The Association of Jewish Libraries is pleased to announce that ten titles have been selected for its seasonal AJL Holiday Highlights list, celebrating Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah. These titles are AJL’s picks for the best Jewish holiday children’s books of Fall 2025. Titles that are selected as Holiday Highlights exemplify the highest standards of authentic Jewish representation and holiday spirit in both writing and illustration. A committee of expert judges recommends these books for libraries, booksellers, schools, and families. AJL hopes that the publishing world will look to the quality of these examples when creating new children’s books about Jewish holidays. Holiday Highlights titles are named twice a year, for the spring and fall publishing seasons. Submissions are being accepted now for the Spring 2026 list. Please email holidayhighlig...@jewishlibraries.org <mailto:holidayhighlig...@jewishlibraries.org> to send digital review copies or to request instructions for sending print review copies. An annotated list of the Fall 2025 AJL Holiday Highlights can be found HERE <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://jewishlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Fall-2025-List-Holiday-Highlights.pdf__;!!KGKeukY!wYTWWYzcUl5Nwfz3L47SCWzFVFVi-KiWVtyrZmkXpH_sUu1AoJBxQK6BDO7GdEK3glU5M-K7w9lX6byAkb0e6vK7UukNcIwG$ >. The committee has selected three books about the holiday of Shabbat, which begins every Friday evening and ends every Saturday evening:
*The Shabbat I Know by Chris Barash, illustrated by Rinat Gilboa, published by Green Bean Books (a board book for ages 0-2) *Slow Down Shoshi: It’s Shabbat in Uganda by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev, published by Kalaniot Books (a picture book for ages 4-8) *Shabbat Is… by A.J. Sass, illustrated by Noa Kelner, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (a picture book for ages 4-8) The committee has selected three books about the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 22 and ends on the evening of September 24, 2025, and Yom Kippur begins on the evening of October 1 and ends on the evening of October 2, 2025. The ten days between these two holidays are known as the “Days of Awe.” *Anyada Buena, Shanah Tovah by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Maria Mola, published by Kar-Ben Publishing (a Rosh Hashanah board book for ages 1-3) *A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff, published by Dial Books (a Days of Awe novel for ages 10-14) *Lily’s Hong Kong Honey Cake by Erica Lyons, illustrated by Bonnie Pang, published by Apples & Honey Press (a Rosh Hashanah picture book for ages 4-8) Three books were selected for the holiday of Hanukkah, which begins on the evening of December 14, 2025 and ends on the evening of December 22, 2025: *Lost and Found Hanukkah by Joy Preble, illustrated by Lisa Anchin, published by Chronicle Books (picture book for ages 4-8) *Construction Site Hanukkah Lights: A Hanukkah Lift-the-Flap Book by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Shawna J.C. Tenney, published by Chronicle Books (a board book for ages 2-4) *The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Leanne Hatch, published by Clarion Books (a picture book for ages 4-8) One book was selected which covers Jewish holidays around the year: *My Body Can by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo, published by Apples & Honey Press (a picture book for ages 2-5) AJL’s Fall 2025 Holiday Highlights judges are Judy Ehrenstein, Children's Librarian, Montgomery County Public Libraries’ White Oak Branch in Silver Spring, MD; Dina Herbert, Past AJL President, Alexandria, VA; Susan Kusel, author and Dream On Books consultant, Arlington, VA; Melissa Lasher, writer and journalist, Nashville, TN; and Heidi Rabinowitz, Library Director, Congregation B’nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL. The Association of Jewish Libraries, the leading authority on Judaic librarianship, is an international professional organization that fosters access to information and research in all forms of media relating to all things Jewish. The Association promotes Jewish literacy and scholarship and provides a community for peer support and professional development. For more information, visit jewishlibraries.org <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://jewishlibraries.org/__;!!KGKeukY!wYTWWYzcUl5Nwfz3L47SCWzFVFVi-KiWVtyrZmkXpH_sUu1AoJBxQK6BDO7GdEK3glU5M-K7w9lX6byAkb0e6vK7Uu2uerT3$ >.
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