Best Jewish Books For Children And Teens

Linda Silver selected the titles that "represent the best in writing, illustration, reader appeal, and authentically Jewish content--in picture books, fiction and non-fiction, for readers ranging from early childhood through the high school years."--P. [4] of cover.

"This book introduces preschool and elementary teachers to a broad range of high-quality children's literature books and stories and provides them with background information so that they can use Jewish children's literature thoughtfully with their students"--

The untold life story of All-of-a-Kind Family author Sydney Taylor, highlighting her dramatic influence on American children’s literature This is the first and only biography of Sydney Taylor (1904–1978), author of the award-winning All-of-a-Kind Family series of books, the first juvenile novels published by a mainstream publisher to feature Jewish children characters. The family—based on Taylor’s own as a child—includes five sisters, each two years apart, dressed alike by their fastidious immigrant mother so they all look the same: all-of-a-kind. The four other sisters’ names were the same in the books as in their real lives; only the real-life Sarah changed hers to the boyish Sydney while she was in high school. Cummins elucidates the deep connections between the progressive Taylor’s books and American Jewish experiences, arguing that Taylor was deeply influential in the development of national Jewish identity. This biography conveys the vital importance of children’s books in the transmission of Jewish culture and the preservation of ethnic heritage.

Lavish, color illustrations bring these classic children's stories of Jewish history and legend to life. Culled from the ancient Midrash and Talmud, these tales of adventure, wonder, and wisdom have been passed down for untold generations.

Atrocity presents a problem to the writer of children's literature. To represent events of such terrible magnitude and impersonal will as the Holocaust, the transatlantic slave trade, or the Rwandan genocide such that they fit into a three-act structure with a comprehensible moral and a happy ending is to do a disservice to the victims. Yet to confront children with the fact of widescale violence without resolution is to confront them with realities that may be emotionally disturbing and even damaging. Despite these challenges, however, there exists a considerable body of work for and about children that addresses atrocity. To examine the ways in which writers and artists have attempted to address children's experience of atrocity, this collection brings together original essays by an international group of scholars working in the fields of child studies, children's literature, comics studies, education, English literature, and Holocaust, genocide, and memory studies. It covers a broad geographical range and includes works by established authors and emerging voices.

Since 1957, Chase's Calendar of Events lists everything worth knowing and celebrating for each day of the year: 12,500 holidays, historical milestones, famous birthdays, festivals, sporting events and much more. "The Oxford English Dictionary of holidays." NPR's Planet Money.

It's a good idea to start off with the best so why wait until your child is older before you start telling the really good stories? Why not start early? You won't find a better book to do it with. The stories are wonderful. The pictures are great. The lessons are practical. Like Yaakov's blanket that became a button -- thanks to a wise Zaidy. Like the king who found the perfect place to build a palace. Like Choni whose prayer brought rain. Like Feivel who learned the hard way that Hashem does what is best. Like Zundel who found a treasure in the strangest place. Shmuel Blitz knows how to tell a story with the best of them and Tova Katz brings it to life with gorgeous illustrations. So huddle the children around you and start to read. They'll go to sleep, but you'll keep on turning pages, as you enjoy this book over and over again.