Imagine reaching into your bookshelf, searching for a meaningful bedtime story for your 6-month to 6-year-old child or grandchild. Your preference would be for a book relating to Torah and its luminaries, attractively and vividly illustrated, with a child-appropriate message written in child-friendly poetry. And now, you are in luck. Shira Greenspan, a Teaneck native residing in Modiin with husband Josh and four children, has just published a four-book children’s collection for Koren Publishers that fills all your requirements. Entitled “My First Tanakh Series,” the four colorfully and whimsically illustrated child-sized volumes authored by Greenspan and illustrated by the talented Rinat Gilboa are available for purchase through Koren, Amazon and at your local bookstores.

Having taught at Yeshivat Noam and Ramaz, and then as a mother of four, Greenspan was always on the lookout for meaningful and appropriate texts to connect children to Torah. Upon making aliyah, she was inspired to undertake such a project herself. As she shared, “Aliyah forces you to take a look inside yourself and come up with an idea. In Israel the possibilities are endless.”

Working as an educational developer and consultant since making aliyah more than seven years ago, Greenspan has worked on the Mizrachi magazine, Hillel and Shammai curriculum, and with schools in Israel and internationally. For Koren she has served as a writer and consultant as well as host of the podcast “I’ve Got a Question,” featured on the Koren Podcast Network. Greenspan has implemented her artistic talents through illustrating a Haggadah for children authored by Rabbi David Milstone of Midreshet Harova where she studied during her gap year. Greenspan is a graduate of Stern College and attended the Azrieli Graduate School.

“My First Tanakh Series,” which was recognized as Amazon’s No. 1 hit in the Jewish Children’s Books category with its publication in August, consists of four volumes that can be purchased separately or together in a boxed set. The four volumes are entitled “Abraham Teaches Others,” “Miriam Finds Her Voice,” “Ruth Makes a Promise” and “Eliyahu Finds Hashem.”

Every volume is loyal to the Torah text. Each page is vibrantly illustrated to convey the idea of the sacred texts. The fonts used on each page are also varied; at some points they are bolded, colored or even presented in “funky fonts,” which all add to the dynamism of the message. The text is written in poetic verses, which lends to its appeal and memorability. The visual attractiveness and meaningful messaging encourage young readers to want to read the works over and over.

An excerpt from “Ruth Makes a Promise” illustrates this appeal.

“Naomi, cries Ruth, “I have something to say,”

When it is just the two of them left on the way.

“Don’t push me away. Don’t leave me behind.

With you I will stay. I have made up my mind.

Wherever you go, I will follow along.

Where you sleep, I will sleep; you are where I belong.

Your nation’s my nation, and your God is mine.

Don’t leave me behind. I have made up my mind.

No matter what happens or what we go through

My family comes first and my family is you.”

The series, currently available in English, is soon to be released in Hebrew, Spanish and French. Greenspan is involved in all of the translations. She has presented at book tours throughout Israel as well as in online talks. She recommends her books as perfect baby and birthday gifts. She urges school and shul libraries as well as community centers to include her series. Looking ahead to future volumes, Greenspan shared that Moshe, Yael, Yonah and Esther are currently being planned.

“In all of our volumes, the Torah personality portrayed shares his/her values with the young readers,” the author said. “How special for a parent/grandparent/teacher to be able to share the middot that we so highly value in our enriching Jewish lives with the next generations.”

To purchase a set of “My First Tanakh Stories,” The Magerman Edition, written by Shira Greenspan and illustrated by Rinat Gilboa, go to

https://korenpub.com/collections/my-first-tanakh-stories.

Also available at Amazon and at local Jewish bookstores.

To contact Shira Greenspan, email [email protected]