Great Reading Picks for the Hebrew School Classroom

Jewish Children’s Books

The Mitzvah of Teaching Children

The Torah commands us to teach our children and with Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, so too is the start of the religious school year in many synagogues and temples. As a teacher myself, I’m also preparing for the return to the classroom. I teach a group of children ranging in grades K-2, so ages 6 to 8.

For this group, my lesson plans consist of using arts and crafts to teach the stories of the Torah in a hands-on and age-appropriate way. We also practice the aleph-bet and are beginning to read symbols in Hebrew. I also incorporate story books that fit the lessons of the week. When selecting books, I focus on choosing from the rich library of titles by Jewish authors. To help other educators, because sharing resources builds community and makes us all better, I’ve compiled a list of all the books I used during the last school term.

To help keep my students engaged and excited about our weekly story time, I printed the cover art image of each book, laminated them (not necessary but helps them hold up better), and taped each one to a large poster board

in our classroom as a visual reading chart. It also helped students remember their favorites, which they would request to hear again when we had a few spare minutes. The kids were excited to see our reading list grow as the year continued. They also enjoyed reminding each other of what each book was about or for what occasion we read them.

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Join the conversation! Share your favorite children’s book titles in the comments.


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Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah by Sylvia A. Rouss

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Sammy Spider wants to taste the golden honey the Shapiros set out for a sweet New Year. Mom tells him to stick to spinning webs, but will curious Sammy listen?

The Book of Jonah by Peter Spier

Two-time Caldecott illustrator Peter Spier’s visual retelling of a favorite Bible story is back in print! In a tale full of action, adventure, and strife, Jonah is asked by God to tell the people of Nineveh to mend their wicked ways. Fleeing from this enormous task, Jonah sets sail and is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. What follows is Jonah’s journey to acceptance of God’s love and grace.
 

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A reference section at the end of the book shares historical and geographical notes about the story, including details about the ship Jonah might have sailed on and a fascinating discussion of the ancient city of Nineveh and the location of its ruins in present-day Iraq.

Gitty and Kvetch by Caroline Kusin Pritchard

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In this hilariously sweet story about an opposites-attract friendship, chock-full of Yiddish humor, a girl and her best bird friend’s perfect day turns into a perfect opportunity to see things differently.

Gitty and her feathered-friend Kvetch couldn’t be more different: Gitty always sees the bright side of life, while her curmudgeonly friend Kvetch is always complaining and, well, kvetching about the trouble they get into.

One perfect day, Gitty ropes Kvetch into shlepping off on a new adventure to their perfect purple treehouse. Even when Kvetch sees signs of impending doom everywhere, Gitty finds silver linings and holds onto her super special surprise reason for completing their mission.

But when her perfect plan goes awry, oy vey, suddenly it’s Gitty who’s down in the dumps. Can Kvetch come out of his funk to lift Gitty’s spirits back up?


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Estie the Mensch by Jane Kohuth

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Estie the Mensch Written by Jane Kohuth Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger Ages: Challah Toast (3 to 4 Years) Month: July Year: 2013 Publisher: Random House Download Reading Guide SYNOPSIS: Estie does not always know how to be around other people and sometimes when her grandmother reminds her to be a mensch, she’d rather not. She’d prefer to be a turtle or a seagull. Eventually, something happens that shows her grandmother and Estie herself what a mensch the girl can really be.

Abraham and Sarah by Rich Linville


Abram was the tenth descendant of Noah. God called Abram to leave his home and go to a new land that God would show Him.

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**This book does include a reference to Jesus being a descendant of Abraham. It can be skipped over without impacting the story. The maps of where Abraham and Sarah traveled helped my students understand where our ancestors lived during this time while demonstrating the places in the Torah are real.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel

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On the first night of Hanukkah, a weary traveler named Hershel of Ostropol eagerly approaches a village where plenty of latkes and merriment should warm him. But when he arrives, not a single candle is lit. A band of frightful goblins has taken over the synagogue, and the villagers cannot celebrate at all! Hershel vows to help them. But can one man alone stand up to the goblins, save Hanukkah, and live to tell the tale?


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Benno and the Night of Broken Glass by Meg Wiviott

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A neighborhood cat observes the changes in German and Jewish families in Berlin during the period leading up to Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. This cat’s-eye view introduces the Holocaust to children in a gentle way that can open discussion of this period.

A Place for Elijah by Kelly Easton Ruben

As Sarah’s family prepares for Passover, Sarah makes sure to save a chair at the table for the prophet Elijah who is said to visit every Seder. But when the electricity goes out in the buildings across the street and the neighbors start arriving at Sarah’s apartment, her parents invite each visitor to join the Seder. Sarah adds another place setting for Elijah, and then another, but soon the table is full with people from her neighborhood and there are no more chairs to spare! How can Sarah honor the Passover tradition of saving a place for Elijah?

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Miriam by the River by Jane Yolen

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The biblical story of baby Moses as told by his big sister.Giving her baby brother a kiss, brave little Miriam places Moses’ basket into the river. With one quick push, she sends him into the water, hoping her wish will come true and her brother will be saved from Pharaoh’s orders. But will Pharaoh’s daughter arrive in time to rescue him?

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The Story of Anne Frank by Emma Carlson Berne

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Discover the life of Anne Frank—a story about staying hopeful for kids ages 6 to 9 Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived during World War II, when people like her were killed just for being Jewish. Anne and her family were forced to hide in a tiny, secret space to try and survive, and Anne began keeping a diary to practice her love of writing and pass the time. In her writing, she described what life was like as a Jewish person during the war. She also wrote about her hopes, dreams, and the future she wanted when she could live a normal life again. Even though she was scared, Anne believed in the goodness of people and never gave up hope that life would get better again. The Story of Anne Frank includes:

  • Core curriculum standards—Learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Anne’s life, and take a quick quiz to test your knowledge.
  • Her lasting change—Discover how Anne Frank helped make the world a better place for future generations, including you.
  • Clear definitions—Find a glossary with easy-to-understand definitions for some of the more advanced words and ideas in the book.

How will Anne’s bravery and optimism inspire you?

Bim and Bom, A Shabbat Tale by Daniel J. Swartz

Bim, a builder, and her brother Bom, a baker, live on opposite sides of town. All week long they work hard but when Shabbat comes, they celebrate the day together. A warm story of village life inspired by the well known song “Shabbat Shalom.” Song notes and lyrics included.

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The Vanishing Gourds, A Sukkot Mystery by Susan Axe-Bronk

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When Sara’s gourds―decorations for the family sukkah―start mysteriously disappearing, the hunt for the culprits is on. The family of squirrels who are to blame pay the family back for the missing gourds in a surprising way.

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Maccabee! The Story of Hanukkah by Tilda Balsley

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Judah and the little army of Maccabees fight to free Jerusalem from the cruel King Antiochus in this vibrant and action-filled rhyming version of the famous Hanukkah story.

Share Some Kindness Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott

Bear is sad. All the other animals think he’s mean because he’s so big. But his human friend, Coco, offers to help him. Coco shares her grandmother’s advice: “When life gets dark as winter’s night, share some kindness, bring some light.”

They decide to bake cookies to “share some kindness” and make lanterns to “bring some light.” But when the cookies and lanterns don’t work, they must look for another way to win over the other animals. And while they’re at it, Coco and Bear just might discover that kindness is a gift that only comes from the heart.

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Welcoming Elijah, A Passover Tale with a Tail by Leslea Newman

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Inside, a boy and his family sit around the dinner table to embrace the many traditions of their Passover Seder around the dinner table. Outside, a cat wonders, hungry and alone. When it’s time for the symbolic Passover custom of opening the family’s front door for the prophet Elijah, both the boy and the cat are in for a remarkable surprise.

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The Story of Esther, a Purim Story by Eric A. Kimmel

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The Purim story is full of drama. It brings together a mighty king, a jealous scoundrel, and a wise uncle. However, at its center is a clever heroine who was so beautiful she was known as the Morning Star. This dramatic story shows how it was only because of Queen Esther’s cunning and courage that evil was brought to justice and many threatened lives were saved. Told for many thousands of years, her story is still thrilling and inspiring.

Saturdays are Special by Chris Barash

In this child’s household, Shabbat is different from the rest of the week — slower, quieter, more peaceful. Most of all, everyone has more time to spend with one another. That’s what makes Saturdays so special.

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Let My People Go by Tilda Balsley

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Everyone can take part as Moses implores Pharoah to “”Let My People Go!”” This light-hearted rhyming tale can be read alone or with a cast of characters as a “”Reader’s Theater.”” Perfect for family seders, library story time, and classroom dramatizations.

In Our Teeny Tiny Matzah House by Bill and Claire Wutzel

Illustrated with unique food faces art, the classic folktale of the crowded house is told from the family cat’s point of view and features a Passover seder.

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Joey and the Giant Box by Deborah Lakritz

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When Joey decides to keep the giant box in which the new dishwasher arrives, he comes up with a very special use for it – and does a mitzvah along the way.

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Happy Birthday Tree! A Tu B’Shevat Story by Madelyn Rosenberg

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Tu B’Shevat is a Jewish holiday known as “New Year for Trees” or “Birthday of the Trees,” a day that celebrates trees and taking care of our environment. In this story, which takes place on Tu B’Shevat, a little girl named Joni presents her favorite climbing tree with a special birthday gift.

Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes—just like this book! When Joseph’s coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that?As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat, while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can always make something, even out of nothing.

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Martin Luther King Jr by Mary Nhin

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In the new Mini Movers and Shakers children’s book series comes a cast of characters who have failed, yet succeeded despite overwhelming obstacles. Find out what happens in this kids book about achieving goals with nonviolence.Sometimes, we are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. But with grit and hard work, one can achieve great things!Mini Movers and Shakers was developed to inspire children to dream big and work hard. Fun, relatable characters in graphic style books easy enough for young readers, yet interesting for adults.The Mini Movers and Shakers book series is geared to kids 3-11+. Perfect for boys, girls, early readers, primary school students, or toddlers. Excellent resource for educators, parents, and teachers alike.

The Story of Creation by Patricia A. Pingry

Tells the Old Testament story of God’s creation of the world.

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A New Short Story by Author Heidi Slowinski

April Short Story Feature

One of the highlights of my tenure as a member of Toastmasters was coordinating a Murder Mystery theme meeting. Keeping members engaged and motivated to continue working toward their goals can be a challenge. So in an effort to liven things up a bit, I worked with a few other members to put together a murder mystery night. Every speaker was assigned a character, all of them potential murder suspects, along with some details from the storyline specific to their character. Our victim was a wealthy art collector, who we named Sir Ralph Smedly, in honor of the founder of Toastmasters. I also participated as a speaker and played the victim’s much-younger wife who stood to benefit from a large life insurance policy. I recently found my speech and made a few changes to make it easier to read as a short story. I was quite proud of the success of this meeting and of this speech so I decided to share it.

You’ll notice throughout the story some italicized notes. These are the speaker’s personal asides. In an effort to play into the stereotype of a gold-digging younger wife, I acted as though I couldn’t remember my newly departed husband’s name. It added some humor to the speech and my audience had a lot of fun with it.

A Murder Mystery

  

We met in Austria. I was on a solo getaway, sipping coffee at an outdoor café, soaking in the beauty of Vienna. It was a perfect spring afternoon, and the cafe was busy. I was lost in my thoughts until Albert (hmm, no that doesn’t sound right) walked up.

Guten Tag,“ he said in American-accented German. Then he babbled something about a lost chair and borrowing my butt.

I did my best not to laugh as I took him in. The man in front of me bore a striking resemblance to Peter Gallagher. “You’re welcome to join me if you’d like,” I responded with a polite smile.  

“Thank goodness!” he exclaimed, as he lowered himself into the chair next to me. “You speak English. I’ve never managed to get my tongue around German.”

There was no question he was considerably older than me, not even remotely age appropriate. He’s old enough to be my father. Okay, so Brice (no, that doesn’t sound right either) is practically old enough to be my parents’ father. But we continued making small talk. He made me laugh. It was nice.

As the afternoon faded to evening, Charles (nope, also not it) smiled and asked, “Do you by chance have plans for dinner?”

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Dinner with a Pierce Brosnan look alike, clearly well off, and a decent conversationalist. Why not? I can be arm candy for an evening. So, I accepted.

“Wonderful,” he smiled. “If you don’t mind, we’ll need to make a quick stop on our way. It’s just a few streets over if you don’t mind a little walk.”

“That sounds fine,” I said. Ever the gentleman, he offered his arm and we strolled off.

I suddenly found myself standing in a salon of couture as far as the eye could see. And with a wave of his hand, Dimitri (no, that was that guy in the soap opera my grandma watched when I was little) simply said “Pick one”.

And that was it; my first hit of the drug that is Edmond’s (Also not it. That was the soap opera guy’s brother) extravagant lifestyle. He wined and dined me in the finest restaurants, gave me the finest gifts, trips to the most exotic destinations. Anything I wanted, was laid at my feet.

It was a whirlwind courtship. Less than six months later, and before I could come up for air, we were back at that sidewalk cafe in Vienna, and Ferdinand (no, that’s the duke whose assassination started World War I) was pulling out the little bobble that now resides on my left hand. An appropriate choice for a proposal in Austria as it once graced the hand of none other than Archduchess Maria Antonia. Or as she’s more commonly known, Marie Antoinette.

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Now I know what you’re all thinking. She’s a stereotypical gold digger. A helpless airhead with daddy issues. Of course, she would marry a handsome billionaire old enough to be her grandfather. But you would be wrong. Before I met George (nope, that’s not it either), I was an independent woman. Master’s degree, a successful career, and great friends. I owed my own home. The whole place would fit inside my master closet now but it was mine. I traveled when I wanted to. I stood on my own two feet.

And in a flash, I walked away from all of it. I quit my job and sold my house. I hardly ever see my friends or family. What Hermann (nope, too exotic) offered me was like cocaine. And the more he’s given, the more I’ve needed. It’s not love that brings people like us together. It’s addiction. Every time I’ve considered walking away, going back to the person I used to be, to the life I used to have, there’s another hit. Weekends in Martha’s Vineyard, private dinners catered by Wolfgang Puck, my own black card, shopping sprees in the best fashion houses in the world. Plus, the five-million-dollar life insurance policy he gifted me in the prenup doesn’t hurt. I remind myself of that every time I’m tempted to run off and find actual love with someone my own age. Ivan’s (no, that’s too Slavic) idiot son becomes the beneficiary if I file for divorce.

But how can I complain? After all, I have everything anyone could possibly want. So why do I spend my nights having drunken meltdowns on the heated marble floors in my master bath, clutching some four-hundred-dollar bottle of wine I can’t pronounce the name of? Because I’ve done everything. I’ve been everywhere. I have everything. I am so bored. And Joffrey (oh no, that’s that little sociopathic, inbred, twerp from Game of Thrones; I met the actor at the premiere) doesn’t care. He’s become absolutely consumed with his precious art collection. I hardly see him. And when he is around, all we do is argue.

Get this. For our third anniversary, a few weeks ago, we were taking a house in the Hamptons, next door to Ina and Jeffrey Garten. We were invited to one of Ina’s fabulous dinner parties. I love Ina Garten. I worship Ina Garten. And two days before we were set to leave, Karl (nope, he isn’t German) says he has to rush off to Moscow to look at some new piece he just can’t live without, and we’ll have to cancel. Can you imagine? I had to call Ina Garten to cancel.

And now, he’s dead.

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Past Short Story Features:

[April Featured Short Story] The Kashering by Heidi Slowinski

Monthly Short Story Feature One of my writing goals for 2022 is to create more short stories. They’re a good creative exercise and sometimes lead to bigger ideas for novels. Or who knows, maybe an eventual collection of short stories in the form of a new book. My selection this month is more personal in…

[May Featured Short Story] My Name is Hathor by Heidi Slowinski

Monthly Short Story Feature One of my writing goals for 2022 is to create more short stories. They’re a good creative exercise and sometimes lead to bigger ideas for novels. Or who knows, maybe an eventual collection of short stories in the form of a new book. My selection this month is just for fun.…

A New Short Story by Author Heidi Slowinski

August Short Story Feature One of my writing goals for 2022 is to create more short stories. They’re a good creative exercise and sometimes lead to bigger ideas for novels. Or who knows, maybe an eventual collection of short stories in the form of a new book. Goodreads has recently done away with their creative…

Enter the Short Story Contest

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Visit the Contests page for this month’s theme and full contest rules.

There is an entry fee of $5.00 USD. The winning entry receives a prize based on the number of entries, not less than $25.00 USD.

Don’t wait, enter today!

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Latest Short Story Contest – Win a $25 Prize
Attention writers! This month's short story contest theme is: A Short Story Inspired by Your Career Entries must be received by midnight April 24th, cst. Selected stories will be featured during the month of October. Read on for further guidelines. Short Story Contest Guidelines Stories are to be 1,500 to 3,000 words. All genres welcome. …

Latest Short Story Contest – Win a $25 Prize

short story contest

Attention writers! This month’s short story contest theme is:

A Short Story Inspired by Your Career

Entries must be received by midnight April 24th, cst. Selected stories will be featured during the month of October. Read on for further guidelines.

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As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.

Short Story Contest Guidelines

Stories are to be 1,500 to 3,000 words. All genres welcome. Please keep it ‘R’ rated or less. No discriminatory themes, explicit violence, or explicit sexual content.

The winning entry will be published in a guest post the first Monday of the following month.

You retain exclusive rights to your work and are free to republish. Republished stories are welcome.

There is an entry fee of $5.00 (USD). The winning entry will be awarded a prize via PayPal. The amount of the prize is based on the number of entries, with a minimum of $25.00 (USD).

Writers must be 18 years old or over to enter. By submitting your entry, you are certifying you meet this requirement.

Submit Your Story

Please complete the form below with your submission, including a brief bio, which may include social media handles and the titles of any published works you would like to promote. Your website URL will also be included, if provided.

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