You know that old saying about how if you give a man a fish, you’ve supplied him with the food he needs for a meal, but if you teach him to fish, you’ve gifted him with the skillset to feed himself for a lifetime? I think the same holds true for kids and books. Getting your kids to love books and reading is an investment that pays off with huge dividends, and not just in school.
This year has been a fabulous one in the world of Jewish publishing, with some really great titles coming to print, including these awesome releases from ArtScroll and Hachai. So, while there’s plenty of pre-Chanukah hype out there about toys and games, well-chosen books make phenomenal gifts and can keep kids engaged (and hopefully inspired) for hours on end.
Littlest Readers: Ages 2 – 5
Reading out loud with my kids when they were little was always a favorite activity. In addition to setting the stage for them to become lifelong readers, the promise of story time is always a great way to get them to clean up any previous messes.
Is It Shabbos Yet? (Ellen Emerman, Hachai) – If your kids, like mine, delighted in Malkie’s incessant questioning as she helped her mother prepare for Shabbos, you will likely jump for joy (as I did) when you discover that this story now comes in a board book version. With sturdy pages for chubby little fingers whose enthusiasm often destroys their favorite titles, even toddlers can enjoy watching Malkie shop, bake, cook and clean in honor of the most special day of the week.
Tzen Tzedaka Pennies (Zelda Klein-Hager, Hachai – Yiddish- laminated pages) – You don’t have to speak Yiddish to be captivated by this sweet story of a little boy counting and sharing his mitzvah of tzedakah with his nearest and dearest. Teaching kids to give to others, as well as some rudimentary math, this book and its charming illustrations make for an adorable read.
The One and Only (Sara Maddali, Hachai – laminated pages) – Hashem’s oneness can be a difficult concept for little kids to grasp, but this book breaks things down into ideas that the younger set can grasp. Beautiful illustrations and well done rhymes bring these lessons home, while at the same time, giving young readers an appreciation for the fact that while Hashem isn’t visible, His presence in their lives is easy to see.
Hillel & Shalva Make Shalom (Ruchie Torgow, ArtScroll) – Even the closest of siblings can sometimes get into squabbles and twins Hillel and Shalva are no different. A lesson on compromise saves the day when the eight year olds disagree on what to include in the toy city they are building together, solving not only the problem at hand, but also giving them the skills to resolve future conflicts.
Anything is Possible (Rochel Sandman, Hachai- laminated pages) – Most children today have a hard time understanding the simplicity of Jewish life not that long ago, but this book bridges that gap, transporting readers back to the 1940s when people were lacking even the most basic necessities. Seeing how those living the sparsest of lives prioritized having emunah over everything else is a timeless lesson that should resonate with even small children, a valuable reminder of what matters most in our lives.
Let’s Be Honest (Bracha Goetz, ArtScroll) – We’ve all had moments in life where stretching the truth seemed awfully attractive, and this book reminds kids that honesty always pays off in the long run. The examples here – taking someone else’s bike without permission, handling borrowed books carefully, snitching a cookie when no one is watching – will all resonate with young readers, who will (hopefully) appreciate that by taking the high road they are emulating the people they admire most – their parents – while also earning the trust of others.
Family Reading Time: Ages 4 – 8
There is something to be said for books that appeal to a wide age group, and these definitely fit the bill. Ideal to read aloud to younger kids at story time or bedtime, or for younger readers to enjoy on their own.
Avraham Avinu – The Story of the Father of our Nation (Rabbi Nachman Seltzer, ArtScroll) – Our kids learn about Avraham Avinu from the time they start school, but this 71 page book offers an in-depth look at his life, with each of its eleven chapters broken down into bite-size segments that make for easy reading, both for young readers, or adults who want to read with their kids but don’t have a lot of extra time. A treasure trove of beautifully written and illustrated information about Avraham Avinu based on the Chumash, midrashim and meforshim, I can only hope that there are more of these in the ArtScroll pipeline.
Living Chessed for Children (Shmuel Blitz, ArtScroll) – Adapted by Rabbi Avrohom Asher Makovsky’s Living Chessed, this collection of 21 page-long stories, most of which feature respected rabanim and gedolim, pack quite a punch. No matter who the stories are about, each one imparts a concise lesson on what it means to really go out of your way for the sake of others.
Living with Bitachon for Children/ A Daily Dose of Bitachon for Children/ (Rabbi David Sutton, ArtScroll) – It’s not always easy to remember that everything that happens in our lives is for the best, but these collections of one to two-page stories illustrates that point very clearly for even the youngest of children. Much like the story of the boy who discovers that the scary amusement park fun house isn’t threatening at all once you turn on the lights and see how everything works, these pages impart the lesson that even if we can’t always see the big picture, we need to have faith that Hashem is always looking out for our best interests.
A House Full of Torah – Stories of Rav Chaim Kanievsky (Shmuel Blitz, ArtScroll) – Another great book with short stories about Rav Chaim Kanievsky that will give kids (and their parents) a deeper appreciation for this gadol hador’s incredible love of learning, as well as his incredible sensitivity for others.
Budding Readers: Ages 6 – 11
This is the age where you really want to draw kids with engaging books that are age appropriate, and are long enough to be satisfying but short enough that they aren’t overwhelming.
Dovi Diaries – New Kid (Yeshaya Suval, ArtScroll’s Shaar Press) – Fourth grade can be full of challenges, especially when you’re the new kid in class. Very much echoing the vibe of the hugely successful Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this book has Dovi Schwartz making his way through the 93 pages of what will hopefully be the first of many Dovi stories. There’s plenty of humor as our stick figure hero makes new friends and also learns how to cope with his feelings, which includes dealing with his not-always-well-behaved younger twin siblings. Kudos to the author for introducing the idea of kids discussing their challenges with a trusted school counselor without making it seem heavy or unnatural.
Upside Down Summer (Libby Herz, Hachai) – Today’s savvy kids will be mesmerized to read about Sara, a ten year old who rises to the challenge in more ways than one as her family struggles to cope with the difficult financial realities of The Great Depression. Positivity and emunah are as relatable as the themes of friendship and family in this 181 page chapter book written for kids in second through fourth grades.
The Taryag Kids – Underwater Adventure and Disappearing Tower (ArtScroll) – Kids just can’t seem to get enough of comic-style books and these two, featuring a quartet of adventurous boys who have a knack for combining mitzvos with adventures, don’t disappoint. Join Tanchum, Reuven, Yisrael and Gadi as they take a deep dive into the water in their first comic novel, complete with a 90 minute audio adventure on USB and an accompanying comic book in the Underwater Adventure. Next up, follow the friends to Paris where fabulous French pastries play a key role in foiling a plot to destroy an iconic landmark in the Disappearing Tower. There are plenty of visuals here in both these books to delight less-proficient readers, while older kids will be enthralled by the nuances and details of the well-written plots.
Older Readers: 12 and Up
90 Seconds for Young Readers (Libby Lazewnik, ArtScroll’s Shaar Press) – The story of Eli Beer and United Hatzalah gets revamped for a slightly younger audience as part of the Leight L’Dor V’dor Initiative, which encourages children and teens to become lifesaving volunteers. The original adult 90 Seconds remains an ArtScroll best seller and I have no doubt that this 191 page version that is more age appropriate will follow in its inimitable footsteps.
The Starlight Sisters – Books 1, 2 and 3 (Libby Lazewnik, ArtScroll) – Girls were captivated by Ora’s Story: Second Fiddle – the first of the Starlight Sisters books – when it came out last summer, setting the stage for a series on a group of four talented friends that are accepted in a prestigious new girls’ school that also includes a focus on performing arts. Over the last seven months, two more volumes have been added to the series – Penny’s Story – True Blue and Gali’s Story – Brave Day, combining the excitement and sparkle of being in the spotlight with the very real challenges that are part and parcel of everyday life. Your girls will love Ora, Penny and Gali and will learn valuable lessons about friendship, honesty, problem solving and doing the right thing.
Teens Talk (Sarah Massry, ArtScroll) – No one can connect with teens better than their peers, and Sarah Massry’s collection of short stories written for girls who are coming of age really hits home. From Dini sharing her constant struggle with making good food choices, to Ayala coming to terms with her father abandoning his frumkeit, to Miriam’s disastrous haircut and Hadassah deciding to reclaim her life by giving up her smartphone, these are stories that will have teens nodding their heads, instead of rolling their eyes. Teens Talk comes from the heart and is an excellent reminder to readers that even when life is less than perfect, there are still ways to make the best of every situation.
Sandy Eller is a freelance writer who writes for print and web media outlets and private clients. She can be contacted at [email protected]
