How Dalia Put a Big Yellow Comforter Inside a Tiny Blue Box 

by Linda Heller    

Summary: After learning about the Jewish tradition of tzedakah boxes, Dalia shares her knowledge with her younger brother, Yossi, by telling him what her savings can help to provide for someone in need.

This is a sweet story that is great for discussing helping others. It is also appropriate to use this book as part of a unit lesson on world traditions.

Interest Level: grades k-3

Reading Level: grade 3

Happy Hanukkah!

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Happy December!

Celebrate the holidays with a great book!

Christmas is December 25th

Hanukkah starts December 20th

Winter Solstice is December 22nd

Kwanzaa starts December 26th

New Year's Eve is December 31st

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Note to authors: Please write more Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve stories! These are the underrepresented holiday books this December.

 Naamah and the Ark at Night 

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Summary: Rhyming text tells of Naamah, a wife of Noah, who sings to her husband, her sons and their wives, and to the animals to sleep at night.

At first, I was hesitant to read what appeared to be a fractured bible story. However, this is a great bedtime story with beautiful nighttime illustrations. I liked the author’s sweet nostalgic note in the back that she used to play Noah’s Ark as a child, and wondered about Noah’s wife. The story does not change the story of Noah, but a story of what could have happened during the storm.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3

Reading Level: grade 2

Can Hens Give Milk?

by Joan Betty Stuchner

Summary: On a small farm in Chelm, a man and his daughter set out to find a way to get milk from their hens, and the results are not only funny, they're wacky.

This is a humorous story that is based on the Jewish tales of a place called Chelm. In this fictional land, people do not have a great deal of common sense. This is a fantastic read for this summer’s reading theme “One World Many Stories.” Anytime of the year, it is great to incorporate in a unit lesson on folk tales and fairytales. A reader can activate a listener by asking questions such as “Can that happen?” or “Does that make sense?” throughout the story.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Feivel's Flying Horses

Feivel's Flying Horses

by Heidi Smith Hyde

Summary: A Jewish immigrant who is saving money to bring his wife and children to join him in America creates ornate horses for a carousel on Coney Island, one for each member of his family.

This is a wonderful historical fiction picture book. It is appropriate to discuss immigration and Jewish traditions after reading this book.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 4