Enriched by pictures, action, and imagination, reading turns every parent into a teacher without peer. Mix lap-sit time with a book, and watch your child’s literacy flower. Start kids as early as age one. Even five isn’t too late for reading’s promise - that fun space that spins sound into meaning. Remember, understanding precedes word decoding: books that seem too complex leap into young heads on the sound of your voice.
Dare to introduce concepts like letters, numbers, colors, symbols, time, nature, food, respect, ecology and more, through the senses, by choosing books with eye and ear appeal. Take the kids on a taste tour with Fins and Scales: A Kosher Tale; What Can You Do With a Bagel?; Let’s Nosh!, and for interfaith families, Jalapeño Bagels. Paint seasons with Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems For Young People, or the Colors of Israel. Go green for Tu Bi Sh’vat between the covers of Behold the Trees, The Littlest Pair, The Gift That Grew, Solomon and the Trees, The Giving Tree, and A Prayer for the Earth: The Story of Naamah, Noah’s Wife.
Get the “drop” on holidays in the adventures of “Sammy Spider,” The Jewish Holiday ABC, Fun with Jewish Holiday Rhymes, The Hebrew Months Tell Their Story, and the ever popular Where’s Waldo approach with Uh! Oh! Hidden Objects You’ll Almost Never Find... and companion titles.
Tonight, get off-line and off the hook. Share the precious gift of literacy. All you need to succeed is a good book, your arms around your child, and begin “Once upon a time...”
--Val Morehouse, Librarian
Reprinted from the Library Column in Ruach, Feb. 2004
- Bible Stories for Grades K-2
- Talking About God
- Folk Tales and Legends
- Fun with Holidays
- Shabbat
- Jewish Living
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP FIS
Fisher, Leonard Everett. The seven days of creation. New York: Holiday House, [1981].
Note: Brief text and illustrations retell the story of the Creation.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP HUT
Hutton, Warwick. Jonah and the great fish. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum, [1983, 1984].
Note: Retells the Biblical story of how a man was swallowed up by a great fish.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP HUT
Hutton, Warwick. Moses in the bulrushes. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum, [1986].
Note: Retells the Old Testament story of how the baby Moses was saved from death by the Pharaoh’s daughter.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP JON
Bennet, Marian. The Story of Jonah : a mini pop-up book. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, [1979].
Note: Pop-up book about Jonah’s adventures is designed for Pre-K and K youngsters.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP PIN
Pinkney, Jerry. Noah’s ark. SeaStar Books: New York, [2002].
Note: Beautifully illustrated picture book retells the biblical story of the great flood and how Noah and his family faithfully responded to God’s call to save life on earth.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET J 008.2 JOS
Wildsmith, Brian. Joseph. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, [1997].
Note: A retelling of the Old Testament story of Joseph whose jealous brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt.
J 008.3 CHA
Chaikin, Miriam and Gilbert, Yvonne. Children’s Bible stories from Genesis to Daniel. 1st ed. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, [1993].
Note: Twenty-six stories from the Old Testament, simply retold for younger readers.
J 020 PRE
Prenzlau, Sheryl. Genesis. New York: Pitspopany, [1996].
Note: The stories found in Genesis written in brief form for youngsters.
J 021.3 PRE
Prenzlau, Sheryl. Exodus. New York: Pitspopany, [1997].
Note: Based on the original Hebrew text, Exodus presents all the major stories in the second book of the Bible in simple prose that children can understand. Includes a section of midrashim (rabbinic stories) and a Children’s Haggadah.
J 136.1 GOL
Gold, August and Perlman, Matthew J. Where does God live? Woodstock, Vt: SkyLight Paths, [2001].
Note: When a young girl asks “Where does God live?” her parents respond with a beautiful answer.
J 136.1 KUS
Kushner, Lawrence. What does God look like? Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths, [2001].
Note: This simple beautiful book will help parent and child explore spirituality together for the first time.
J 136.7 KUS
Kushner, Lawrence. How does God make things happen? Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths, [2001].
Note: Discusses how God makes things happen through the personal exercise of doing Mitzvot. On board pages.
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP ROU
Rouss, Sylvia A and Hannon, Holly. The littlest pair. New York: Pitspopany, [2001].
Note: As the animals line up two-by-two, ready to enter the Ark, the littlest pair appear. “Termites!” cry the animals, running for cover. Will Noah allow them on board the wooden Ark?
BIBLE STORIES BASKET JP SIN
Singer, Isaac Bashevis and Carle, Eric. Why Noah chose the dove. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, [1974, 1973].
Note: As each animal boasts of the qualities he feels make him especially worthy to go on Noah’s ark, Noah takes a particular liking to the dove.
J 187 STE
Stevens, Janet. How the Manx cat lost its tail. San Diego: Harcourt, [1990].
Note: A lively retelling of this pour quoi tale of the Manx cat’s encounter with the door of Noah’s Ark.
J 190 HIR
Hirsh, Marilyn. The Rabbi and the twenty-nine witches : A Talmudic legend. New York: Holiday House, [1975].
Note: A wise old rabbi finally rids the village of the witches that terrorize it every night that the moon is full.
J 190 ROT
Rothenberg, Joan. Yettele’s feathers. 1st ed. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, [1995].
Note: Yettele, who loves to gossip, is finally taught a lesson by the Rabbi.
J 190.3 UNG
Ungar, Richard and Tenenbaum, Samuel. Rachel captures the moon. Toronto: Tundra Books, [2001].
Note: Not content to wait for the moon to rise, the people of Chelm decide to capture it.
AUDIO J 196.6 BEN
Ben-Izzy, Joel. Buried treasures : a storyteller’s journey. Berkeley, CA : Old City Press, 1995.
Note: A mixture of personal tale, stories heard by local storyteller Ben-Izzy as he grew up, and folktales collected during his travels., Ben –Izzy relates the doings of Hershel of Ostropol, and the classic tale “Buried Treasure” dating back to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav.
J 224.9 WIN
Wikler, Madeline and Schanzer, Rosalyn. In the synagogue. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1991].
Note: The Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Purim, and Shabbat as experienced by children using their five senses. On board pages.
J 236.1 POD
Podwal, Mark H. A sweet year : a taste of the Jewish holidays. New York: Random House Children’s Books, [2003].
Note: Pictures and easy-to-read text introduce Jewish holidays, focusing on the foods associated with each.
J 236.3 EIS
Eisenberg, Ann and Schanzer, Rosalyn. I can celebrate. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, Inc, [1988].
Note: Introduces the shofar, Sukkot, lulav, dreidel, grogger, and afikomen to pre-school age children. On board pages.
J 236.5 LIV
Bloom, Lloyd. Poems for Jewish holidays. 1st ed. New York: Holiday House, [1986].
Note: A collection of sixteen poems, by twelve contemporary authors, celebrating Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur and Purim.
J 236.5 ROU
Rouss, Sylvia A. Fun with Jewish holiday rhymes. New York: UAHC, [1992].
Note: Illustrated rhymes accompanied by movement activities introduce the holidays of the Jewish calendar: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu bi-Shevat, Purim, Passover, Lag O’mer, Shavuot, and
Shabbat.
J 236.5 SHI
Shir, Semadar and Schaer, Miriam. Little Daniel and the Jewish delicacies. New York: Adama Books, [1988?].
Note: Daniel hopes to grow bigger by eating lots of the special foods his family prepares for each of the Jewish holidays, and in the process he learns the meanings behind the different holiday delicacies and customs.
MUSIC COLLECTION AUDIO J 236.6 ESP
Especially wonderful days: sing along Jewish holiday songs for primary grades. Denver, CO: Alternatives in Religious Education, [1975].
Note: Foot-tapping songs that teach about the Jewish holidays. On audiocassette.
J 236.6 DRU
Drucker, Malka and Pocock, Rita. A Jewish holiday ABC. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, [1992].
Note: An alphabet book introducing Jewish holidays and their customs.
J 236.6 JUL
Jules, Jacqueline and Springer, Sally. Clap and count! : action rhymes for the Jewish year. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [2000].
Note: Preschool and primary grades will enjoy the finger plays and rhymes dealing with Shabbat, Rosh ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu b’Shevat, Purim, Passover, Israel Independence Day, and Shavuot.
J 236.6 KIM
Kimmelman, Leslie and Eitan, Ora. Dance, sing, remember : a celebration of Jewish holidays. New York: HarperCollins, [2000].
Note: Explains eleven major Jewish holidays and how they are celebrated: Rosh Hashahah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu bi-Shevat, Purim, Passover, Yom Ha-Shoah, Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Shavuot, and Shabbat.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET JP GEL
Gellman, Ellie and Kahn, Katherine. It’s Rosh Hashanah! Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1985].
Note: Two children share the preparations and celebrations of Rosh Hashanah. On board pages.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET JFIC GOL
Goldin, Barbara Diamond and Winter, Jeanette. The world’s birthday : a Rosh Hashanah story. 1st ed. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, [1990].
Note: Daniel is determined to have a birthday party for the world to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET JP JON
Wedeven, Carol. The Story of Jonah and the Whale. New York: Little Simon, 1995].
Note: Board book for pre-school audience is a simple retelling of Jonah’s disobedience and punishment.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET JFIC WEI
Weilerstein, Sadie Rose and Boddy, Joe. K’tonton’s Yom Kippur kitten. Philadelphia, Pa: Jewish Publication Society, [1995].
Note: After allowing a small kitten to take the blame for something he did, K’tonton, a thumb-sized young boy, feels guilty when he goes to services at the synagogue on Yom Kippur.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET JP ZAL
Zalben, Jane Breskin. Happy New Year, Beni. 1st ed. New York: H. Holt, [1993].
Note: After constantly fighting with his cousin Max during the celebration for Rosh Hashanah, Beni discovers that the Jewish new year is an opportunity to put his mistakes behind him and start over.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 238.5 KIM
Kimmelman, Leslie and Himmelman, John. Sound the shofar! : a story for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, [1998].
Note: Uncle Jake gets to blow the shofar twice within ten days, as the family celebrates first Rosh Hashanah, and then Yom Kippur.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 239.3 RAU
Rau, Dana Meachen. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. New York: Children’s Press, [2001].
Note: An informative discussion of the High Holidays aimed at the youngest readers.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 239.5 EPS
Epstein, Sylvia B. How the Rosh Hashanah challah became round. Jerusalem: Gefen, [1993].
Note: Yossi’s terrible tumble turns out to be a terrific triumph.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 239.5 SIL
Silverman, Erica and Trueman, Matthew. When the chickens went on strike : A Rosh Hashanah tale. 1st ed. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, [2003].
Note: A Jewish boy living in Russia learns a lesson from the village chickens at the time of Rosh ha-Shanah, the Jewish New Year.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 239.5 ZUC
Zucker, Jonny and Cohen, Jan Barger. Apples and honey : a Rosh Hashanah story. New York: Barrons Educational Services, [2002].
Note: Follow a family as they celebrate the Jewish New Year festival, eating apples and honey, hearing the shofar performing Tashlich, and planning for a sweet and joyful year ahead. Suitable for even the youngest child.
ROSH HASHANAH BASKET J 240.5 JUL
Jules, Jacqueline and Kahn, Katherine. The hardest word : a Yom Kippur story. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [2001].
Note: The Ziz, a huge bird that is clumsy but good-hearted, accidentally destroys a vegetable garden, and when he asks God for advice he learns the importance of apologizing.
SUKKOT BASKET JP GEL
Gellman, Ellie and Kahn, Katherine. Tamar’s sukkah. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1988].
Note: In this progressive story, Tamar calls on her older and bigger friends in the neighborhood to help her complete the sukkah she has built as a temporary shelter to celebrate Sukkoth. On board pages.
SUKKOT BASKET JP KAH
Kahn, Katherine Janus. Let’s Build a Sukkah. Kar-ben Copies, [1986].
Note: Describes how a group of children build and decorate a Sukkah to celebrate the holiday of Sukkoth. On board pages.
SUKKOT BASKET JP ZAL
Zalben, Jane Breskin. Leo & Blossom’s sukkah. New York: H. Holt, [1990].
Note: Brother and sister bears, Leo and Blossom, celebrate Sukkot by building a sukkah.
VIDEO J 285 COH CH106
Klimovitskaya, Polina. Molly’s pilgrim. 1st ed. New York: Phoenix Films & Video, [1985].
Note: Told to make a doll like a pilgrim for the Thanksgiving display at school, Molly’s Jewish mother dresses the doll as she herself dressed before leaving Russia to seek religious freedom--much to Molly’s embarrassment.
SHABBAT BASKET JP COH
Cohen, Floreva G. Before Shabbat Begins. NY: Board of Jewish Education, Inc, [1985].
Note: After showing off her new Shabbat dress, Shira has an accident.
SHABBAT BASKET JP KRE
Kress, Camille. Tot Shabbat. New York: UAHC Press, [1996].
Note: Board book introduces pre-schoolers to Shabbat.
SHABBAT BASKET JP ROU
Rouss, Sylvia A. The littlest candlesticks. New York: Pitspopany Press, [2002].
Note: A small girl tries to figure out how to decorate the Shabbat candlesticks she has made in class.
SHABBAT BASKET JP SNY
Snyder, Carol and Glick, Beth. God must like cookies, too. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, [1993].
Note: A young girl goes to temple with her grandmother, where she enjoys the Shabbat service and anxiously awaits the promised cookies she will have at the Oneg Shabbat after the service.
SHABBAT BASKET JP TOP
Topek, Susan Remick and Springer, Sally. A holiday for Noah. Rockville, MD: Kar -Ben Copies, [1990].
Note: Noah enjoys nursery school, but looks forward to Fridays when the Sabbath bread “challah” is served at snacktime.
SHABBAT BASKET JFIC SCH
Schweiger-Dmi’el, Itzhak and Eitan, Ora. Hanna’s Sabbath dress. 1st ed. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [1996].
Note: When Hanna helps an old man and her new Sabbath dress gets dirty, she is afraid her mother will be sad.
SHABBAT BASKET J 237.5 HES
Hest, Amy and Nivola, Claire A. The Friday nights of Nana. 1st ed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, [2001].
Note: Jennie helps her grandmother prepare for a family Sabbath celebration.
SHABBAT BASKET J 237 KRI
Kripke, Dorothy K. Let’s talk about the Sabbath. Los Angeles: Alef Design Group, [1999].
Note: An introduction to the meaning and practices of Shabbat for elementary age children.
SHABBAT BASKET J 237.5 ROU
Rouss, Sylvia A and Kahn, Katherine. Sammy Spider’s first Shabbat. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1997].
Note: Sammy Spider watches longingly as the Shapiro family prepares to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath, and when the day finally arrives, even he observes one of its customs.
SHABBAT BASKET J 237.5 SIM
Simpson, Lesley and Bosch, Nicole in den. The Shabbat box. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [2001].
Note: When it is finally Ira’s turn to take his nursery school class’s Shabbat Box home, he loses it in a snowstorm and must decide what to do next.
MUSIC COLLECTION CD J 237.6 ABR pt.2 & SCORE J 237.6 ABR
Abrams, Leah. Because we love Shabbat: songs, stories, and activities for young children. Cedarhurst, NY: L. Abrams:Tara Publ., [1987].
MUSIC COLLECTION CD J 237.6 TAU
Taubman, Craig. Friday night live. Sherman Oaks, CA: Sweet Louise, [1999].
Note: A musical service designed for young adults and the young at heart, featuring hymns even pre-schoolers can enjoy.
SHABBAT BASKET J 699.4 KRO
Kropf, Latifa Berry. It’s challah time! Minneapolis (MN): Kar-Ben, [2002].
Note: A photo essay that follows preschoolers in a Jewish nursery school as they make challah, the braided bread eaten on Shabbat.
JP OBE
Oberman, Sheldon and Lewin, Ted. The always prayer shawl. New York: Puffin Books, [1997].
Note: A prayer shawl is handed down from grandfather to grandson in this story of Jewish tradition and the passage of generations.
J 021.3 TOP
Topek, Susan Remick and Schanzer, Rosalyn. Ten good rules. Rockville, Md: Kar -Ben Copies, [1991].
Note: Introduces the ten commandments from a Jewish perspective. Certain commandments have been recast from negative to positive language for easier comprehension.
J 221 KOL
Kolatch, Alfred J. The Jewish child’s first book of why. Middle Village, N.Y: J. David, [1991].
Note: Presents thirty-two questions and answers relating to Jewish holidays and customs.
J 222.1 SIL
Silverman, Judy. Rosie and the Mole: the story of a Bris. New York: Pitspopany, [1999].
Note: Rosie is jealous of her baby brother. He is getting all of the attention. But then father announces “The mole is coming!”; and Rosie feels the need to protect her brother.
J 222.1 WIL
Wilkowski, Susan and Friedman, Judith. Baby’s bris. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1999].
Note: In this fictional story about a baby’s brit milah, Sophie becomes a big sister and, during the first eight days of her brother’s life, learns about the custom of bris (circumcision) and celebrates the event with her family and new brother Ben.
J 222.11 GEL
Gellman, Ellie and Gellner, Barbara. Justin’s Hebrew name. Rockville, MD: Kar -Ben Copies, [1988].
Note: When Justin begins Hebrew school without a Hebrew name, his friends and the Rabbi help him pick the perfect one.
J 224 WOO
Wood, Angela. Jewish synagogue. North American ed. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens Pub, [2000].
Note: Introduces the reader to the Jewish religion and describes what goes on in a synagogue.
J 225 SCH
Schanzer, Rosalyn. My first Jewish word book. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1992].
Note: Text and captioned pictures depict the vocabulary of the Jewish home, community, holidays, and symbols.
J 244.5 SAG
Sagasti, Miriam. Let’s have a seder! Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1997].
Note: Rhyming couplets step pre-schoolers through the parts of the seder.
J 417.1 KAH
Kahn, Katherine. Alef is one : a Hebrew alphabet counting book. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1989].
Note: Hebrew letters introduce the concept of counting, from one lion to 400 parrots.
J 614 GOL
Goldstein, Andrew. My very own Jewish home. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben, [1979].
Note: Designed to help very young children become aware of Jewish objects in their environment and the meaning attached to them.
J 614 SYM
Syme, Deborah Shayne and Ruthen, Marlene Lobell. The Jewish home detectives. New York, N.Y: Union of American Hebrew Congregations, [1981].
Note: Josh and Sarah play Jewish detectives and set out to find, identify, and record every Jewish item in their house.
J 652.2 WIN
Wing, Natasha and Casilla, Robert. Jalapeno bagels. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, [1996].
Note: For International Day at school, Pablo wants to bring something that reflects the cultures of both his parents. An excellent choice for interfaith families.
J 699.4 MIL
Miller, Deborah Uchill and Ostrove, Karen. Fins and scales : a kosher tale. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies, [1991].
Note: The Jewish dietary laws of keeping kosher (Kashrut) are explained in humorous rhyme.
J 699.4 SAN
Sanger, Amy Wilson. Let’s nosh! Berkeley, CA : Tricycle Press, c2002.
Note: Illustrations ad rhyming text introduce the variety of Jewish foods, from gefilte fish to challah bread, chicken soup to matzoh. On board pages.
J 699.4 FED
Feder, Harriet. What can you do with a bagel? Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben, [1991].
Note: A toddler illustrates a variety of things to do with a bagel. On board pages.
JFIC ZAL
Zalben, Jane Breskin. Beni’s first wedding. 1st ed. New York: Holt, [1998].
Note: When a friend of the family announces that he is getting married and asks him to be his page boy, Beni experiences his first Jewish wedding. Contains a recipe for Mama’s Honey Wedding Cake and vanilla frosting.
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