Books with author Jane Breskin Zalben

One day a mysterious new neighbor moves into apartment 5B upstairs. Eleven-year-old Alexandria and her best friend Jenny suspect she might be a witch or a vampire. After all, she speaks with a Transylvania accent, brews up concoctions with strange herbs and has a heavy trunk covered with foreign labels. Alex learns that people who are strange or different arent always to be feared. In fact, sometimes they can turn out to be friends."A portrait of an immensely likable sixth-grade girl dealing with the joys and tribulations of growing up while living with loss and learning to accept it."The Horn Book

"Andrew O. Blechman, aspiring comedian, makes a deal with his downstairs neighbor Lou Pearlstein, a former vaudevillian....The special relationship developed between Andrew and Mr. Pearlstein is especially heartwarming and satisfying. Jokes intertwined in a fictional story with lots of love and affection is sure to be a hit."Nassau Library System"Zalben excels at depicting the rich diversity and fast pace of New York City as a backdrop for an affectionate portrayal of a closely knit family...she succeeds in developing the intergenerational relationship between Andrew and his elderly pal."School Library Journal

Before the new baby is born, Beryl calls it Babka, hoping it will be a girl as sweet as Mama’s delicious chocolate dessert. When it finally arrives, though, Beryl is disappointed. Not only is the baby another boy (she already has one little brother, Sam), but he has a stupid name and is just a big dumb lump, not the gorgeous genius the grownups say he is. However, her wise Uncle Morty has a few tricks up his sleeve. With a little magic and a little assistance from Mama, the aunts, and some old baby pictures, their Uncle Morty helps Beryl and Sam see that some things are true and unchanging, like the sun in the sky above and a family’s love.Sharp and witty illustrations from popular artist Victoria Chess punctuate this easy-to-read chapter book about a unique and loving family.

Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four. But these aren't just any piano lessons. She studies at the Julliard School in New York, where careers are being formed—or not.Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn't have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she's never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother.So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?From the Hardcover edition.