2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award
Happy Hanukkah to all my readers who are celebrating this year! I love learning about cultural and religious celebrations throughout the year. Every family has their own traditions surrounding how they celebrate holidays which means you’ll never find a book that accurately portrays every holiday experience. But, I think it’s important for kids to learn about cultures they themselves might not celebrate.
Typically this time of year I try to share some Hanukkah-themed read alouds that are great to share with kids. This year, I’m going to go a different route. Similar to highlighting Native authors and illustrators last month, today I’m sharing the 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award winners.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award “recognizes titles for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.” It has been awarded by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968. I appreciate awards like this to help me better read and suggest titles that are accurate portrayals of life experiences.
2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award – Gold Medalists
- The Book Rescuer: How a Mensch from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come by Sue Macy, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
- White Bird by R.J. Palacio
- Someday We Will Fly by Rachel DeWoskin
2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award – Silver Medalists
- Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Amy June Bates
- The Key from Spain by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer
- Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
- Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work by Victoria Ortiz
- Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Germany by Andrew Maraniss
- Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz
If you’re looking for more great Jewish authors and illustrators in the kid lit world, check out PJ Library!
