Today (and every day) we mourn, commemorate, and decry antisemitism. “The day of remembrance is held each year to honor the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis, as well as remembering those who died in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. This year, the UN’s…
Category: Judaism
Gitty and Kvetch
English & Yiddish 4+ Friendship Judaism Jewish Culture & Identity Social-Emotional Learning Caroline Kusin Pritchard & Ariel Landy summary Gitty is an optimistic force of nature and her best friend Kvetch is…the opposite. A little grumpy, a little unsure, Kvetch prefers to air on the safe side of life. Begrudgingly convinced to try and beat…
Recommended for You
English, some Yiddish. YA Judaism Social-Emotional Learning Bookshops Relationships Laura Silverman summary Recommended For You has quiet power in the way diversity is clearly written into the plot. Characters are disabled, LGBTQ+, and in interracial and inter-abled relationships. Main character Shoshanna works at a bookshop called Once Upon, and it’s the place she feels safest…
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021
Antisemitism is alive and well here, a fact that became clear to many when the insurrection and Capitol takeover occurred in early January. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021, I don’t have many words of my own. Only a need to say loudly to everyone I can that this is malicious and pointedly white…
Our Favorite Day of the Year
Written by: A.E. Ali Illustrated by: Rahele Jomepour Bell For ages: 4-8 years Language: English, some Arabic, Hebrew, and Spanish. Topics Covered: School, Friendship, Holidays, Judaism, LGBTQ Families, Islam, STEM, BIPOC Protagonists. Summary: This story follows a young Black Muslim boy named Musa when he starts school, but doesn’t know anyone. Musa is assigned to a table with 3 other boys-…
Becoming Brianna [released 5/5]
Written & Illustrated by: Terri Libenson For ages: 8-12 years Language: English, some Hebrew. Topics Covered: Jewish Culture, Judaism, Bat Mitzvah, Growing Up, Friendship, Anxiety, Bravery, Family, Single-Parent Families, Divorced Parents, Financial Strain, Own Voices. Summary: Brianna is about to have her bat mitzvah, and she can’t quite seem to remember why she let her mom guilt her into it….
Lilah Tov Good Night
Written by: Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G) Illustrated by: Noar Lee Naggan For ages: 3 years and up Language: English and some Hebrew Topics Covered: Refugee, Growing Up, Lullaby, Family, Nature, Love, Social-Emotional Learning, Summary: This is a very sweet book that delicately explains the refugee experience of a family in a lullaby style. A young girl happily plays outside and…
Color Outside the Lines: Stories About Love
Written by: Adam Silvera, Samira Ahmed, Michelle Ruiz Keil, Danielle Paige, Eric Smith, Sangu Mandanna, Elsie Chapman, Anna-Marie McLemore, Lauren Gibaldi, Kelly Zekas & Tarun Shanker, Lori M. Lee, Caroline Tung Richmond, Karuna Riazi, L.L. McKinney, Tara Sim, Lydia Kang Edited by: Sangu Mandanna For ages: YA Language: English predominantly Topics Covered: LGBTQ, LGBTQ Relationships, Growing Up, POC-Centric Narratives, Love, Family, Supernatural,…
The Brave Cyclist: The True Story of a Holocaust Hero
Written by: Amalia Hoffman Illustrated by: Chiara Fedele For ages: 8-12 years old Language: English and some Italian Topics Covered: Judaism, WWII, Holocaust, Activism, Global Community, Historical Events, Historic Figure, Sports, Cycling. Summary: Gino Bartali was a small and sickly child, but he loved riding a bicycle more than anything else. He got a part-time job at a bike shop to learn…
Miep and the Most Famous Diary
Written by: Meeg Pincus Illustrated by: Jordi Solano For ages: 6-12 years Language: English & very little German Topics Covered: Historical Figures, Historical Events, Holocaust, Judaism, Global Community, WWII, Activism, Strength, Resilience. Summary: This book opens with Miep hearing the footsteps of Nazi soldiers, coming to arrest the 8 Jewish people that she’s been helping to hide in attic storage rooms for the…