Mendel is always messing up. So, no one is more surprised than he, when the rabbi asks him to drive the Mitzvah Mobile through the streets of New York's Lower East Side and invite everyone to the Hanukkah Bash. What if he messes up again? But as Mendel begins to spread the joy of the holiday to his neighbors, he learns that mistakes can happen and sometimes that's not so bad.

“­An enjoyable story about friendship and positive self-image, this is one to consider for picture book collections.” —School Library Journal Avocado longs to be Today’s Special in this vibrant, pun-filled picture book by Chana Stiefel and Anna Süßbauer about self-discovery and the value of uplifting your friends. Avocado wants to stand out, but nothing seems to be working. With the help of her friends, she self-reflects and discovers that all along she was special. This social emotional learning story will help young readers to develop relationship skills and self-awareness. Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and The Food Group stories. It’s a delightful day at the Farmer’s Market. Zesty limes! Juicy peaches! Sweet corn! But Avocado has a pit in her stomach. She longs to be Today’s Special. Strolling through the aisles, Avocado asks her farm-fresh friends to help her discover what makes her stand out. Tomato offers to teach her salsa. Pumpkin proposes funny faces. Garlic suggests she add some zing! Nothing seems to work until—Ding ding!—the bright and shiny Toaster inspires Avocado to reflect more deeply. Chana Stiefel’s heartwarming text blends with Anna Süßbauer’s eye-popping illustrations spark sweet and meaningful conversations about self-discovery and friendship.