New Releases by Nancy Churnin

Hanukkah is a holiday known for the miracle of the oil, of light lasting longer than was thought possible. This is the story of a modern-day Hanukkah miracle, a menorah bringing light when it''s needed most. When the synagogue of Mariupol was bombed by Russia in 2022, everyone thought the large menorah that was the center of the Jewish community''s Hanukkah celebration was destroyed. But in a modern-day Hanukkah miracle, the menorah was found, just in time to bring its light to the Jews of Mariupol, now refugees scattered all over the world. The candles were lit by a Ukranian helper and drove away the darkness, uniting everyone in the warm glow of hope.

Discover the fascinating true story of Jewish immigrants who played a key role in the creation of the beloved teddy bear, connecting their humble Brooklyn candy shop to the President of the United States. Rose Katz and Morris Michtom grew up in Russia during a period of persecution against Jewish people. Hoping to find kindness and opportunity in another country, they emigrated to the United States, where they got married and opened a candy shop. In 1902, they read a newspaper article about President Theodore Roosevelt sparing a bear on a hunting trip. To the delight of their daughter, Emily, the Michtoms created a small, stuffed version of the animal and named it Teddy''s Bear. Before long, this cuddly symbol of one man''s act of compassion became a beloved toy that continues to delight children all over the world.

This collection of stories and poems by sixteen Jewish writers portrays the magic of Hanukkah for each person who celebrates it, as well as what it means to be Jewish. Celebrate Hanukkah with a diverse collection of poems and stories filled with history, humor, and hope. Cheer on a young baker as he tries to make sufganiyot from a family recipe. Learn about code breakers in England during World War II. Imagine hosting a refugee cousin or finding long-lost relatives. In this anthology, characters make discoveries, connect with family and friends, and mourn loved ones. Encompassing a range of genres and experiences, there’s something for readers of all faiths in the illuminating pages of The Festival of Lights.

A true story of allyship and standing up to anti-LGBTQ hate. A 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Book Winner When a lesbian couple comes home one day to find their Pride flag stolen and their front porch egged, the sense of belonging they had felt in their community is threatened. Are they safe in their house? The support they need comes from an unexpected place--the neighborhood''s children. Together, the local kids create a plan to show Cari and Lauri just how valued they are in the community. Based on real-life events, Rainbow Allies tells the story of how a Massachusetts neighborhood rallied together around Cari and Lauri--and their dogs, Twink and Scout--to make them feel welcomed and loved again after an act of hate. Written by multi-award-winning author Nancy Churnin, this book is an inspiring introduction to allyship for young readers and changemakers. Backmatter includes guidance for how children can be LGBTQ allies in their own communities.

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! Shabbat brings 1 table, 2 candles, and 3 braids in the challah, kittens waiting to be fed, friends knocking at the door, smiles all around, and more. Count from 1 to 10 as you get ready for Shabbat.

How an enterprising woman helped establish a tradition that Americans still observe today. When Esther Howland first saw the fancy valentine her father brought home from England, most Americans thought Valentine''s Day was a waste of time. But through the card, Esther felt how much her father loved her. Could she help others express themselves in the same way?

This tender story explores the impact of a parent''s cancer diagnosis on a child''s daily life, while offering kids ways to help loved ones on their recovery journey. This poignant story follows a child who watches her mother go through the pain and distress of hospital stays, surgery, and chemotherapy. She helps her mother by sharing jokes, crafting get-well cards, and giving hugs, and she tries to be understanding when they can’t do all the things they used to do. Finally, after a year of treatment, her mother gets to ring the bell that means she is better.

An Irish immigrant moves to America, bringing along a now-beloved Halloween tradition.

William Ellsworth Hoy amaba el beisbol sobre todo lo demás. Cuando le dijeron que era muy pequeño para el equipo de su escuela, no dejó que nada lo detuviera, ¡ practicó hasta ser lo suficientemente bueno como para jugar en las grandes ligas! Ser sordo en las grandes ligas no fue fácil, ya que poca gente usaba el lenguaje de señas en la década de 1880. A William se le dificultaba leer los labios en el campo de juego y algunos jugadores lo intentaban confundir. Pero tampoco dejó que eso lo detuviera. ¡William les enseñó a los ampáyeres a hacer señas de mano para que pudiera ver todas las decisiones, y entonces realmente comenzó a anotar! Descubre como Dummy Hoy se convirtió en uno de los más grandes y amados jugadores de su época al hacer del beisbol un mejor juego. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION William Ellsworth Hoy loved baseball more than anything. When he was told he was too short for his school team, he wouldn''t let that stop him— he practiced and became good enough to play in the major leagues! Being deaf in the major leagues wasn’t easy, since few people used sign language in the 1880s. William had a hard time reading lips on the field and some players tried to trick him. But he wouldn’t let that stop him either. William taught the umpires hand signals so he could see the calls, and then he really started to score! Discover how Dummy Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time as he made baseball a better game.

Henrietta Szold took Queen Esther as a model and worked hard to save the Jewish people. In 1912, she founded the Jewish women''s social justice organization, Hadassah. Henrietta started Hadassah determined to offer emergency medical care to mothers and children in Palestine. When WWII broke out, she rescued Jewish children from the Holocaust, and broadened Hadassah''s mission to include education, youth development, and women''s rights. Hadassah offers free help to all who need it and continues its mission to this day.

2021 National Jewish Book Award Winner - Children''s Picture Book 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor for Picture Books Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021 The Best Jewish Children''s Books of 2021, Tablet Magazine A Junior Library Guild Selection March 2022 The Best Children''s Books of the Year 2022, Bank Street College 2022 First Place—Children''s Book Nonfiction, Press Women of Texas 2022 First Place—Children''s Book Nonfiction, National Federation of Press Women Eliza Davis believed in speaking up for what was right. Even if it meant telling Charles Dickens he was wrong. In Eliza Davis''s day, Charles Dickens was the most celebrated living writer in England. But some of his books reflected a prejudice that was all too common at the time: prejudice against Jewish people. Eliza was Jewish, and her heart hurt to see a Jewish character in Oliver Twist portrayed as ugly and selfish. She wanted to speak out about how unfair that was, even if it meant speaking out against the great man himself. So she wrote a letter to Charles Dickens. What happened next is history.

Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. were born the same year a world apart. Both faced ugly prejudices and violence, which both answered with words of love and faith in humanity. This is the story of their parallel journeys to find hope in darkness and to follow their dreams.

A Mighty Girl''s 2020 Books of the Year The true story of the unconventional woman and her enduring song about the spirit of America. Katharine Lee Bates first wrote the lines to "America the Beautiful" after a stirring visit to Pikes Peak in 1893. But the story behind the song begins with Katharine herself, who pushed beyond conventional expectations of women to become an acclaimed writer, scholar, suffragist, and reformer. Katharine believed in the power of words to make a difference, and in "America the Beautiful," her vision of the nation as a great family, united from sea to shining sea, continues to uplift and inspire us all.

Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn''t see any artists who looked like her. She didn''t see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. Her portraits still hang in Washington DC''s National Portrait Gallery, where children of all skin tones can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.

The true story of the kind, unconventional queen who introduced the Christmas tree to her adopted country. Queen Charlotte brought her family''s festive holiday yule bough from Germany to England. While planning a Christmas Day party in 1800 at Windsor Castle for over 100 children, she realized a single bough isn''t enough. So she brought in the whole tree instead, making it the first known Christmas Tree in England. This story tells a little known fact about a favorite holiday tradition.

Irving Berlin came to the United States as a refugee from Tsarist Russia, escaping a pogrom that destroyed his village. Growing up on the streets of the lower East Side, the rhythms of jazz and blues inspired his own song-writing career. Starting with his first big hit, Alexander''s Ragtime Band, Berlin created the soundtrack for American life with his catchy tunes and irresistible lyrics. With "God Bless America," he sang his thanks to the country which had given him a home and a chance to express his creative vision.

2018 Eureka! Nonfiction Children''s Book Honor Award, presented by the California Reading Association When the rules kept Charlie Sifford from playing in the Professional Golf Association, he set out to change them. Charlie Sifford loved golf, but in the 1930''s only white people were allowed to play in the Professional Golf Association. Sifford had won plenty of Black tournaments, but he was determined to break the color barrier in the PGA. In 1960 he did, only to face discrimination from hotels that wouldn''t rent him rooms and clubs that wouldn''t let him use the same locker as the white players. But Sifford kept playing, becoming the first Black golfer to win a PGA tournament and eventually ranking among the greats in golf.

Dashrath Manjhi used a hammer and chisel, grit, determination, and twenty years to carve a path through the mountain separating his poor village from the nearby village with schools, markets, and a hospital. Manjhi Moves a Mountain shows how everyone can make a difference if their heart is big enough.

New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2016 2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book 2017 Best Children''s Books of the Year, Bank Street College "[Churnin] tells William''s story patiently and clearly, with a wonderfully matter-of-fact tone about the ways a deaf person navigates life."—New York Times Book Review "A rewarding read-aloud choice for baseball fans."—Booklist "A moving tribute to a hero."—Kirkus Reviews William Hoy''s love for baseball changed the sport forever. All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder―eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires'' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William "Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time.