtails, make traditional round challah bread, blow a shofar, prepare apples to dip in honey, and don brand-new clothes. The preparations culminate in a candlelit family meal and the children’s joyous greeting of the New Year at sundown with the exultation “Shana Tovah!” Newman’s show more simple, rhymed couplets describe each scene with economy and are punctuated with the repeated refrain, “Rosh Hashanah is coming.” Garofoli’s jewel-toned art, which looks as though she created it using a computer, is pleasingly animated and accessible.

A simple and joyous introduction to an important holiday. (Board book. 18 mos.-4)

-Kirkus Review show less

In this engaging book, preschoolers will learn the fascinating story behind the creation of the Statue of Liberty. Simple words and bright artwork bring to life the story of the people --a professor, a sculptor, a poet, a newspaperman --who helped establish this famous landmark. Little ones will learn that the torch was created first, in time for America's 100th birthday, and displayed in a park. And they'll gain a clear understanding of what the Statue of Liberty has always meant to people show more around the world. Fun facts, such as how schoolchildren gave their pennies to help pay for the base of the statue, complete this charming nonfiction Little Golden Book. show less

My daughter absolutely loves this book. The text is noisy and fun to read, while the illustrations are hysterical! I especially love the ducks that yak yak yak on their cell phones. So cute and clever!

I also posted a mini-review on my blog.

Very poorly drawn cartoon crude shallow depiction of our greatest president, sugar coated fr little children his assignation / death is bllightly treated