Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year
Apples & Honey Press is honored and delighted to have four titles make the list of the 2023 Edition of Bank Street College of Education’s “Best Children’s Books of the Year”!
This list “includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2022.” Apples & Honey Press titles were featured in four different categories between two age lists.
Family/School/Community, ages 5-9
Dance the Hora, Isadora by Gloria Koster, illustrated by Barbara Bongini
Her ballet classmates have all shared their favorite dances, but Isadora doesn’t have one. Will she discover it at her cousin’s wedding?
Animated bold color illustrations capture the traditional Jewish circle dance.
Historical Fiction, ages 5-9
The Chocolate King by Michael Leventhal, illustrated by Laura Catalán
In 1630 Benjamin’s Jewish family escapes to France from Spain with only their hot chocolate recipe and some chocolate beans.
Detailed color illustrations.
Holidays and Religion, ages 5-9
Mr. Mintz’s Blintzes by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Esther Hernando
When beloved Mr. Mintz is injured and can’t make his famous blintzes for Shavuot, his neighbors show their gratitude and love for him.
Colorful, whimsical illustrations. Recipe included.
Holidays and Religion, ages under 5
In Our Teeny Tiny Matzah House by Bill Wurtzel and Claire Wurtzel, illustrated by Bill Wurtzel
Told by Kitzel the cat, this rollicking holiday tale is reminiscent of the Yiddish folktale “It Could Be Worse.”
Food art collage illustrations enliven the story.
Congratulations to all our authors and illustrators on this national recognition of the “excellence of presentation” in their stories, including the “credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.”
