Children’s Books for Jewish American Heritage MonthLike this list

20 items

• An Unlikely Ballerina

  Goddu, Krystyna Poray,

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  A small, frail girl with wobbly legs and turned-out toes became the first Jewish prima ballerina assoluta in history, Alicia Markova.

• The Key From Spain

  Flory Jagoda and Her Music

  Levy, Debbie,

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  Just as her ancestors were forced to leave Spain during the Inquisition, Flory flees Europe for a new life in the United States, bringing with her a precious harmoniku and a passion for Ladino music.

• Lilah Tov, Good Night

  G, Mister,

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  This book, with text based on a Hebrew lullaby, tells the story of a Jewish refugee family traveling by night to find a safe home in a new land.

• Welcoming Elijah

  a Passover Tale With a Tail

  Newman, Lesléa,

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  Inside the house, a boy prepares for the Passover ritual of welcoming Elijah--meanwhile, outside the house, a kitten lingers in the cold.

• The Knish War on Rivington Street

  Oppenheim, Joanne,

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  Benny's family owns a knishery and sells delicious round dumplings. Then the Tisch family opens a store across the street--selling square knishes--and Benny's papa worries. So he lowers his prices! But Mr. Tisch does too. As each knishery tries to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Shanghai Sukkah

  Hyde, Heidi Smith,

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  To escape the Nazis, a young Jewish boy named Marcus and his family move to Shanghai, where Marcus and his new friend Liang build a sukkah on the roof and together they celebrate Sukkot and the Chinese Moon Festival.

• Rivka's Presents

  Wallmark, Laurie,

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  In 1918 New York City, little Jewish girl Rivka, who lives on the Lower East Side, trades chores with people in her neighborhood for lessons until she can finally attend school.

• A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night

  Ofanansky, Allison,

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  In this beautiful picture book about the Jewish holiday Mimouna, Miriam can't wait to make the traditional holiday pancakes, moufleta. Miriam's neighbor Jasmine, who is Muslim, shares a sack of flour to make the delicious treat, and the new friends…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Cakes and Miracles

  a Purim Tale

  Goldin, Barbara Diamond

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  Young, blind Hershel finds that he has special gifts he can use to help his mother during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Includes author's notes about the holiday and its origins.

• The Tower of Life

  How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs

  Stiefel, Chana, 1968-

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  Yaffa Eliach, a spirited young girl who grows up in a vibrant, happy town in Poland, filled with family life and rich traditions. Yaffa's grandmother, who receives a gift of a camera from America, becomes the village photographer, and takes photos…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hold on to Your Music

  the Inspiring True Story of the Children of Willesden Lane

  Golabek, Mona,

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  In pre-World War II Vienna, Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. But when enemy forces threatened the Jewish people that lived there, Lisa's parents were forced to send Lisa to London for safety through the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hanukkah at Valley Forge

  Krensky, Stephen

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  During the Revolutionary War, a Jewish soldier from Poland lights the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah and tells General George Washington the story of the Maccabees and the miracle that Hanukkah celebrates.

• A Moon for Moe and Mo

  Zalben, Jane Breskin,

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  Moses Feldman and Mohammed Hassan both live on Flatbush Avenue, but when they meet at the grocery store they quickly become best friends, sharing a picnic while their families prepare for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan.

• Yaffa and Fatima

  Shalom, Salaam

  Gilani-Williams, Fawzia,

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  Yaffa and Fatima live on neighboring date farms. When very little rain leads to a poor harvest, both women go to extra measures to make sure that their dear friend doesn't go hungry.

• Sitting Shiva

  Silver, Erin, 1980-

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  When her friends and family arrive at her house to sit shiva, laden with cakes and stories, she refuses to come downstairs. But the laughter and memories gradually bring her into the fold, where she is comforted by her community.

• I Will Come Back for You

  a Family in Hiding During World War II

  Russo, Marisabina,

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  A grandmother tells her granddaughter the story of the charm bracelet that represents her own childhood experiences while she and her family tried to evade the Nazis in Italy during World War II.

• The Patchwork Torah

  Ofanansky, Allison,

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  David learned from his grandfather to be a sofer, or scribe, and to care for the Torah scrolls that he receives, no matter their condition, until one day he assembles a complete scroll from pieces damaged in the Holocaust, fire, and floods.

• A Synagogue Just Like Home

  McGinty, Alice B., 1963-

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  Rabbi Ruben loves his synagogue. But he doesn't love the creaking floorboard, leaking sink, or drafty windows. Surely, he thinks, he can fix it up so it feels cared for, like a happy home! But Rabbi Ruben doesn't know much about home repair, so when…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Mitten String

  Rosner, Jennifer

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  In this Jewish folktale, Ruthie's family invites a deaf woman and her baby to stay, and Ruthie, a talented knitter of mittens, wonders how the mother will know if her child wakes in the night. The surprising answer inspires Ruthie to knit a special…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Raquela's Seder

  Stein, Joel Edward,

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  Raquela yearns to celebrate a Passover seder, but Inquisition-era Spain is a time when Jews must hide their religion. Her clever papa, the best fisherman in town, creates a unique celebration for his family.