Looking to jump-start your child’s interest in the High Holy Days and other upcoming holidays?
Three new books for ages 4 to 8 will do the trick.
“It’s Shofar Time!” — my favorite — is part of a series by author Latifa Berry Kropf and photographer Tod Cohen.
With similar books introducing Purim, Chanukah, Sukkot and other Jewish holidays, the two collaborators appear to have perfected their knack for introducing major celebrations to children in an appealing way.
Big, adorable pictures of real-life kids (obviously not models), along with short, simple text in large print, make for easy reading. And while some might accuse the author of giving short shrift to the meaning and history of Rosh Hashanah, others could counter that the book is a good jumping-off point for further discussion.
“It’s Shofar Time!” is clearly aimed at piquing kids’ interest and introducing the basics. That it does well.
A handy postscript near the back provides a craft project and a little more information about Rosh Hashanah.
Another plus: In a natural way, through pictures, it shows that Jewish children are not homogenous; they are white, black, red-haired, brown-eyed, etc.
“Dinosaur on Shabbat,” another in a series, also has kid appeal.
It’s fun — and a little silly — with cute, colorful illustrations. This is the second effort by author Diane Levin Rauchwerger and illustrator Jason Wolff, who teamed up to produce the winning “Dinosaur on Passover.”
In “Shabbat,” the friendly but exceedingly clumsy Dino the dinosaur pays a visit to his young friend on a Friday night. Eager to participate in customs such as filling the Kiddush cup, opening the spice box and singing the “Shavua Tov,” Dino manages to mangle each attempt. And though eager to attend synagogue so he can hear the Torah reading, he falls asleep in his young friend’s lap.
He’s lovable nonetheless.
Meanwhile, the juvenile reader gets to enjoy a fanciful story, told in rhyme, and learn about Shabbat rituals and observance at the same time.
The third book, “On Sukkot and Simchat Torah,” is strikingly different from the other two.
One obvious distinction is the art: The pastel illustrations by Melanie Hall are stately and lovely, worthy of hanging in a gallery. They have a glowing, ethereal quality that radiates light and warmth.
The second differentiating quality lies in Cathy Goldberg Fishman’s story: It’s more refined, detailed and informative.
The young narrator describes how her family observes the holidays. They build a sukkah and gather in it for meals and other activities such as games, reading and, weather-permitting, sleeping at night.
She also tells what happens in synagogue, including observance of Shemini Atzeret (“the eighth day of coming together”) and Simchat Torah (“All year long, we have been reading from the Torah. Tonight, we finish and start at the very beginning again”).
She brings her grandmother, grandfather and her rabbi into the picture as well.
Though the book does its job explaining the hows and whys of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, however, it might be a turnoff for young children.
Frequently, the tone is decidedly adult-like. “My mother reads the words of Torah in a beautiful, melodic chant,” says the narrator. “I think the rhythm of the chant sounds almost like a heartbeat — a heartbeat made from the words of Torah that have given life to the Jewish people for thousands of years.”
Are those really the words of a child?
That concern is minor, though. This is the fifth Jewish holiday book by Fishman — a mother, former teacher and owner of a children’s bookstore — who has obviously found an audience for her publications.
“Dinosaur on Shabbat” by Diane Levin Rauchwerger (24 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $6.95).
“It’s Shofar Time!” by Latifa Berry Kropf (24 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $12.95).
“On Sukkot and Simchat Torah” by Cathy Goldberg Fishman (32 pages, Kar-Ben Publishing, $17.95).