Your PJ Our Way Books for April 2026

Across So Many Seas
By: Ruth Behar

Ages: 10+

272 pages

Across So Many Seas follows four generations of a family, from the 1492 expulsion of the Jews of Spain through Miami in 2003. In 1492, 12-year-old Benvenida is one of the few girls who can read and write. She lives in Toledo, Spain. When the Jews are expelled from the country, Benvenida’s parents decide to flee with the family. Eventually they travel to Constantinople (now Istanbul), where they settle for generations.

In 1923, 12-year-old Reina lives with her parents and sisters. On the night of Turkish independence, she and her best friend, a Muslim boy named Sadik, sneak out to attend the celebrations. Reina is the only girl there. Her father disowns her when he finds out and sends her to Cuba for an arranged marriage to a much older distant cousin.

In 1961, Reina's daughter Alegra is 12. The Cuban Revolution is underway, and Castro is closing synagogues and religious schools. Alegra volunteers for the government's new literacy campaign. She and her best friend, Teresita (an Afro-Cuban girl), are sent to a training camp. Alegra's older siblings flee to Israel with their families and Alegra goes back to live with her parents, who send her to Miami.

In 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, lives in Miami with her mother and father, an Afro-Cuban man who converted to Judaism. Her grandmother, Reina, lives nearby. The family travels to Spain to see where Reina's ancestors were from. Their tour guide at the Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo turns out to be the daughter-in-law of Sadik, Reina's best friend back in Turkey. Unfortunately, he had died the previous year. The book ends with Alegra's family celebrating Shabbat with Mari Luz's family.

Ellie’s Deli: In a Pickle
By: Johanna Hurwitz

Ages: 9+

224 pages

Fans of Ellie’s Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup! will enjoy this sequel, while those new to the series will easily follow along. Eleven-year-old Ellie Glantz is a worrier–and a problem-solver. Now that she has helped save her family’s kosher deli from going out of business, she finds herself ready and willing when a new dilemma comes along. Best friend Ava’s older cousin Charlie is distraught: her bat mitzvah venue has suddenly closed (and their synagogue social hall is under construction), leaving her with no options for a party spot. Can Ellie find a way to turn Lukshen Deli into a celebration destination–in less than two months?

Readers will root for Ellie as she helps out Charlie and also navigates difficulties at school (why is she always so behind on homework?) and among friends (new pal Nina continues to add some unwanted drama). Anxious Ellie learns what she can and should take on and what challenges should be shared with others; she discovers that it’s okay to ask for help and that it’s important to have fun. Sprinkled throughout this cheerfully illustrated chapter book are fourteen recipes ranging from easy (a pickle sandwich) to more complex (borscht).

Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop
By: Joshua Levy

Ages: 10+

256 pages

Finn and Ezra don’t have much in common. Finn is an only child and star student – he's desperate to get into a good college so can get some space from his overprotective parents. Ezra is the often-overlooked middle child from a large, chaotic, Orthodox family. Their lives collide when they end up in a time loop, celebrating their bar mitzvahs at the same New Jersey hotel over and over again. Despite their differences, the boys have to work together to figure out what’s going on, why it’s happening, and how to end the loop. With each reset, the boys uncover family secrets and learn more about themselves and each other. But will they be ready to exit the loop when the time comes?

The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell
By: Jordan Sonnenblick

Ages: 10+

224 pages

Popular children’s book author Jordan Sonnenblick provides an often-hilarious account of his year as a “shrimpy, nervous fourth grader” on Staten Island in the late 1970s. Also included are flashbacks to formative moments from his younger years, including teaching himself to swim at the local Jewish Community Center. Funny and anecdotal, the book includes lots of sports, drum lessons, fun pranks, and the various adventures of his pet garter snake. Amusing illustrations match the tone of this entertaining memoir about a kid who finds hope and humor even when life in fourth grade isn’t easy.