Who Know's Ten?
Children's Tales of the Ten Commandments
By Molly Cone
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A favorite of parents and children alike, Molly Cone's stories illustrate the deep and hidden meanings of the Ten Commandments. Each chapter begins with a commandment and contains a simple yet elegant tale of timeless truth. Young readers will discover fresh meaning in the Ten Commandments, learning about life, how to live it well, and what is good. New, full-color illustrations by Robin Brickman enrich and enliven the stories.
Description from Publisher
Molly Cone has written a superb collection of short stories designed to put the Ten Commandments into a context that children can understand. Far from being preachy, these stories show characters that exemplify the Ten Commandments in their everyday life. The stories range from a couple that desperately wants to adopt to a king desperate to find the sweetest sound of all. Families will love to read these stories as standalone tales during storytime or they can use them to branch off on a discussion about the Ten Commandments. An excellent choice for preschoolers and elementary school children.
Lori's Description
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Fins and Scales:
A Kosher Tale
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Eat no eagle! Eat no gnat! And never serve souffle of bat!
In crisp, comic rhyme, the Jewish dietary laws are explained as Yoni shops
in Jerusalem's old city market.
from the Publisher
When eight-year-old Yoni is given money from his Grandma Kate, he decides to buy some snacks. But his parents tell him that he can get whatever he wants, as long as it is Kosher. What results is a hilarious rhyming description of the laws of Kashruth. This picture book is the perfect way to explain the Kosher rules to even the most cynical preschooler or elementary-aged child.
Lori's Description
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You Can Do a Mitzvah
(Board Book)
By Judyth Saypol Groner
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A mitzvah is something you do to help someone else and you're never too young to start.
Description from Publisher
Bright illustrations show children performing various mitzvot. The limited plot makes this too advanced for toddlers. Parents of preschoolers and younger elementary children can use this as a stepping stone to start a discussion about mitzvot.
Lori's Description
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Goodnight Sh'ma
(Very First Board Books)
By Jacqueline Jules
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A Jewish child gets ready for bed and says the traditional Sh'ma prayer in this board book with rhyming text. Charming illustrations by award-winning artist Melanie Hall.
Description from Publisher
Finally, a picture book that will take its place beside Goodnight Moon as the must-read beadtime story for Jewish babies.
Description from Jewish Living Magazine
[This is a board book] that can withstand being pulled, dropped, or even chewed by an infant, who will enjoy sitting in a parent’s or grandparent’s lap, and looking at the pictures, and over time, absorbing information rendered in rhyme by Jules.
Description from San Diego Jewish World
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Sammy Spider's First Day of School
By Sylvia A. Rouss and Katherine Janus Kahn
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It’s Sammy’s lucky day when he hitches a ride to preschool in Josh’s backpack! The children are learning the Jewish principle of kindness to animals, but what will happen when they discover a scary spider in the classroom? Every child will identify with this peek into a busy preschool day.
Description from Publisher
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The Ten Commandments for Jewish Children
By Miriam Nerlove
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Delicate watercolors paint the drama of Moses' delivering the Ten Commandments
to the Israelites. With a turn of the page, Nerlove's succinct history segues into a
restatement of the laws, with each of the commandments receiving a double-page
spread encased in a tablet shape. Beneath its Arabic and Hebraic numeral, a large,
boldface statement of the commandment appears, followed by a brief and relevant
explanation of its meaning. The opposite page illustrates a contemporary application
of the commandment in children's lives. The laws' continuity is reaffirmed on the
concluding page, where a young shepherd, representing history, and two
modern-day children hold up the tablets on which the commandments appear. Sure
to engage children in a discussion of the fundamental basis of their faith, this will
be a popular selection for libraries serving Jewish patrons.
Description from Booklist
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A Mezuzah on the Door
By Amy Meltzer
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Awards:
- A Sydney Taylor Award Notable Book
Moving is tough! Young readers will relate to the story of a little boy who moves from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs and must adjust to his new surroundings.
The Jewish tradition of putting up a mezuzah on the door and the accompanying celebration help his transition to his new home.
Description from Publisher
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Because Nothing Looks Like God
By Lawrence Kushner
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What is God like? Mixing sparks of curiosity and spiritual imagination,
this wondrous book lights children’s creativity and shows how God is with
us everyday, in every way.
In this, their first collaborative book, husband-and-wife team Lawrence
and Karen Kushner combine their experience to help introduce children to
the possibilities of spiritual life. Real-life examples of happiness and
sadness-from goodnight stories, to the hope and fear felt the first time
at bat, to the closing moments of someone’s life-invite parents and
children to explore, together, the questions we all have about God, no
matter what our age.
Description from Jewish Lights Publishing
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What Does God Look Like?
(Board Book)
By Lawrence and Karen Kushner
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A Simple way for young children to explore the ways we "see" God..
Filled with real-life examples from a child's everyday world, this beautifully
illustrated, enchanting book invites young children--and their adults--to explore
things that, like God, are all around us--even though we can't see them.
Abridged from Because
Nothing Looks Like God by Lawrence and Karen Kushner, What Does God Look Like?
has been specially adapted to board book format to delight and inspire the youngest of
children, and the grown-ups who read with them.
DEscription from Publisher
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Where Is God?
(Board Book)
By Lawrence and Karen Kushner
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To young children the world is full of things to see and touch. And by using those very examples, this enchanting book gently invites children to become aware of God’s presence all around us.
Abridged from Because
Nothing Looks Like God by Lawrence and Karen Kushner, Where Is God? has been specially adapted to board book format to delight and inspire younger readers.
Description from Publisher
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How Does God Make Things Happen?
(Board Book)
By Lawrence and Karen Kushner
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Teaching Your Children About God:
A Modern Jewish Approach
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Many parents find it easier to talk to their children about
sex and other intimate matters than to answer questions
about God, prayer, good, and evil. In fact, parents may feel
they don't know the answers to such questions for themselves,
much less for their young children. In Teaching Your Children
About God, Rabbi David Wolpe shows Jewish parents how to
openly explore the idea of God with their children. Through
poignant anecdotes and practical exercises, Wolpe teaches how
parents can guide children in the practice of prayer and
create an atomosphere in which children feel comfortable
questioning and wondering about God, life, and death. Wolpe
also offers invaluable insights into children's spiritual
needs, reveals the powerful effect faith can have on a child's
self-esteem, and enables parents to understand their children's
fears, dreams, and hopes. Perhaps most important, this wise
and potentially life-changing book shows parents who may feel
something missing in their own spiritual lives that it is
possible to nourish their own souls even as they nurture their
children's.
Description from Publisher
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God's Paintbrush
By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
God's Paintbrush Celebration Kit: A Spiritual Activity Kit for Teachers and Students of All Faiths, All Backgrounds
Also Available
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Children speak about God in ways that are different from adults. They ask many questions about God, questions that can be startlingly direct. Oftentimes adults -— parents, grandparents, and teachers -— feel uncomfortable answering them.
Through fantasy, involvement, and the imagination, Sandy Sasso and Annette Compton invite children of all faiths and backgrounds to encounter God openly through moments in their own lives—and help the adults who love them to be a part of that encounter. This book provides a gift of images which nurtures and encourages children in making meaning of their world.
For those who have found God, and those who are still searching, this book’s ending is your beginning. Take a child’s hand, pick up a brush, and paint!
Description from Publisher
God's Paintbrush is a superb resource to help children to think about God in terms that they can understand. Rabbi Sasso describes common scenarios and then asks the reader a few questions related to the scenario. Sasso intentionally does not answer any of the questions, making it a perfect jumping off point for a discussion between children and adults on who God is and how children can relate to Him. Annette Compton's watercolor illustrations effectively complement the text and further enhance the imagery of God as a painter.
Lori's Description
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The Jewish Childs First Book of Why
By Alfred J. Kolatch
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In direct and simple language, Rabbi Kolatch explains the
significance of some of the most fascinating traditions and
customs of Judaism and introduces the child to the major
and minor holidays in the Jewish calendar. This book
answers common question like "Why do we play dreidel?"
and "Why do we plant trees?" as well as hard ones like
"Why do we fast on Yom Kippur?". The text is
enhanced by the lively full-color illustrations of one of
Israels leading contemporary artists.
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Sunrise, Sunset
By Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, and Ian Schoenherr
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Schoenherr's stunning artwork done in colored pencil, ink, and acrylic beautifully illustrates this song from Fiddler on the Roof. Jewish life in the shtetls of Eastern Europe is portrayed through the story of Tzeitel, Tevye's oldest daughter, as she grows up, falls in love, marries the tailor, and has a child of her own. The lyrics appear in large font on each page and the musical score is appended. However, with no introduction, background note, or explanatory text, only readers well-versed in the plot of the musical and familiar with the song will understand, appreciate, and enjoy this magnificently illustrated book.
Description from School Library Journal
This delightful picture book adaptation of the beloved song, "Sunrise, Sunset" from the famous musical Fiddler on the Roof, would be a wonderful gift item for any wedding, birth, Bar Mitzvah or graduation. For those who have trouble keeping a dry eye when this song is played at weddings, good luck getting through this book! While the reader is transported to a small Jewish village of old through gorgeous, golden-tinged illustrations, the song's lyrics dance across the page, begging to be sung with a wistful smile. Ian Schoenherr's vibrant illustrations follow a young girl's journey through life as she matures, falls in love with a childhood friend, gets married and, by the last page, has her own child. The characters look a lot like the actors from the movie version, including the skinny horse and village rooftops, but one doesn't have to know the story of Tzeitel and Motel to enjoy this tribute to the Jewish cycle of life. One particularly clever theme is the use of bright yellow sunflowers ("seedlings turn overnight to sunflow'rs") that follow the children as they grow and mature. The final double page spread celebrates the joys of a loving family when the young couple observes their baby's first steps as he reaches to embrace a golden sunflower held out before him. This book would be understood by children, of course, but the adults are the ones who will be moved by its meaning. Intended for ages 6 - 8 and appropriate for all ages.
Description from Jewish Book World Magazine
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The First Gift
By A. S. Gadot
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Little David tells about the first gift he ever got- his name! He introduces the concept of names and where they come from and gives facts about Jewish naming traditions, all in a picture book format.
Description from Publisher
This bright picturebook explains to children how we can have many different names and how important those names are. It begins with the tale of a young boy from Biblical times named David who was called "Son" by his father, "Useless" by his brothers, "Genius" by his harp teacher, "Your Majesty" by his subjects, and eventually "Daddy" by his son Solomon. From this auspicious beginning, Gadot relates names to the story of Creation and explains that children from different cultures can have different names, but everyone's name is a personal, special gift. In a parallel with the opening, the narrator ends the story by telling how he was named after his great-grandfather David and all the different names he is called ("Dave-Dave", "Dah-veed") and all the names he could possibly be called in the future ("Doctor", "Rabbi", "Mister President", or simply "Daddy"). The illustrations are bright and realistic yet simple enough to draw in younger readers as well.
Lori's Description
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My Jewish ABC's
By Draizy Zelcer
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A brand new way to introduce the English alphabet to your
child...using objects that are an important part of a Jewish
child's world. In this charming and original picture book,
each letter of the ABC's is paired with a familiar Jewish
object or concept to make learning fun.
Description from Publisher
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Too Young for Yiddish
By Richard Michelson
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Michelson, best known for such witty collections of verse as Animals That Ought to Be, returns to the intergenerational themes of his Grandpa's Gamble for this nostalgic volume, handsomely illustrated by Waldman (The Golden City) in a sepia-toned palette recalling old family albums. Aaron, a baseball enthusiast who roots for the Brooklyn Dodgers, watches as his zayde (grandfather) moves in, bringing his library of Yiddish books ("Had Zayde really read them all? Each with its own ideas and mysteries. Each with its own secret world"). But Zayde declines to teach Aaron Yiddish: "[In America] Jews should speak English just like everyone else." Not until after Aaron has graduated from high school does he realize the importance of learning about Zayde's Yiddish heritage. In the end, Aaron teaches his own son Yiddish. Michelson sprinkles the text with Yiddish and the publisher has bound the book "back to front," like a Yiddish book. The story possesses both power and pathos, and its message, that Yiddish is an endangered language, is urgent. The afterword, which will hold readers' attention as well, describes Aaron's real-life counterpart, founder of the National Yiddish Book Center. Michelson's delivery, from its grown-up protagonist to its exhortation to learn a language not readily available to most children, may make the book best suited to sharing with a grandparent or parent.
Description from Publishers Weekly
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Ten Good Rules
By Susan Remick Topek
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Full color pastels and 50 carefully-chosen words introduce young
children to the Ten Commandments. Moses, perched on the fingers
of child-sized hands, leads the reader through the commandments,
counting from one to ten.
Description from Publisher
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Good Morning, Boker Tov
By Michelle Shapiro Abraham
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Jewish life is about making time special. Prayers and rituals help us mark the different times of hte day and year. Even waking up in the morning and greeting the day can be a special Jewish time. With warm, cheerful illustrations and a text that speaks to the real world of young children, Good Morning, Boker Tov helps families learn to transform those precious sleepy mornings into wonder-filled Jewish celebrations.
Good Morning, Boker Tov is a part of the Bedtime/Morning Rituals initiative of the UAHC’s Education Department. Alongside its companion text,
Good Night, Lilah Tov, this book is not only an ideal beginning to every young child’s day, it is truly a paramount start to leading a Jewish life.
Description from Publisher
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Good Night, Lilah Tov
By Michelle Shapiro Abraham
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Jewish life is about making time special. Judaism provides us with prayers to say at different times of the day, helping us give voice to our feelings of thankfulness and wonder for the miracles of everyday life. Even bedtime can become special Jewish family time. Through joyful, affectionate illustrations and a text that reflects the real world of young children, Good Night, Lilah Tov helps families transform bedtime into a Jewish time of reflection and connection.
Good Night, Lilah Tov, like its companion text,
Good Morning, Boker Tov, is replete with attractive illustrations and easy-to-read rhymes. Reading Good Night, Lilah Tov at bedtime is an effective method of ending the day within a Jewish context. (Not to mention the fact that it’s lots of fun too!)
Description from Publisher
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The Very Best Place for a Penny
By Dina Herman Rosenfeld
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Emphasizes the mitzvah or Jewish commandment of giving
charity, through the tale of a penny in a drawer contemplating
the very best place for himself.
A shiny little penny lives in a drawer with a bunch of pencils,
pens and keys. Then a boy comes along and puts it in his
pocket, and the penny's adventures begin. A wonderful
story with a timeless message. Beautifully illustrated.
Description from Publisher
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My Jewish Home
(Board Book)
By Martin Lemelman
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Captioned pictures depict representative objects or concepts
linked with the Jewish home, such as the mezuzah, Shabbat
candles, and Passover.
Description from Publisher
This plot-less book is perfect for young toddlers eager to increase their vocabulary. Each page features a simple, 4-color illustration and a description of various Jewish objects or holidays celebrated in the home (i.e., "mezuzah", "Kiddush cup", "Chanukah").
Lori's Description
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Come, Let Us Be Joyful!: The Story of Hava Nagila
By Fran Manushkin
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It is a fine thing to be joyful. And is anything more joyful than coming home after a long journey? I’m going to tell you a story about a song and a journey home that took two thousand years!
So begins this charming picture book which brings to life the real history of Hava Nagila--a song that is sung at Jewish simchas and baseball games alike! Learn how this soulful, Jewish tune began while journeying towards the building of the state of Israel. Meet Professor A.Z. Idelsohn and his young student Moshe Nathanson who, by making a sad song happy, created the joyful tune of Hava Nagila. As you read this story, don't be surprised if you start humming this familiar tune along with the joyful characters that Fran Manushkin has created--the fisherman on the Red Sea, the young girls in Jaffa, the kibbutzniks around the campfire and others.
Description from Publisher
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Hello, Hello,
Are You There, God?
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How do we explain to young children such concepts as learning, belonging,
and God? How do we teach them to value themselves and the tradition of
which they are a part? How do we instill in them a sense of Jewish identity?
Through the magic of storytelling, Molly Cone accomplishes all these tasks
and more. Hello, Hello, Are You There, God? combines the
separate volumes of Hear, O Israel: The Shema Story Books into
one book. Lovingly illustrated by Rosalind Charney Kaye, these stories
teach children what it means to be part of the Jewish people, to cherish
learning, and to love God.
Description from Publisher
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A Thread of Kindness :
A Tzedakah Story
By Leah Shollar
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Avraham, a poor farmer from Constantinople, worries that his wife and sons do not have enough money for food and clothing. One day, while toiling in his fields, he meets an old man who offers him six years of wealth, to be dispersed immediately or at the end of his life. Avraham requests the money right away, and that very day his sons uncover a large chest of gold. His wife, Esther, considers the money a "thread of kindness" and convinces her husband to use their wealth to help others. In the end, the old man allows the family to keep the money because their acts of kindness and generosity helped so many. Shollar has adapted this tale from the Midrash, a collection of early Jewish commentaries offering interpretations of Biblical text. The story is simply told, although the liberal use of Hebrew terms (Hashem for God; abba and imma for father and mother) will make the glossary, which precedes the story, a necessity for some readers. Mekibel's soft, watercolor illustrations exude an Old World feel suited to the setting and tone of the text. A story that's heavy on message without ever becoming preachy, the book will be a welcome addition to religion collections.
Description from Booklist
A nice retelling of a familiar tale of kindness and community. Shollar bases her picture book on a Midrash from the Yalkut Shimoni. Avraham and Esther are poor but pious, struggling to put food on the table for their young sons. When a mysterious old man gives Avraham a choice between the blessing of six years of wealth now, or six years of wealth in old age, the man takes the question to his wife. Esther, as wise as her namesake, chooses to take the wealth immediately, and begins a thread of kindness and charity, which reaches throughout their community. They buy shoes for a barefoot child, purchase a chuppah for a bride's wedding day, and give money to help a mother afford her son's bar mitzvah. At the end of the six years, the old man returns to reclaim the treasure, but of course the riches remain with Avraham's family, and "the thread of kindness stretches on to this very day." Mekibel's watercolors lend a dreamy cast to the illustrations, as if they are memories of long ago. A solid addition to Jewish folklore collections
Description from School Library Journal
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No Rules for Michael
By Sylvia A. Rouss
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While studying the Ten Commandments Michael says he would rather there were no rules, but when his teacher gives him a day without rules, Michael learns an important lesson.
Description from Publisher |
I Learn About God
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This book approaches God through the eyes of a child sensitive to
the wonders of nature and the miracle of growth.
Description from Publisher |
Tell Me a Mitzvah:
Little and Big Ways to Repair the World
By Danny Siegel
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Literally meaning "commandment," a mitzvah also means a
good deed or act of kindness. Siegel presents profiles of
12 people who have contributed to making the world a better
place. One woman collects and distributes thousands of shoes;
one man gathers pennies for the homeless; some farmers donate
part of their potato harvest to feed the hungry. Each story is
followed by a brief page entitled ``What can I do?,'' with
specific suggestions as to how young people can start
helping towards "Tikkun Olam," or repairing the world.
Siegel's prose is often lyrical. He is clearly singing the
praises of unassuming, ordinary heroes in the hope that
others will follow in their footsteps.
From School Library Journal
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The Bedtime Sh'ma
By Sarah Gershman
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Awards:
- Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner
- Finalist: National Jewish Book Award
- Bronze: Moonbeam Children's Book AWard
You shall say these words...when you lie down and when you rise. This beautiful adaptation of the Kriat Sh'ma al ha Mitah, The Bedtime Sh'ma invokes traditional nighttime blessings of peace and protection and recalls the wonder of our waking hours.
Description from Publisher
Description from Jewish Book World
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Mitzvah Magic: What Kids Can Do to Change the World
By Danny Siegel
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In this sequel to Tell Me a Mitzvah, young heroes are profiled doing good deeds in various ways.
Description from Publisher
Mitzvah means commandment in Hebrew, but traditionally it also refers to an act of kindness. This handy book is chock-full of ideas and personal stories that encourage kids to make a difference in the lives of others. Among the ideas are collecting old cell phones for organizations that will make them available to the needy for 911 calls; assembling donations of stuffed animals to give to children in shelters and hospitals; donating time to senior citizen centers. Many of the ideas are connected to individual children, whose stories are profiled. The pleasing design, filled with color photographs, make the book very accessible. Each chapter ends with the question, "What can I do?" and offers suggestions that connect with the projects.
Description from Booklist
Among the many titles advising kids about making positive contributions to society, Mitzvah Magic: What Kids Can Do to Change the World by Danny Siegel with Naomi Eisenberger stands out for its range of projects, from simple to demanding; for its well-documented real-life examples; and for its grounding in Jewish tradition. For his bar mitzvah party, one boy creates centerpieces out of socks, scarves and mittens shaped to look like flowers; afterward, the goods will be donated to a shelter. Another child organizes a drive to collect discarded cell phones, to be redistributed to provide round-the-clock 911 access to individuals at risk. Down to earth, this book is also tremendously inspiring.
Description from Publishers Weekly
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Tzedakah and the Precious Pushke: With CD Sounds of Sharing and Caring
By Michael Greene
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This is more than just a book, its a kit. Besides a beautifully illustrated book, it comes with a CD containing tons of great music (which my kids, ages 3-9, all love) and a cardboard foldout that you can make into your own "Precious Pushke".
Before I read the book I didn't know what a Precious Pushke was. Some of you will already know and realize that its something you should take the time to teach your kids about.
This book is about the power of giving and sharing. The Pushke is where you keep your spare pennies to give. No matter how many pennies you put into the Pushke somehow there is always room for more! A great lesson for the whole family!
Description from Amazon.com Customer Review
I was asked to review this book and CD for our library and decide where to place it in the library. It was a pleasure listening to the CD and reading the book one Sunday afternoon. The CD filled my house with love and warmth as it reverberated with stories and music. I especially enjoyed it because it spoke of how one can help other people and do a 'mitzvah'! The 'pushke' was an added extra which I was hoping the library could use to encourage people to do good things for others. I believe this book is worldly and important to everyone especially during these troubled times. Both young people and adults will enjoy it. I especially related to the mother who enthusiastically chauffeured her children around to all of their activities. I did place the book in the 'Parenting' section of our library so that adults could read it along with their children in order to share the warmth and love! Enjoy!
Description from Amazon.com Customer Review
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Jewish Kids' Activity Book
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Puzzles, games, connect-the-dots, and other fun stuff to do. Follow the adventures of Pippo the Hippo and his friends.
Description from Publisher
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Jewish Alphabet
By Janet Clement
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Jam-packed with informative and fun facts, this ABC book teaches Jewish culture and tradition with alliteration and rhyme. In "I is for Israel," young readers learn which language is acknowledged nationally, which city is recognized as the capital, and what three major religions are rooted and represented in that country. "B is for bagels" describes the popular food’s variety as well as what is traditionally eaten with them.
The entire alphabet is displayed at the top of all twenty-six entries, with the highlighted letter represented in bold typeface. Below the linear alphabet, the highlighted letter is stylistically drawn to represent the letter as well as depict the chosen word. The selected word is used and defined, and additional words beginning with the same letter are introduced.
Description from Publisher
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