Children’s Books
There’s something absolutely magical about children’s books. They can unleash the power of words, the flight of imagination, and can teach lessons that will last for generations. Children’s stories that are appealing reinforce the idea that anything is possible for a child. When we read to children and with them, for a brief moment we have the joy of reflecting on a time when life was less complex. In our hands, it seems, is the power to ensure that any child can enjoy unbridled dreams. Here are a few favorites to enjoy.
Chicken Soup by Heart by Esther Hershenhorn, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger (Simon and Schuster) is the winner of the ’03 Sydney Taylor Book Awards for Younger Readers. When his sitter, Mrs. Gittel, gets the flu, Rudie Dinkens knows how to cure her. With the help of his mother, he makes Mrs. Gittel’s special chicken soup. Her culinary secret is to spice the soup with stories, and he recalls many of them as he stirs the soup. This is a charming story of an inter-generational friendship with winsome illustrations, reflecting its warmth and humor.
Just Enough Room by Miriam P. Feinberg, pictures by Marlene L. Ruthen, published by the United Synagogue. A delightfully illustrated storybook for nursery school children that tells of the joys of Shabbat and Hakhnasat Orhim, hospitality.
Who Knows Ten? Children’s Tales of the Ten Commandments, revised edition, by Molly Cone, illustrated by Robin Brickman. UAHC Press. For Ages 5 up. One of the finest books on Jewish values, this old favorite introduces each chapter with a specific commandment and then weaves a simple story around that injunction, obliquely illustrating its wisdom and truth. An excellent bedtime storybook and/or resource for storytellers, amateur or professional.
Additional Sydney Taylor books are Noah’s Ark by Jerry Pinkney (SeaStar/North and South); Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel: A Book About the Five Senses by Sylvia Rouss, illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn (Kar-Ben/Lerner); and Pearl’s Passover: A Family Celebration Through Stories, Recipes, Crafts, and Songs by Jane Breskin Zalben (Simon and Schuster).
At a time when even our youngest children are tempted by the easy access and instant gratification of computer games, DVD’s and more, even greater is the need to expose them to books and cultivate reading habits. We can teach them that they will never be alone when they are surrounded by the warmth of family and good books. In the words of Rabbi Yehuda Ben Tibbon, “Make books your friends.”
