Top Childrenâs Books Feature a Passover Tale and 2 Coming-of-Age Debut Novels
BOSTON (JTA) â A heartwarming and beautifully illustrated Passover tale and two poignant coming-of-age debut novels are this yearâs gold medal winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards for the best in Jewish childrenâs literature.
The awards, given by the Association of Jewish Libraries, were announced Monday at the American Library Associationâs midwinter meeting as part of the ALAâs Youth Media Awards ceremony. The ALA conference was held remotely due to the pandemic.
In âWelcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail,â by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Susan Gal, a young boy celebrating a Passover Seder with his family is united with a lonely kitten shivering at his doorstep on a cold, windy night. The lyrically written story, echoing with the holidayâs theme of welcoming strangers, won in the picture-book category.