One of a Kind

December 1, 2023
Michelson and Green pay homage to a one-of-a-kind author. Born in 1904, book-loving Sarah Brenner is one of five sisters in a poor, Yiddish-speaking family in lower Manhattan. Both parents emigrated from Germany after facing antisemitism. Sarah loves celebrating the Jewish holidays, but her parents also encourage her and her sisters "to learn American customs, 'so you [won't] feel like foreigners in your own country.'" At age 14, Sarah adopts the masculine first name Sydney. Later, when she finds work as a secretary, her co-workers assume she isn't Jewish and make ugly antisemitic slurs--and she protests. She also speaks up for workers' rights and meets her future husband, Ralph Taylor. Upon marrying, she changes her name again--to Sydney Taylor. When her daughter asks why children's books don't feature Jewish characters, Sydney begins writing stories based on her own family history. But World War II is raging, and publishers aren't accepting immigrant stories. Sydney puts her stories aside and forgets about them. Ralph doesn't, however. After the war, he submits them to a story contest; All-of-a-Kind Family wins first prize. Published in 1951, it was "the first Jewish children's book to become popular with non-Jewish readers," as Michelson notes in the backmatter. Told in present tense, this is a lively, well-written tale about a renowned author who helped underrepresented kids see themselves in literature. The charming digital gouache illustrations capture period details and the cozy familial warmth of Taylor's own background. An effective, respectful treatment of a renowned author. (afterword, about Ralph Taylor, about Jo Taylor Marshall, author's note, bibliography, photographs, photo credits) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)

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January 15, 2024
Growing up in a poor family of Jewish immigrants on New York’s Lower East Side, Sydney Taylor, born Sarah Brenner (1904–1978), has a strong sense of self and purpose. Dropping the “shy and old-fashioned” name Sarah at 14 in favor of “modern” Sydney, she immerses herself in an art scene intertwined with socialist causes, finds her soulmate in Ralph Taylor, and—when their daughter wonders why the books they read are only about Christian children—writes stories of her own girlhood. Subdued digital gouache drawings by Greene are largely reportorial, but if this picture book biography feels at times visually restrained given the passion and persistence of its subject, it’s also laudable for honestly portraying success as a long time coming: it was only after WWII, “when maybe the world is finally ready to celebrate all customs and cultures,” Michelson writes, that All-of-a-Kind Family—“the first Jewish children’s book to become popular with non-Jewish readers,” per a note—is published. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 7–10.

January 1, 2024
Grades 2-4 Born in 1904, Sydney Taylor grew up in New York's Lower East Side, referred to in Michelson's text as "the smelliest, noisiest, most crowded neighborhood in the world." Yet Taylor's warm childhood memories, retold as fiction in All-of-a-Kind Family (1951) and its four sequels, reflected her happiness as one of five sisters observing religious holidays within a loving, Jewish family and learning American traditions at a nearby settlement house. As an adult, she danced with Martha Graham's company, did secretarial work, supported progressive causes, married, and raised a family. While reading to her children, she reflected on the continuing lack of Jewish characters in books for young people and decided to remedy the situation by writing stories based on her own childhood. The colorful illustrations provide lively character portrayals and settings for the story. The book's title refers to Taylor's individuality, contrasted with the five young sisters' "all-of-a-kind" look, due to their similar clothing. Additional details about Taylor's life appear in the back matter. Highly recommended for kids who have enjoyed reading or listening to Taylor's All-of-a-Kind Family series.

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January 26, 2024

K-Gr 4-Sarah Brenner grew up in a large Jewish family in a poor neighborhood. Taught to be helpful and obedient, she finds freedom in creative arts such as dance, theater, and writing. As she grows older, she no longer wants to be quiet: she changes her first name to Sydney, becomes the first female class representative at her high school, and calls out injustices and prejudices when she sees them. When her daughter Jo complains at the lack of Jewish families in children's literature, the woman who would publish books as Sydney Taylor begins to tell Jo stories of her own childhood. Her writing is eventually published as All-of-a-Kind Family, the first Jewish children's book to gain widespread popularity. This nonfiction picture book shares Taylor's life from childhood and ends abruptly with the publishing of her first book. It is only the afterword that explores the significance of her literary contributions: "Her books both showed and helped shape American Jewish identity in the twentieth century." It does seem like a missed opportunity not to explore this significance within the body of the text. Bright and friendly illustrations depict changing fashions and mores throughout Taylor's life. Transitions between pages are sometimes choppy, and may lead some readers to confusion. The back matter is full of interesting details, photographs, and research for the book. While this is a powerful story of a pioneer author sharing a cultural identity, Taylor's books are likely not familiar to many modern readers, which will curb this title's appeal. VERDICT This story of a groundbreaking Jewish American author is recommended for biography shelves.-Elizabeth Lovsin

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2024
Sydney Taylor (1904-1978), born Sarah Brenner, was the author of the All-of-a-Kind Family novels, known as the first Jewish children's books to be popular with a mainstream audience. Here, Michelson (a recipient of Taylor's eponymous award for As Good as Anybody and The Language of Angels) tells a portion of her story in a lighthearted picture-book biography. Much of the book focuses on the Lower East Side childhood on which Taylor's novels were based; it also touches on her socialist activism, her work as a dancer, and her marriage to Ralph Taylor. An emphasis throughout on her interest in books and writing culminates in the "happily ever after ending" of her first book's publication. The third-person present-tense narration focuses tightly on Taylor's internal life and, along with occasional dialogue, lends an immediate feel; an appended note acknowledges that much of that dialogue is invented, "but the thoughts, if not the exact words, are all taken from Syd's writings or [her daughter] Jo's recollections." Green's cool-hued digital gouache illustrations alternate straightforward scenes and spreads filled with vignettes highlighting aspects of Taylor's life. This introduction, mostly cheerful in focus and tone, provides useful context for her novels (Cummins and Dunietz's adult biography From Sarah to Sydney, rev. 7/21, paints a more complete picture). Back matter gives brief additional information about Taylor and her husband and daughter as well as a bibliography. Shoshana Flax

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Sydney Taylor (1904-1978), born Sarah Brenner, was the author of the All-of-a-Kind Family novels, known as the first Jewish children's books to be popular with a mainstream audience. Here, Michelson (a recipient of Taylor's eponymous award for As Good as Anybody and The Language of Angels) tells a portion of her story in a lighthearted picture-book biography. Much of the book focuses on the Lower East Side childhood on which Taylor's novels were based; it also touches on her socialist activism, her work as a dancer, and her marriage to Ralph Taylor. An emphasis throughout on her interest in books and writing culminates in the "happily ever after ending" of her first book's publication. The third-person present-tense narration focuses tightly on Taylor's internal life and, along with occasional dialogue, lends an immediate feel; an appended note acknowledges that much of that dialogue is invented, "but the thoughts, if not the exact words, are all taken from Syd's writings or �her daughter] Jo's recollections." Green's cool-hued digital gouache illustrations alternate straightforward scenes and spreads filled with vignettes highlighting aspects of Taylor's life. This introduction, mostly cheerful in focus and tone, provides useful context for her novels (Cummins and Dunietz's adult biography From Sarah to Sydney, rev. 7/21, paints a more complete picture). Back matter gives brief additional information about Taylor and her husband and daughter as well as a bibliography.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)