2 comments about P.B. Bear's Birthday Party.

1. I bought this book long before I had children. I loved the way the author uses pictures in his books instead of all words. The characters are so lovable. I have this book plus PB Bear Treasure hunt. If they ever become available again I definately recommend them.



2. This is my absolute favorite P.B. Bear book. The inside covers have beautiful color pictures of all things party. This is a great learning tool for kids. You can teach them the names of all sorts of fun items.
   
   The story starts in the morning with P.B. Bear in his cute pajamas. He doesn't want to stay in bed because today is his birthday. With a "Happy Birthday to Me" he heads for breakfast. Friends start arriving at his home and soon they all decide to go for a picnic. When you turn the page...you have to keep turning the page because the words go in a circle around some railroad tracks.
   
   The picnic looks just fantastic, with cake and gummy bears and all sorts of yummy cucumber sandwiches. Then, he opens all his presents. They ride home in a train and the tired little bear goes right to sleep...but not before he brushes his teeth!
   
   This book is just filled with pictures. Some of the words are missing in the sentences and the picture of the word appears. So, you can have lots of fun teaching words.
   
   Totally Cute!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about One Candle.

1. This story shows how each family can add its own memories to a traditional celebration, blending in things that make it more meaningful. In this incredible Hanukkah story, we see a layer of family history presented as part of the larger faith drama. This is emphasized in the art as well -- powerful duotone-like drawings are integrated with the full-color illustrations, giving the feeling of the past coming to the table with the stories told. I was particularly struck by the incredible faces in this picture book -- they are so alive with individuality, authenticity, and emotion.

   One customer reviewer has commented on the brisket and sour cream as being "nontraditional." I find this as a plus, personally. The traditional applesauce IS there (this reviewer must not have noticed), yet the family is not presented as a stereotyped cliche -- they have brought their own traditional dinner in with the rest of their Hanukkah foods and the one potato, which becomes the one candle, representing their struggles to maintain their faith, hope, and traditions alive through a Holocaust death camp.

   Considering the topic, this could be a hard book to read, but it is not -- it is sensitively told, a celebration of strength and resisliency, determination, family and faith. If there is a problem with how the menorah is lighted (I can't say), that would be a shame and should be corrected in reprintings, but I feel that the power of the book lies elsewhere and should be appreciated for its fullness.




2. I agree with other reviewers that it is a pity that Ms. Bunting's editors didn't assign someone knowledgeable to review the text and help the artist with moon phases and menorah placement. On the other hand, many of the Jews who love and celebrate Hanukkah do not practice strictly in accordance with dietary and other religious laws.

   What makes this book special is showing a festive, cheerful holiday having such significance in the practice of one's religion and being one's true self that Grandma, as a young girl, risked death to observe it. Scholars have often been somewat dismissive of Hanukkah, regarding it as a minor holiday, and yet it is a favorite for many people. This story helps us understand why. There is a message of hope, since Grandma has survived and is surrounded by a loving family, but the deft characterization of Great-Aunt Rose shows that suffering a horror like the Holocaust stays with one for life.

   As a school librarian, I'm finding this a powerful introduction to the Holocaust, as well as to Hanukkah. The children are baffled and horrified at the idea that anyone would be imprisoned, starved, killed, "just because..." - and even more aghast when we point out that the hate and killings continue now with Jews AND other ethnic/religious groups. The narrator's musings at the end of the story as to why Grandma wants to remember such a painful time in her life allow us to look at what we have to remember to keep it from happening again.




3. I find it appauling that simply because this is a non-kosher family being depicted (as my family is) it is considered an ERROR. Equally appauling is the fact that because there is one belief about how the candles should be lit, all other beliefs are suddenly invalidated. But most appauling of all is that we finally have a book that not only takes the holiday seriously but celebrates it with such sincerity and a sense of hope, and yet you sit there and try to find reasons to discredit it. I for one think this is a truly amazing book, and I am more than happy to share it with my family.



4. This book is a touching story about celebrating Hanukkah in a work camp with two young girls. It is a book od love, hope, and life. Younger kids would probably not understand all of it and it might bore some older kids. Overall it is a pretty good book. The pictures help you understand it even more.



5. I too, was curious about the placement of the candle in the window and my Temple confirmed that it is indeed a mitzvah to turn the menorrah toward the passer-by and the world outside so that they read it as one would light it. There is nothing amiss in the illustrations here. Mitzvah, yes!

2 comments about Mayer Aaron Levi and His Lemon Tree.

1. This lovely and heart-warming story by Tami Lehman-Wilzig provides a great example of the benefits of sharing to children ages 7 - 11. When a person does a good deed for someone, especially those less fortunate, it represents how G-d cares for all of creation. This type of caring reverberates throughout the community and often has far reaching consequences as demonstrated so nicely by this story. The book is a joy to read because it teaches a great lesson. It is also a joy to view the the realistic and colorful artwork by Ksenia Topaz who beautifully illustrates each page of this book.
   
   The story is told by Joshua a boy of about 5 years of age who received a small lemon tree in a black pot from his Grandpa who told Joshua about the history and importance of this lemon tree. A long time ago, during the turn-of-the-century lived their relative Mayer Aaron Levi with his wife Raezel and their two daughters and two sons in a poor village in Russia. Mr. Levi took great care of his lemon tree which produced a lot of fruit. From time to time, he and his wife counted the lemons on their tree. At times, Raezel would find fewer lemons which she reported to her husband but he did not reply about the matter or seem too concerned.
   
   Several weeks later, neighbors came with gifts brought to the Levi family. One young neighbor brought lemon pudding. Another brought over several pieces of lemon pie. Someone else brought over lemon flavored tea. Raezel was surprised and questioned her husband about all these gifts made from lemons. ... He explained, that he left the extra lemons they did not need in a bucket by the gate for the poor. He knew Raezel kept close track of their fruit and did not want her to worry her so he did not mention it. After this wonderful experience, It became a tradition in the Levi family to place a lemon tree in a black pot and give it to the next generation with instructions on how to care for the tree ... and the fruit which it bore. This is a highly recommended book which provides a wonderful example of sharing ... Another book by the same author recommended for children is Lotty's Lace Tablecloth. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]



2. This beautifully spun tale provides a wealth of teaching possibilities by retelling a family's devotion to a single lemon tree and the effect it has had on the five generations that followed. Through the great-great-grandson's version of his grandfather's recollections, we experience the world of Eastern Europe's Jews and their hardships. More importantly, Lehman-Wilzig confirms the importance of Judaism and its principles within the daily village culture. A single lemon tree not only provides an entire village with substance and a bit of luxury, it serves to reveal the lessons of Torah, the value of caring acts, the responsibility to one's family, to one's community and the earth. The story drawn from the Pirkei Avot; Mishna 3:22, focuses on the value of hard work, the process of creating from our own hands and the importance of continuity. The "theft" of a few lemons demonstrates how the best intentions to provide for the family may misdirect a person's behavior from living a life of Torah, while revealing that people can learn new lessons and that the ability to perform mitzvoth surrounds us at every moment. The artwork engages the reader with its portrayal of days past, offering many visual opportunities to delve into the historical life of a Jewish village. The combination of Mishna, text and artwork provides an entire lesson plan. It also features an activity page, which asks the reader to discover their family tzedaka heirloom. Part of Gefen's new series of Jewish Heirloom Stories, this delightful picture book is a treasure. For ages 7 -10. Reviewed by Christine Maasdam

5 comments about Ramadan.

1. I am so glad that Ramadan received such as fitting tribute in writing. So many holiday books are boring descriptions of a holiday and forget to be interesting. This book taught me about Ramadan and interested me too. I would not hesitate to read this book to my students.



2. We are Christians, but I want my children to grow up knowing about religious diversity and learning about the beliefs of other religions. It's hard to respect what you don't know.

   I'm very much impressed with this book. The text is very clear and gives an abundance of information on both Islam and Ramadan. The illustrations are excellent and fit the text beautifully.

   Whatever your faith (or age), this book will provide a beautiful introduction to the religion of Islam and to their holiest holiday.




3. We are Christians, but I want my children to grow up knowing about religious diversity and learning about the beliefs of other religions. It's hard to respect what you don't know.

   I'm very much impressed with this book. The text is very clear and gives an abundance of information on both Islam and Ramadan. The illustrations are excellent and fit the text beautifully.

   Whatever your faith (or age), this book will provide a beautiful introduction to the religion of Islam and to their holiest holiday.




4. As other reviewers mentioned, this is a beautifully illustrated book. Common, day-to-day words used by Muslims (Imam, Suhur, Zakah) are explained in an understandable way, so I could see this being a reasonable way to introduce the concepts to non-Muslim children (or even adults). Overall, however, I was disappointed. The interesting, personable little details about Hakeem were heavily weighed down by the "adult talking to child" background information about every last little aspect of Ramadan. I would guess that a quick brush past two dozen new vocabulary words, painstakingly defined, will not actually teach those concepts to non-Muslim children. Meanwhile, I fear that the Muslim children for whom I intended this book as a gift will not find enough story among the definitions and explanations to hold their attention. We have so many stories set at Christmas-time that do not attempt to explain the entire Christian religion and all of the symbolism and rituals of Christmas... I haven't been able to find such stories to purchase for my young Muslim friends. Must every book about them be a child-sized textbook on Muslim faith and practices?



5. It's a great book to share in Ramadan at your school. We all read it at home, and we gave it as a gift to our kids' teachers to share in the classroom. Very clear, explains everything about Ramadan and everything that's related to Ramadan up till Eid-El-Fitr. We all loved the book.

3 comments about The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic.

1. This book is a wonerful way to introduce a younger children to the mystical ways of Judaism. The folktales grab you into the short one to three page stories. After that you read the religious teaching and interpretions of each one, and this leaves a classroom open to discussions. This book can be used in any religious setting, whether it be in a classroom or at home with your family. It makes you want to learn more. The Mystical side of Judaism is often left to the Scholars of the the time. However, what surprised me was how many of them were women. Take time in the classroom, or at home with your family, enjoy understand, and discuss this with all who are interested.



2. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award among many other prizes and recognitions, The Day The Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales Of Magic is an inviting retelling by Howard Schwartz of magical tales from Jewish holiday folklore. Gentle, inviting, and reverent reading for all ages, warmly illustrated in black-and-white by Monique Passicot, The Day The Rabbi Disappeared is enthusiastically recommended for young readers of all ages and faiths.



3. The parallels betwen mysticism and Judaism are fascinating, but not in this book. These snippets are too vague for younger readers and too didactic for older ones. As difficult as it must be to make this subject matter dull, Schwartz achieves just that.

No comments about The Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story.

4 comments about Raisel's Riddle (Sunburst Book).

1. This is a Jewish version of the Cinderella story. Far better than the original in my opinion, because instead of something as random as shoe size, the key to discovering the heart-stealer is her riddle and her wisdom. This book stresses the importance of learning and is a wonderful romance at the same time. Beautiful!



2. Raisel is a Jewish girl that is orphaned and seeks work in a Rabbi's household. She attends a Purim dance, meets the Rabbi's son, and asks him a riddle. He seeks her, after the dance, to marry because of her intelligence. This is an adaptation of the story Cinderella. It is told about the Jewish holiday, Purim, which celebrates Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia. It preserves the essential qualities of a Cinderella story by having the girl orphaned, poor, kind, and marrying the "prince" of the story. It contains several references to Jewish words/phrases, such as Zaydeh, synagogue, rabbi, and Talmud. The illustrations match the text well by depicting what is written. The illustrations depict the characters in traditional dress of Jewish people for the date, when not wearing costumes for Purim .

   There are so many different cultural adaptations of Cinderella, that I think it would be interesting to teach a unit with Cinderella as the theme. This could be a way to introduce the children to different cultures, while maintaining something that they are familiar with, Cinderella.




3. Raisel's Riddle is outstanding because this Cinderella is not concerned with her appearance, nor is the rabbi's son. It is a wonderful twist to have knowledge be the commodity most valued!



4. Raisel's Riddle is a story that gives profound meaning to the Cinderella fairy tale , Jewish-style. Instead of beauty being the criterion for selection of a wife, Raisel's intelligence and knowledge are the "charms" that win the heart of "Prince Charming," who in this story is a rabbi's son. Another irony is that instead of the woman having to pass the test of beauty, the man has to pass the test of intelligence and wit before Raisel agrees that he is fit to be her husband. Contrary to the feminist critique that Judaism is a system of patriarchal domination, including the idea that girls are not to be taught sacred lore in the same way as boys, Raisel, an orphan, grows up in the home of her grandfather, a Judaic scholar, who teaches her Torah and Talmud. "Get thyself at once to Amazon.com and buy this book." It is endearing and heartwarming.
   Rabbi Fred V. Davidow

1 comments about On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Aladdin Picture Books).

1. This sweet book is best for very young children, who will enjoy the mild and simple text and its young siblings' observations of the "birthday of the world," and more. The beautiful and inventive mixed-media illustrations will speak to parents and kids alike. Definitely worth reading and admiring.

5 comments about The White Ram: A Story of Abraham And Isaac.

1. Gerstein, Mordicai. The White Ram, A Story of Abraham and Isaac. New York: Holiday House, 2006. 28pp. $16.95. ISBN 0-8234-1897-9
   Mordicai Gerstein is the author of many excellent children's picture books, among them The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, which won the Caldecott award in 2004. He is also the author/illustrator of many stories from the Tanach, where his approach is both playful and spiritual. The White Ram, A Story of Abraham and Isaac is his latest. It is a large size, full color, imaginative book that presents an opportunity for great storytelling and discussion. The question is: Who is the book's audience?
   In this book, Gerstein tells a midrash about a certain white ram created by God on the 6th day, for the sole purpose of saving the future Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac. After God creates him, the white ram waits patiently in the Garden of Eden for eons, and when called upon, he leaves Eden and travels to the mountain where he will serve as the scapegoat and be sacrificed in Isaac's place. On the way to his destiny, the white ram is repeatedly tempted to turn aside from his task by the evil one who appears disguised as an ugly Satan, a devilishly smiling field of grass, a garish fountain, and a forbidding bush of brambles. But the ram, faithful to his calling, does God's will, and Isaac is released.
   At first reading, The White Ram seems to be an attractive picture book for young children from 5 - 8. It has a great plot, a good guy (the ram), a bad guy (the evil one), and a child and father in great distress, (Isaac and Abraham). It has many playful and expressive paintings of all kinds of creatures. But this is a difficult story of child sacrifice, and of the persistence of evil, of temptation and of fidelity. Midrashim are the stories written by adults for adults, to explain problematic happenings in the Tanach. The story of Abraham and Isaac continues to challenge its readers, and has been wrestled with by Rabbis and commentators for generations. Gerstein also addresses the presence of God in this story, by suggesting large overarching hand forms and a partial image of a celestial face in the empty spaces between clouds. Adults will appreciate this as a pictorial metaphor, but young children may be more literal, and confused.
   (Gerstein made use of this imagery for God's presence in another picture book about the death of Moses, Shadow of a Flying Bird, A Legend From the Kurdistani Jews.)
   Picture books are no longer for young children only. Gerstein's inspired book should find its audience among older children, ages 9 -12, their teachers and parents. Besides being a great story, it may provide discussion material for both children and adults, and inspiration for any who may need to write a d'var Torah or create their own midrashim. Recommended for children's collections in Jewish school libraries, synagogue libraries, and public libraries.
   Naomi Morse, AJL Newsletter



2. The gorgeous cover illustration of this book depicts a plaintive white ram in mid-leap, bounding out of paradise on his way to his mission of self-sacrifice. That sad-eyed, heroic ram spoke to me from between the loving "hands" of God, who made him "on the last day of the Creation, in the twilight of the first Sabbath". And there he is again, on the book's opening page, nestled within God's hands, floating above the newly created world, waiting for his moment.
   
   In the peaceful beauty of the Garden of Eden, the lonely ram waits. Adam and Eve and all the other creatures have left the garden, and ages have passed, but still he waits for God to wake him and tell him that his time has come. When he is finally called upon by God, he runs from the garden and encounters the "evil one" in a variety of forms including a red devil, a field of inviting green grass, a cool, sparkling fountain, and a fierce lion. Each time the ram encounters this "evil one" he is not dissuaded from his goal: "I must save the child!", he repeats, and the tension builds. When the ram arrives at the sacred mountain, he sees a "child tied and bound on an altar, and a weeping man." "Wait!", the ram cries, "I am here! Take me!" Then God asks Abraham to remove his son from the altar, and God says, "I wanted the whole world to see your love and your trust in me, so that all people might follow your example." Abraham then frees the struggling ram, who is caught in the brambles, and the ram leaps onto the altar and speaks. "Abraham", says the proud but doomed ram, "On Rosh Hashanah, blow through one of my horns, and God will hear the sound and remember Isaac and me, the white ram that took his place. And He will forgive the sins of Isaac, and his children, and his children's children's children, always, till the end of time." We then turn to the amazing two-page spread of the sacrificed ram, in shadow on the altar, as his soul flies " into God's hands."
   
   Gerstein has included depictions of God (and especially, God's hands) within the illustrations of the sky. If this is an issue for Jewish readers, it is addressed in the author's note as follows: "In the illustrations, following the Jewish tradition that God may not be pictured, I used the empty spaces between clouds to suggest images of His hands, and even His face. See if you can find them." I found this artistic vision to be particularly comforting, especially the "hands" of God cradling the lone white ram on his first day of life.
   
   Is this story too sad for children? I would guess that for some, the idea of the beautiful white ram sacrificing himself on the altar while Abraham clasps his weeping, relieved son to his breast would certainly be a problem. But not all illustrated books for children are for all ages. Biblical stories contain mighty themes, and many parents would never consider the Akedah story to be suitable for young children. But in Gerstein's version of this midrash, the ram's selfless act of sacrifice contributes to subsequent Jewish history: his ashes are made into the mortar for the altar of the Temple, his innards are made into the ten strings of David's harp, and his hide provides Elijah's cape. Lastly, two brightly illustrated seraphim are depicted blowing the two shofars that were made from his horns. The author writes, "One was blown when Moses received the Ten Commandments. And the other will call the children of Israel home."
   
   This book is about the act of remembering. It is about how thankful we are for those who have sacrificed for us, whether they are parents, children, teachers, friends, or even beloved and devoted animals that have served us so faithfully. The story would be appropriate for all religious faiths. The pacing of the text is perfect, and the moving illustrations, done in pen and ink, oils, and colored pencil, are beautiful. This book has received much praise and many starred reviews in the secular children's press. What a pleasure it is to see a book based on a Jewish midrash get that kind of recognition! The author has mastered a perfect combination of story and illustration and we are truly thankful for his efforts.
   Reviewed by Lisa Silverman.
   
   



3. In this midrash from the story of the binding of Isaac, God sends a ram to take Isaac's place on the alter. Even though "the evil one," depicted as a horned devil, tries to prevent the ram from reaching Abraham, God intervenes, stopping Abraham from sacrificing his son. The ram is slaughtered instead and his soul flies up to heaven and becomes part of the Temple alter, the foundation of Jerusalem, the harp of Kind David, and the cape of the prophet Elijah. The sophisticated language of Gerstein's retelling, the complex themes, and the scary illustrations limit the audience to older readers already familiar with the story of the Akeda. But, the book is a wonderful way to spark a discussion of midrashim, the role of animals in our world, and the Jewish values of obedience to God and saving human life (pikuach nefesh). As with other biblically based books by Mordicai Gerstein (The Shadow of a Flying Bird, Jonah and the Two Great Fish, Queen Esther, the Morning Star, and Noah and the Great Flood), the text reads fluidly aloud and the fanciful illustrations include many intricate and hidden details such as the hands and face of God in the clouds.



4. Hear an interview with The White Ram author/illustrator Mordicai Gerstein on The Book of Life podcast's September 2007 episode "Seeing Through New Eyes" at www.bookoflifepodcast.com!



5. This is one of those rare children's books you'll keep no matter how old you and your children get. The illustrations are beautiful. Rarely is God depicted visibly with such sensitivity (can you see the the subtle form of His hands in the clouds on the cover?) The devil looks evil but is unlikely to scare little ones. The story of a ram eager to provide a substitionary sacrifice could not be more precious.
   
   I had the privilege to meet the author at a writer's conference. Mr. Gerstein spoke on his desire to illustrate God for children without making an image of Him. He has succeeded as no other children's author I've seen, with imagination, faithfulness, and beauty.

2 comments about The Ancient Celtic Festivals: and How We Celebrate Them Today.

1. Ancient Celtic Festivals deserves ongoing mention as a fine resource for kids ages 8-12 years, which explains how modern celebrations are rooted in ancient Celtic history and festivals. Links between the ancient rituals and how they are celebrated today require good reading skills but reward with many insights.



2. i liked it. my kids liked it. i love reference books. this isnnt a reference book, but it has all the info on holiday origins i need, so when i want to explain why we celebrate halloween and my kids ask how come some kids think its devil worship, i can just go here, or when they ask how come we have a tree on jesus' birthday, they can even look it up themselves, this book is very kid friendly!