[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars The Chocolate King is a beautifully illustrated story about the history of how refugee Jews brought chocolate to France after having to leave their homeland. There are timelines and flow charts for when and how chocolate became popular in France. I read this book with my 5 and 9 years old daughters, who both gave the story 5 stars.
NetGalley, Amy Bell

This is a simply charming book with illustrations that will enchant readers and listeners. An ideal book to discuss and share the rituals of Shabbat told through beautiful rhyming language that pulls the reader into the pictures. The imagery brings the warmth of the light to the reader and adds to the meaning of the book. An ideal book for Ks 1 and teachers and one that I would recommend.
NetGalley, Stephen Richard

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars But Perhaps, Just Maybe by Tuva Dikman Oreo is a wonderful book for readers under 7 or for teachers to share with a class or for parents and carers to read to their children. It tells the tale of Duck and Hedgehog heading to the bicycle repair shop when they witness three different events that Duck considers to be selfish but “ open-minded “ Hedgehog question s whether the action might have more positive meanings. By the end of the story Duck learns that all that you see shouldn’t be instantly judged and that friends can be doing wonderful things that aren’t immediately recognised. In a world of much negativity and use with young learners and readers to build up their understanding of friendship and the actions that people take may not be as they appear. The illustrations are lovely and comical too but don’t detract from the message. A wonderful book that I will recommend highly to colleagues
NetGalley, Stephen Richard

An enjoyably challenging, multi-layered read, replete with Jewish mystical ideas but also teenage energy ("How can we 'fix' the universe?" demands Dany.
Jewish Chronicle 14/05/21

This is a lovely little picture book that retells the Jewish fable of Yosef Moker Shabbos – Yosef who cherishes the Shabbat. (or, as we know it, the Sabbath.) In the city of Zakrobat lives a miser named Balthosar. To make sure that his wealth stays his alone, he exchanged it all for a huge diamond. But circumstances work against him and ultimately, his wealth ends up with his neighbour Yosef, who is a poor cobbler but observant of the traditions and generous with his meagre riches. As I’m not Jewish, this story was just a regular fable to me with no religious significance as such. But it will be an interesting way for children to learn that stinginess doesn’t pay and generosity of spirit is much more important than worldly riches. ‘You get what you give’ – this is a moral that I diligently believe in, and it was nice to see the same moral arising from Yosef’s story. The illustrations are really well-drawn. The sketches will make you recollect old-time Russian storybooks with.. Read more
NetGalley, Roshni D'Souza