Connecting People of
"The Book" to Books
Our legacy is "People of the book." In this
issue we
have many recommendations to help children connect
to Jewish books (with the exception of our last book,
which is for Jews of all ages). We hope you’ll consider
these for a child or grandchild you know.
We have two suggestions that go along with each
of these recommendations.
The first is that you take the time to read and discuss
these books together with kids. If your kids are old
enough you might even start a "school’s out"
family
book club where each time you have a break from
school all members of the family take the time to
read the same book (preferably one with some
Jewish content). Then you cook a family meal that
goes with the theme, turn off the phone, and enjoy
not just each others’ company, but each others’
insights about what you read.
The second suggestion is that when you buy the
book you buy an extra to donate, or after you’re
done reading them in your book club, donate the
extra books to your local Jewish community library,
you child’s school library, or even your public
library.
In these times when there are many misunderstandings
about different kinds of people, we can
do our part to educate not just our own children
about themselves and their history, but others about
Jewish life and history as well.
In God’s Name
By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Illustrated by Phoebe Stone
Jewish Lights Publishing
This is a modern fable about the
search for God’s name that celebrates
the diversity and unity of humankind. Each seeker of the name
claims to know the answer until they
come together and learn what God’s name really is,
through
the ultimate harmony and faith of all their backgrounds.
Chosen as a Children’s
Book Council Not Just for Children
Anymore! selection,
this book is great for ages 4 and up,
and its sister book What
is God’s Name is essentially
a simplified version of the same story printed in board book
form
for ages 0–4.
God’s Paintbrush
By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Illustrated by Annette
Compton
Jewish Lights Publishing
This wonderfully interactive
book provides questions
about faith for adults and children to explore together. The
illustrations create a relaxed and comfortable setting
for
wondering aloud together. God’s
Paintbrush is a selection
of The Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, and Crossings
Book Club, and was selected as Outstanding by Parent
Council, Ltd. Excellent for ages 4 and up.
Sharing Blessings:
Children’s Stories for
Exploring the Spirit of
the Jewish Holidays 
By Rahel Musleah and Rabbi
Michael Klayman
Illustrated by Mary O’Keefe Young
Jewish Lights Publishing
This book explores ways to get into the spirit of each
Jewish holiday. Through a series of engaging, creative stories
the
reader is shown an example of how one family discovers
the spiritual meaning of each holiday through their
everyday
life. Each story concludes with a special prayer and a
blessing to be shared by parent and child. This would be
a
great book to use to begin a family book club. Appropriate
for ages 6–10.
Marven of the Great
North Woods 
By Kathryn Lasky
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Voyager Books
This is the true story of a small Jewish
boy and a bearish lumberjack who
become friends under unusual
circumstances resulting from the influenza epidemic in
Duluth, Minnesota in 1918.A unique and wonderful story
of
courage and adaptability for children ages 6–9.
The 11th
Commandment
Wisdom from Our Children 
By The Children of America
Jewish Lights Publishing
If there were an 11th commandment,
what would it be? This is the premise
of a book so full of wisdom and so
open to celebrating the spirituality
of children that it will bring tears to your eyes. We can’t
say
enough about how perfect this book would be as a
starting
point for spiritual discussions for children. Read the
book
together and then each draw and write your own 11th
commandment to share with one another. Great for people
of all ages and all religions.
Hannah’s Journal
The Story of an Immigrant Girl 
By Marissa Moss
Harcourt
"American girl" meets the Jewish-
American immigrant story in this
handwritten and illustrated journal
of Hannah, a young girl from a small
European village hoping to escape a
life of persecution by joining her sister on a boat to
America.
The journal details the decision to go, the sisters’
difficult
journey to the ship, the voyage across the sea, and the
eventual
arrival in New York. The pages are filled with small
illustrations
of the characters and the places mentioned. Well
done and age appropriate for girls ages 8–12.
The Book of Miracles
A Young Person’s Guide to Jewish
Spiritual Awareness 
By Lawrence Kushner
Jewish Lights Publishing
This new tenth-anniversary edition
includes a new introduction and
all new illustrations. As an old
favorite or a newfound friend, The
Book of Miracles reveals
the essence
of Judaism in a language pre-teens
and teens can both understand and enjoy. Kushner combines
Talmud, midrash, mystical,
and biblical stories to help kids
make — and treasure — the connections among
religion,
spirituality, and modern living. Appropriate for ages 9
and up.
How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide
to Etiquette in Other People’s Religious
Ceremonies
Volume I: America’s
Largest Faiths
Edited by Arthur
J. Magida 
Volume II: Other Faiths
In America
Edited by Stuart
M. Matlins and Arthur
J. Magida
Jewish Lights Publishing
This straightforward guide
to the rituals and celebrations of the
major religions and denominations
in America from the perspective of
an interested guest of any other faith should
be seen as required reading for those who find
themselves
with family and friends of different faiths. Each volume
is
based on information obtained from authorities of each
religion.
It is not a guide to theology nor is it presented from
any one faith. The guidebooks are designed to allow
well-meaning
guests to participate to the extent they feel
comfortable
without violating their own or their host’s religious
principles. The questions asked and answered cover many
practical issues.
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Being
a more ETHICAL person.