After the arrival of twins, Mama sends spirited Eva to work with Papa in the family music store where her antics prove to be no help at all. But from her first storekeeping lesson with Papa to her first day of school, Eva discovers how sweet learning can be.

By the award-winning author of The Gabi That Girma Wore, Not Just the Driver!, Challah for Shabbat Tonight, Woods and Words: The Sory of Poet Mary Oliver and Good Knight.

The Sweetest Taste

A Story of Family, Love of Learning, and Tradition

It’s time for Eva to begin her first year of school, but she’d much rather help Papa in the music store. She doesn’t understand the fuss at school about standing in a line and sitting in a circle when it’s much better to spin in a circle and never sit at all.

But a piano in a music room reminds her of the sweet sounds of home, just as a slice of Papa’s honey cake reminds her of the sweet taste of learning.

For fans of Patricia Polacco’s and Tomie dePaola’s picture books, The Sweetest Taste is a warm and satisfying story of family, tradition, and love of learning.

Categories: picture book, Jewish gift book
THEMES: Learning; Jewish; tradition; family; art deco; 1920s; music shop; honey; cake; new sibling; music; school; classroom: Rosh Hashanah

Publishing date: July 7th 25th 2026
ISBN: 9781958325483 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 9781958325506 (E-book)
Hardback: $18.99 US
Length: 32 pages
Size: 10.5 x 9 inches
Ages: 3-8
Grade: K-Gr2

AUTHOR: Sara Holly Ackerman
ILLUSTRATOR: Juliana Oakley

Tie-ins to Jewish New Year and Back to School season
A story of family traditions and love of learning
Book is unique for its cultural tie-in to Judaism, and for the intersection of humor and history.
Jewish Joy
Backmatter with a bit of history, bibliography, and honey cake recipe
Award-winning author with multiple Jewish books
For readers of Patricia Polacco and Tomie DePaola

Available at your favorite bookstores or online retailers. For WHOLESALE please order through your Hachette account. Also available at any other library or other distributors, like Brodart, Folette, or Ingram, etc.

About the Authors

Sara Holly Ackerman is a school librarian and children’s book author in Brooklyn, New York. Her other books include The Gabi That Girma Wore, Not Just the Driver!, Challah for Shabbat Tonight, Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver, and Good Knight. Visit her at sarahollyackerman.com

Juliana Oakley is an illustrator in love with color. Ever since early childhood, she has been drawing and scribbling on everything she could get her hands on. She finds inspiration in her family, travels, nature, and childhood memories. Her art often begins as pencil sketches and is finished digitally. Originally from Latvia, Juliana now lives in Bahrain. Visit her at JulianaOakley.com

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