New Releases by Sylvia A. Rouss

Sammy Spider wants to taste the golden honey the Shapiros set out for a sweet New Year. Mom tells him to stick to spinning webs, but will curious Sammy listen?

Inside, outside, upside down! Where is Sammy Spider now? Swinging on an apple, from the roof of the Shapiro family sukkah, he is learning about the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Sammy watches as Josh and his parents build and decorate the little hut. Then as a special treat, Sammy even gets to sleep there under the stars!

Sammy Spider wants to help Josh get ready for Purim. Instead, he gets stuck inside a grogger. How will he escape?

Sammy Spider crawls down his web to inspect the candy apple Josh has attached to his Simchat Torah flag. When Josh leaves for synagogue, he doesn't notice the spider stuck to his apple! Atop Josh's flag, Sammy joins the Simchat Torah parade, dances with the Torah, and learns about this very special holiday in the Jewish year. Young readers will learn how Simchat Torah is celebrated, as Jews finish reading their "favorite book" the Torah, and start all over again, just as Josh loves to do with his own books! A wonderful new addition to the Sammy Spider series from the team of Sylvia A. Rouss and Katherine Janus Kahn.

Curious about the Jewish holidays? Very young readers learn about holiday customs with everyone's favorite inquisitive spider! Covering Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, Passover, Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, and Shavuot, this colorful board book highlights a key feature of each holiday. On Yom Kippur we say we're sorry. On Hanukkah we light the candles. We eat special foods at the Passover seder. In celebration of Sammy Spider's 20th anniversary, Kar-Ben introduces the first Sammy Spider board book, a book of Jewish holidays for very young children with one simple holiday fact per page, illustrated with iconic Sammy Spider art.

When Josh breaks the rules and plays ball indoors, he finds himself apologizing not only to his parents, but to Sammy Spider as well. A Yom Kippur story about saying, "I'm sorry."

Sammy Spider goes through the English alphabet using the Jewish holidays and traditions celebrated by the Shapiro family. With its sweet rhymes and iconic illustrations, this book is a fun new addition to the Sammy Spider collection.

A first Jewish prayer book introduces children to daily and Shabbat prayers, plus special prayers. Sammy Spider watches Josh Shapiro and his family as they recite standard prayers for a variety of occasions. Engaging, rhyming text explains when and why Josh prays. This giftable book includes the prayers: Modeh Ani, Prayer, Hamotzi, Birkat Hamazon, Sh’ma, Hashkiveinu, Shabbat Blessings, Ye’vare’checha, Havadalah, Shehechiyanu, Mi Sheberach, Tefilat Haderech, A Prayer for our Country, A Prayer for Jerusalem, Mourner’s Kaddish, and Oseh Shalom.

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! Uh oh! Curious Sammy Spider slips from his web and accidentally accompanies the Shapiro family to a wedding. Sammy watches the Jewish ceremony as the bride and groom stand under the beautiful chuppah, hears the seven wedding blessings, and—phew!—narrowly escapes as the groom's foot breaks the wedding glass. What an adventure!

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! Join Sammy Spider on his stow-away adventure as he tours Israel and learns the many meanings of "shalom."

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! When Sammy Spider's web gets swept away during the Shapiro family's Passover cleaning, his mother decides spring is a perfect time to make a new web. As Sammy learns to spin, he gets involved in the Passover seder and plays an important role in the success of the holiday meal. “An adorable story with vibrant cut-out illustrations and a surprise ending. The whole family will enjoy this charming story. . . . ” —Parent Council

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! Sammy Spider watches longingly as Josh Shapiro lights another candle and receives another brightly-colored dreidel each night of Hanukkah.

Kar-Ben Read-Aloud eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting to bring eBooks to life! When an Israeli family moves in next door to the Shapiros, Sammy Spider and Josh learn about the Jewish mitzvah of welcoming guests. In the process, they each make a new friend and learn some Hebrew words.

Sammy leads young children through the steps of the Passover seder, telling the story of the Exodus, asking and answering the Four Questions, and sampling the traditional foods. Includes creative readings and songs, as well as colorful paper collage art by Katherine Janus Kahn.

All the children in Miss Sharon's class have brought their favorite fruits to decorate the sukkah. But when Michael brings a watermelon, the class must find a way to hang it!

Sammy Spider sneaks onto Josh's lunch box and accompanies him to school, where he learns about the important Jewish value of being kind to animals.

"What's a recipe?" Sammy Spider asks his mother as he watches Mrs. Shapiro make blintzes for Shavuot. As Sammy follows the holiday preparations, young readers will learn how the Torah, which was given on Shavuot, is also a "recipe for life."

Michael thinks school would be more fun without rules and gets his wish. But is it exactly what he was hoping for?

Sammy Spider watches longingly as the Shapiro family prepares to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath, and when the day finally arrives, even he observes one of its customs.