Abi accidentally summons 10 golems to his house when he's trying to practice Hebrew one day. He hospitably welcomes them into his home and the golems Abi accidentally summons 10 golems to his house when he's trying to practice Hebrew one day. He hospitably welcomes them into his home and the golems help him "fight" with Hebrew as he learns the new language.
Themes: Jewish life, myths/legends, Hebrew, Troublemaking/Consequences Age range: Preschool-Early Elementary...more
A well-written story about one girl grieving the loss of her grandfather as she feels his absence at her family's Passover seder. Throughout the coursA well-written story about one girl grieving the loss of her grandfather as she feels his absence at her family's Passover seder. Throughout the course of the night, however, she sees the way he remains present as the family carries on their traditions.
Themes: Jewish Life and Traditions, Grief/Loss, Family, Grandparents Age range: Preschool-Elementary...more
A really lovely story about the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, and how a community of diverse faiths worked together to keep it safe in the face ofA really lovely story about the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, and how a community of diverse faiths worked together to keep it safe in the face of war and prejudice.
Themes: Books, Judaism, We're All the Same/We're All Different Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary...more
This was an interesting book that just didn't go hard enough for me, perhaps because I came to it after listening to the interview with Klein on JewisThis was an interesting book that just didn't go hard enough for me, perhaps because I came to it after listening to the interview with Klein on Jewish Currents' On the Nose podcast. The section on Israel and Palestine in Doppelganger is actually pretty brief and could have been much more strongly worded and unequivocal. Ultimately I think I'd have been fine just listening to that podcast interview and skipping this....more
A beautiful story about generosity and sustainability drawn from Jewish folklore.
Themes: Generosity, Sustainability, Ocean, Fish, Sharing Age range: KiA beautiful story about generosity and sustainability drawn from Jewish folklore.
Themes: Generosity, Sustainability, Ocean, Fish, Sharing Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary...more
A rhyming celebration of challah that takes the reader through the process of baking this sweet braided bread. Notes at the end provide further informA rhyming celebration of challah that takes the reader through the process of baking this sweet braided bread. Notes at the end provide further information on the history and cultural significance of challah.
Themes: Bread, Family, Jewish Life, Rhyming Age range: Toddler-Preschool...more
A sweet and interesting book about how something that looks like bupkes, or nothing, can actually be the result of actions like cleaning up or sharingA sweet and interesting book about how something that looks like bupkes, or nothing, can actually be the result of actions like cleaning up or sharing--an empty garden as a consequence of sharing the harvest with a neighbor, for example. A great exploration of a Yiddish word.
Themes: Nothing/Everything, Consequences, Sharing Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary ...more
This was definitely a heartwarming story of the importance of knowledge and learning and the power of Jewish community, though the story was a little This was definitely a heartwarming story of the importance of knowledge and learning and the power of Jewish community, though the story was a little clumsily told-- the way that Papa is out of work because of having the flu for months and is then magically/suddenly better felt unrealistic. But besides that, which is pretty hairsplitting, this was a sweet story.
Themes: School, Learning, Jewish Community, History Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary...more
A beautifully-realized wordless picture book about the Passover tradition of afikomen and how, for the particular kids in this story, the practice of A beautifully-realized wordless picture book about the Passover tradition of afikomen and how, for the particular kids in this story, the practice of hiding away the afikomen transports them back to the moment when Moses was set into the rushes in ancient Egypt. A gorgeous and thoughtful book for sharing and discussing.
Themes: Passover, Jewish Tradition Age range: Kindergarten-up...more
A sweet story about wisdom, friendship, and interdependency.
Themes: Jewish philosophy, friendship, animals and humans, wisdom Age range: Kindergarten-EA sweet story about wisdom, friendship, and interdependency.
Themes: Jewish philosophy, friendship, animals and humans, wisdom Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary...more
A lovely retelling of the Jewish midrash of Rabbi Yohanan ben Torta, who, so the story goes, learned of the Jewish practice of Shabbat from his cow, pA lovely retelling of the Jewish midrash of Rabbi Yohanan ben Torta, who, so the story goes, learned of the Jewish practice of Shabbat from his cow, purchased from a Jewish family. A sweet story about learning from our neighbors and stopping to rest and give thanks.
Themes: Jewish Life and Tradition, Neighbors Age range: Toddler-Elementary...more
An outstanding picture book biography of Yaffa Eliach, focused primarily on her escape from her shtetl, Eishyshok, during the Holocaust, and her laterAn outstanding picture book biography of Yaffa Eliach, focused primarily on her escape from her shtetl, Eishyshok, during the Holocaust, and her later work constructing a memorial from photographs of the town’s residents. Richly illustrated and well-written, warm, heartbreaking, and meaningful.
Themes: War, History, Remembering/Memory, Family Age range: Elementary ...more
I thought this was a rich and thought-provoking book that would be great for discussing critically with students. It tells the historical fiction storI thought this was a rich and thought-provoking book that would be great for discussing critically with students. It tells the historical fiction story of Yossel, a Jewish boy who flees Russia with his family and emigrates to Navajo country, where he befriends a Navajo boy named Thomas and his family. The two boys become friends across and through their different cultures and languages, encountering the gaps and joys that come from communicating through difference. I did feel like there were missed opportunities for drawing parallels here—i.e. Yossel's family's displacement and the displacement of the Navajo people onto reservations (since a reservation is specifically mentioned, why not delve fully in to what that means?)—as well as missed opportunities for showing that just because Yossel's family is fleeing violence and discrimination, it doesn't render their move onto Navajo land neutral. The book's "feel-good" ending ("My name is Yossel. This is my house in the desert. This is my friend Thomas. We live in America.") left a sour taste in my mouth. This being said, I think precisely these problematic narrative moments are what could make this book really interesting for discussing and critiquing—taking Yossel's joke about the chicken as a starting point, for example. How does the story change when we change the perspective?
Themes: Immigration, Displacement, Language, Friendship Age range: Elementary...more
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