Reading might not sound like the most fun way for kids to prepare for the Jewish New Year, but four new books by Kar-Ben Publishing defy the odds. Geared for young children and best read aloud (preferably by mom or dad, bubbe or zayde, with child in lap), the quartet provides light but not vacuous fare that makes for entertaining reading.
Two are “board books,” designed for the very young, ages 1 to 4. Only 10 pages and made of thick cardboard, the books offer simple concepts enhanced by colorful illustrations.
“Happy Birthday, World” by Latifa Berry Kropf speaks of Rosh Hashanah as “the birthday of the world.”
“On your birthday, you eat a delicious birthday cake … On this birthday, we eat crisp apples dipped in honey.”
Just like birthday time, there’s candlelighting, gift-giving and thank-you’s at the Jewish New Year, Kropf explains in understandable terms. Soft-hued illustrations reinforce the concept of a close, loving family.
“The Opposites of My Jewish New Year” by L.N. Dion is more theme-oriented, but works just fine, especially for the very young. It begins:
“In synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, the shofar is LOUD; the prayer is QUIET.”
It also covers Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover and Shavuot — in chronological order. The color illustrations are simple but effective, and sometimes there’s humor to boot. Take Shabbat:
“This matzah ball is IN the soup. This matzah ball bounced OUT.”
Laced with lots of humor is “Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot Cake” by Kelly Terwilliger. Geared for ages 3 to 8, it may be a book primary-grade kids may like to read themselves, though it also works well as a read-aloud, shared experience.
The illustrations by Phyllis Hornung are wonderful.
Bubbe Isabella celebrates the end of the harvest by building a sukkah. The sides are made of colored cloth, and from the branches of the roof hang apples, grape clusters, ears of corn and petite pumpkins. On a table beneath sits the crowning jewel: a freshly baked lemon cake.
But Isabella feels unfulfilled; she wants to share her bounty, especially that cake. So she welcomes various fuzzy and furry friends, even a moth, to join her in the evenings. And they do. But even after her sukkah has been pretty much munched into disarray, she finds another way to share when a little visitor comes by, seeking a flag for a Simchat Torah procession.
Another winner is “Dinosaur on Hanukkah,” by Diane Levin Rauchwerger. Again, the pictures, by Jason Wolff, greatly enhance the story.
Rauchwerger’s story has a friendly but mischievous dinosaur helping a boy celebrate Chanukah — and making a big mess in the house.
“He gobbles up the latkes,
And juggles them for fun.
There’s batter on the walls and floor
Before I say, ‘We’re done.'”
He’s no better when lighting candles, dripping wax on the counter and dropping matches on the floor. And when he plays the dreidel game, “he pouts so when he loses, I just have to let him win.”
But he means no harm, and his foibles make for an upbeat holiday tale. The publisher recommends “Dinosaur” for ages 3 to 6.
All told, there’s not one loser among these four, Jewish-themed books.
“Happy Birthday, World” by Latifa Berry Kropf, illustrated by Lisa Carlson (10 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $5.95).
“The Opposites of My Jewish Year” by L. N. Dion, illustrated by Julie Olson (10 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $5.95).
“Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot Cake” by Kelly Terwilliger, illustrated by Phyllis Hornung (22 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $6.95 paperback, $15.95 hardcover).
“Dinosaur on Hanukkah” by Diane Levin Rauchwerger, pictures by Jason Wolff (20 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $6.95 paper, $15.95 hardcover).