HOLIDAY STORY BOOKS

JEWISH HOLIDAY STORY BOOKS

When some parents come into the school to talk about Jewish holidays, they read a holiday story to the children, especially when the children are in kindergarten or first grade.

It is important to read to children. Holidays are a good occasion to do so. And there are many wonderful holiday stories.

HOWEVER, many holiday stories do not really tell what the holiday is about, but rather assume the listener already knows.

It would be better to make a presentation about the meaning and customs of the holiday and save the story for another time.

If you really want to read holiday stories to your children's classmates (and there are realy wonderful stories) consider the following:

Some schools, especially in the younger grades, have special reading times, in which teachers, teacher aides and/or parent volunteers read to the children. If you are so moved, when you and your child's teacher discuss scheduling your presentation, offer to come in a day or two after the presentation as well, to read a holiday story during group reading time.

Whether or not you read holiday stories in the classroom, be sure to read them to your own kids.

The following list includes some of my favorites. Many are beautifully illustrated Many more are available, with new stories written every year. This list is only a starting point.

a) Various Holidays: Nina Jaffe, The Uninvited Guest and other Jewish Holiday Tales, illustrated by Nina Jaffe. Stories for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover and Shabbat.

b) Sukkot: Barbara Cohen, Molly's Pilgrim, illustrated by Michael J. Deraney. Great story about a young Jewish immigrant learning about Thanksgiving, including its relationship to Sukkot.

c) Hanukkah: These make great Hanukkah gifts.

i) Harriet K. Feder, Judah Who Always said "NO!", illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn. Fun and simple, tells the story about the holiday.

ii) Eric Kimmel, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Caldecott Honor Book for illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Fun story with great illustrations (including the incidental drawings of a typial Eastern European village).

iii) Eric Kimmel, The Chanukkah Guest, illustrated by Giora Carmi.

iv) Fran Manushkin, Lattkes and Applesauce, illustrated by Trobin Spowart.

v) Sholom Aleichem, Hanukah Money, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz.

vi) Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Power of Light, Eight Stories for Hanukkah, illustrated by Irene Lieblich.

vii) There are several small award winning Isaac Bashevis Singer anthologies aimed at children, with eight stories in each and illustrations by noted illustrators. The stories are not necessarily holiday related. Examples include Naftali the Story Teller and his Horse, Sus and Zlata the Goat.

d) Passover:

i) Barbara Cohen, The Carp in the Bathtub, illustrated by Jan Halpern.

ii) Nancy E. Krulik, Penny and the Four Questions, illustrated by Marian Young.