Jewish Books for Children for the Autumn Holy Days

(Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah)

ROSH HASHANAH (The New Year)

• Cohen, Barbara, Even Higher. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987. A retelling of the Peretz tale about true righteousness and holiness in preparation for the High Holy Days. This is a beautiful book; it should be in every home!
• Fisher, Leonard Everett, The Seven Days of Creation. New York:  Holiday House, 1981. Simple retelling of Creation story with wonderful painted illustrations. Only problem may be the intertwining of Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 of Genesis. (Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of the world.)
• Goldin, Barbara Diamond, The World's Birthday. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1990. A young boy plans a birthday party for the world to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. (age 4+)
• Kimmelman, Leslie, Sound the Shofar. HarperCollins, 1998. A story for very young children about a child whose uncle blows the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Very little content but cheerful illustrations. Egalitarian synagogue portrayed; no one is wearing a tallit on Yom Kippur. (age 3-4)
• Levin, Carol, A Rosh Hashanah Walk. Maryland: Kar-Ben Copies, 1987. A grou pof children take a stroll on Rosh Hashanah and learn about tashlich and asking forgiveness on the New Year.
• Reed, Allison, Genesis: The Story of Creation. Schocken Books, 1981. The text is a direct translation of Genesis 1:1-2:3 (the story of the Creation in Six Days). The illustrations are beautiful. (Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of the world.)
• Rosenfeld, Dina, Why the Moon Only Glows. New York: Hachai, 1992. A rhyming, poetic retelling of the midrash from Bereishit Rabbah 6:6 about the diminution of the moon in size and brightness because of her unwilling ness to share the sky with the sun.
• Rothenberg, Joan, Yettele's Feathers. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1996. This marvelous retelling of story which illustrates the harm and irreversibility of rumor-mongering is must reading. Rothenberg tells the story of Yettele, who sees no harm in her tales about other people, and whose rabbi teachers her about lashon hara. (On the High Holy Days we repent and it is valuable to remind children that hurt is more often caused by words than deeds.)

• YOM KIPPUR (The Day of Atonement)

• Brodsky, Beverly, Jonah. New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1977. The story of The Book of Jonah is told simply and clearly from the prophet's perspective. The illustrations are gorgeous. The story will require a commentary from a parent, to explain why God would have a large fish swallow a human being alive. The parent will need to explain to the child that the story is not historical, but its message is nonetheless valuable and important. One big problem, however: God is depicted by the head of a bearded man toward the beginning of the book. (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)
• Bulla, Clyde Robert, Jonah and the Great Fish. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1970. This version of the story adds details not included in the biblical account, but on the whole it is clear and has full-page illustrations. (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)
• Cohen, Barbara, First Fast. New York: UAHC, 1987. A story about honor, integrity, growing up and the meaning of Yom Kippur.
• Cohen, Barbara (illus. by Michael J. Deraney), Yussel's Prayer: a Yom Kippur Story. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1981.This is a wonderful book about prayer. It is about Reb Meir who is too wrapped up in his business dealings to concentrate on praying on Yom Kippur and about a young boy named Yussel who cannot read the prayerbook himself, but who prays through the music he makes with his flute and about the rabbi who knows that the Gates of Heaven are not open until God hears sincere prayers. This story assures children that God hears their prayers, however they express them, if they are sincere. [4 and up]
• Hutton, Warwick, Jonah and the Great Fish. New York: Atheneum, 1983. A lovely retelling with beautiful water-color painting, but there is a major problem with this book: The events once Jonah goes to Nineveh, including the repentance of the people of Nineveh and Jonah's reaction to it, are all condensed to two sentences, with no illustration, on the last page. The book ends before the story has been told. Used in conjunction with another book, or finished properly, however, this is a good book. (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)
• Kimmelman, Leslie, Sound the Shofar. HarperCollins, 1998. A story for very young children about a child whose uncle blows the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Very little content but cheerful illustrations. Egalitarian synagogue portrayed; no one is wearing a tallit on Yom Kippur. (age 3-4)
• Oberman, Sheldon, The Always Prayer Shawl. Boyds Mills Press, 1994. The story of tradition being passed down through the generations is exemplified by the handing down of a tallit, from father to son, to grandson. (Because the tallit is worn for all the prayer services of Yom Kippur, I included this book on the list thinking children may well ask questions about the meaning of the tallit.)
• Reed, Allison, The Story of Jonah. North-South Books, 1987. A faithful retelling of the story with magnificent illustrations. (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)
• Rosman, Steven, Deena the Damselfly. New York: UAHC, 1992. A damselfly nymph vowls to solve the mystery of why older nymphs are disappearing when they reach maturity, but she is not prepared for her own startling transformation. A celebration of change and the life cycle. (Yom Kippur emphasizes human mortality.)
• Rothenberg, Joan, Yettele's Feathers. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1996. This marvelous retelling of story which illustrates the harm and irreversibility of rumor-mongering is must reading. Rothenberg tells the story of Yettele, who sees no harm in her tales about other people, and whose rabbi teachers her about lashon hara. (On the High Holy Days we repent and it is valuable to remind children that hurt is more often caused by words than deeds.)
• Spier, Peter, The Book of Jonah. Doubleday & Company, 1985. A true-to-the-text retelling of the story with many quotes from an English translation. (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)
• Williams, Marcia, Jonah and the Whale. New York: Random House, 1989. A simple retelling of the story with engaging, whimsical illustrations. (age 4+) (The Book of Jonah is the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur afternoon.)

SUKKOT (The Festival of Booths)

• Adler, David A. (illus. by Marilyn Hirsh), The House on the Roof: a Sukkot Story. New York: Bonim Books, 1976. This is a delightful story about a grandfather who goes about gathering wooden crates, old leaves, old magazines and all sorts of things other people consider to be junk while his landlady complains. Then he invites his grandchildren up to the sukkah he has built on the roof. The landlady takes him to court, insisting he remove the sukkah and the judge's decision provides a humorous ending. This is a lovely book which children even too young to understand the ending, will enjoy. (age 3+)
• Gellman, Ellie, Tamar's Sukkah. Maryland: Kar-Ben Copies, 1988. A Sukkot story about community and cooperation. (age 5+)
• Lepon, Shoshana, Hillel Builds A House. Maryland: Kar-Ben Copies, 1993. Young Hillel loves to build "houses" for every occasion; finally he finds a Jewish holiday perfectly suited to his penchant for constructing houses.
• Schram, Peninnah, The Big Sukkah. Maryland: Kar-Ben Copies, 1986. A Jewish family in the old country don't usually host their big family because their home is so small, but one Sukkot Berel has a brilliant idea for making a large space for entertaining.
• Singer, Isaac Bashevis, A Tale of Three Wishes (illus. by Irene Lieblich). New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1975. This is a classic I.B. Singer tale of three children who wish to be as wise as Solomon, as learned as Moses and as beautiful and brave as Esther, but who learn that such attributes are acquired by hard work and perseverance, not by wishing. This story is for children who are older (perhaps at least 4 or 5) and the illustrations are beautiful. The books is currently out of print, but you might find a copy in your public library. The story is also printed in Singer's Stories for Children.

SIMCHAT TORAH (Rejoicing in the Torah)

• Cowan, Paul and Rachel Cowan. A Torah is Written. Jewish Publication Society. A beautiful book about the traditions and scribal art of writing a Sefer Torah . Sensitively and lovingly written and illustrated with photographs of an actual scribe at work.
• Ray, Dr. Eric, Sofer, with Joel Lurie Grishaver, The Story of a Torah Scroll. Torah Aura Productions, 1986. Dr. Ray explains the process, traditions, rules, and religious meaning of his work as a Sofer S'tam. He also explains his associations with each of the letters. The book has many black-and-white photos and is decorated with Dr. Ray's beautiful calligraphy. (Age 7 and up)

 GENERAL BOOKS ON JEWISH HOLY DAYS

• Adler, David A. (illus. by Linda Heller), A Picture Book of Jewish Holidays. New York: Holiday House, 1981. This book begins: "This is not a book of facts but of feelings. It's filled with the warmth of the Sabbath, the solemnity of Yom Kippur, the wonder of Hanukkah, the joy of Purim, the awe of Shavuot, and more. It's filled with the love Jewish people have for their traditions and holidays." Actually, it is a book of facts which cover the major festivals, and some of the minor holidays. The ideas expressed are overly sophisticated for very young children. It is not the best book on the subject I have read, but may appeal to some. (age 4+)
• Berger, Gilda, Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish Holidays. New York: Scholastic Press, 1998. This book tells the story of the holidays, provides simple timelines, recipes, and craft ideas. The painted illustrations by Peter Catalanotto are excellent, so much so that more would have been nice. This book would make a nice gift. (age 10+)
• Burstein, Chaya M., A First Jewish Holiday Cookbook. 1989. A brief explanation of all major holidays, followed by mouth-watering recipes which will appeal to children.
• Fine, Helen, G'dee. New York: UAHC, 1958. The beloved tales of the naughty, mischievious goat G'Dee and his human family continue to delight children, and teach them about Jewish holidays in the telling.
• Kimmel, Eric, Days of Awe. New York: Puffin Books, 1991. Three magnificent stories for the High Holy Days on the themes of Tzedakah, Tefilah, and Teshuvah. This is a real winner!
• Kolatch, Alfred J., The Jewish Children's First Book of Why. New York: Jonathan David Publishers, 1992. Brief explanations of Jewish customs and practices presented in Q/A format.
• Polacco, Patricia, The Keeping Quilt. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988. Polacco tells the story of a homemade quilt, made from scraps of clothing of her relatives who immigrated here from Europe, which is passed down from generation to generation, used as many things, but always a chupah in each generation.
• Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg, God's Paintbrush. Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1992. Invites children and parents to discuss God and how God touches our lives and our world. Employs lovely metaphors for conceiving of God.
• Scharfstein, Sol, What Do You Do on a Jewish Holiday? Ktav Publishing House. A pop-up book for youngsters highlighting special features of Jewish holidays. (age 3+)
• Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Stories for Children. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1962. A generous collection of stories for children on a wide variety of subjects. Includes many Singer classics. (Age 12+)
• Weilerstein, Sadie Rose, The Best of K'tonton. JPS, 1980. The title says it all, and they're still great stories after all these years.