Please welcome award-winning guest author, Elizabeth Suneby, and author-illustrator, Laurel Molk,
with their newest book, No Room for a Pup! published by Kids Can Press.
This fun read-aloud, cleverly illustrated book is a hilarious twist on a revered Yiddish folktale about
gratitude popularized in It Could Always Be Worse, published in 1977.
In No Room for a Pup!, an urban neighborhood replaces an Eastern European shtetl, a small
apartment replaces a one-room hut, and a girl who takes matters into her own hands to solve her “I
want a dog” dilemma replaces a rabbi who solves a family’s perceived problem. Perfect for dog lovers of any age. Warning parents: this book could convince you to get a pup. [picture book, for ages 4 and up]
We are giving away three signed copies of Elizabeth and Laurel’s book. Please fill out the
Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.
p.s. Here are a few more:
With a Needle and Thread: A Jewish Folktale from Cuba by Jennifer Stempel, illustrated by Libi Axelrod
Nothing goes to waste. When Romi outgrows her dress, her abuelita finds a way to create something new out of it. Her dress becomes a blanket for a new baby, a prayer shawl for Manuel, and a chuppah for their wedding. Romi and her dress have become a symbol of the strength of their Jewish community in Santiago, Chile. This is a folktale that feels both modern and timeless. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
The Blue Butterfly of Cochin by Ariana Mizrahi, illustrated by Siona Benjamin
The story begins with Leah, who lives in a Jewish community located in India in the city of Cochin. After three thousand years of living here, they decided to relocate to the newly formed state of Israel. A blue butterfly comforts Leah as she contemplates the big move. In her new home in Israel, she misses her life in India but the blue butterfly follows her to help her realize that both locations can be considered home. This is a true story that feels like a modern folktale. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Seven Good Years: A Yiddish Folktale by Shoham Smith, translated by Ilana Kurshan, illustrated by Eitan Eloa
This is a folk tale about appreciating what you have and living a simple good life. A family is granted a fortune by a magical person for only seven years. He gives them a pile of gold but when he returns in seven years, he is surprised that they kept their simple life, using the gold only to pay for their children’s education. They only took what they needed and returned the remaining gold to the magical person who rewarded them with seven more good years. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
13 Jewish Folktale-Inspired Books
It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
This award-winning book communicates the importance of gratitude through a classic telling of the
admired Yiddish folktale. Get ready to be taken back to a small town in Eastern Europe in the 1800s. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
Another award-winning book featuring a Yiddish folktale, this time teaching that you can always
make something, even out of nothing. The engaging format keeps kids guessing what Joseph makes
next. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
Take another trip to a shtetl in this retelling of Joseph’s Overcoat to learn how a grandfather
lovingly transforms a favorite blanket over and over again. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Bone Button Borscht by Aubrey Davis, illustrated by Dusan Petricic
A retelling of the classic Stone Soup tale teaches the power of community and cooperation taught
by none other than a local beggar. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Gathering Sparks by Howard Schwartz, illustrated by Kristina Swarner
Another award-winning retelling of a folktale, this time of a 16th-century myth, inspires readers to
see that we all can make the world a better place. Tikkun olam (repair the world) is beautifully
illustrated and told. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Rabbi Harvey series by Steve Sheinkin
A funny, action-packed story inspired by classic Jewish folktales, Talmudic teachings, and insights of
the wise men of Chelm—an imaginary Polish town inhabited by fools. For upper elementary and
middle school readers. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Never Say a Mean Word Again by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard
A tale from Medieval Spain teaches that kindness and friendship are often the best antidote to
meanness. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz
Yet another award-winning retelling of a folktale. Think of this book as a lesson in “wherever you go,
there you are” — that is, there’s no place like home to find your treasure. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
The Rooster Prince of Breslov by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
What a joy to find a book where the author captures the folktale her grandmother learned a century
ago in Eastern Europe and shared with her. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
No Room for a Pup! 3 Signed Book GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away three signed copies of Elizabeth and Laurel’s book. Please fill out the
Rafflecopter below to enter.
Laurel Molk has always loved to draw and sold her first drawings to her neighbors for a penny apiece. She went on to earn degrees from Tufts and RISD and after several years of freelance illustration focused her attention on illustrating picture books. In her spare time Laurel tutors emerging readers in a first/second grade classroom and draws large dragons and spaceships for her local library. She lives near Boston with her family, a big black dog and a flock of ducks. Learn more at her website.
Elizabeth Suneby is an award-winning author who writes books for children and teens to help them find their voice in a hopeful world. She leads interactive workshops with students across Massachusetts and the country. Liz also writes magazine articles and content for organizations. A graduate of Brown University, Liz lives outside of Boston. She and her husband are empty-nesters, grateful that their two recent college graduates live and work locally. Learn more at her website.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
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Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
What a terrific, and timely, list! Thanks for sharing!
And for favorites, I loved Gittel’s Journey.
Adam & Eve’s New Day by Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Excellent list! Have read a few books you’ve mentioned, but see more I could read.
One of my favorite picture books is A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A story about knitting and love by Michelle Edwards, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Mrs. Goldman is the elderly neighbor of Sophia, and together they knit and perform good deeds.
“The Rooster Prince of Breslov” has such great cover art! I’m going to try to look that up!
I loved Stone Soup when I read it to my older sons. Other books I have enjoyed with my children 1) All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee , 2) Another Sheep Turned Up by Laura Gehl, and 3) The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street Yehuda Street. Thanks for the list and the chance.
One of my all time favorite books is Bagels for Benny.
Ha! I love the “It could always be worse” tale, so excited to see a new spin on the tail 😉
In addition to “Stone Soup”, which is an evergreen favorite and was a big hit when my mom used to teach it to her 1st graders and make soup in the classroom, I recently read “Dreidel Day” by Amalia Hoffman, which was delightful.
We used to read Stone Soup so much that the book fell apart so I will go with that one.
would be amazing to win. great find
I loved Stone Soup and Bagels for Benny. Great lessons to be read over and over again.
Ida, Always
A HAT FOR MRS GOLDMAN.
I have never read any of these. I did see several i think my grandkids would love me to read to them though. No Room for Pup looks like a great book also.
I love Abuelita’s Secret Matzahs , The Tree in the Courtyard, My Grandfather’s Coat. As a Jewish mom I love finding new books for my children and myself.
Chik Chak Shabbat
My favorite Jewish picture book is “Ida, Always”.
I haven’t read any picture books with Jewish themes.
Oh, I missed the giveaway but did enjoy this book list! Thanks Mia!