Jewish American Heritage - Children

Created on May 19, 2021, 3:28 pm

Last Updated February 24, 2025, 1:45 pm

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. For more information, see https://jewishamericanheritage.org/. For winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and lists of current and past winners, see https://jewishlibraries.org/sydney_taylor_book_award/. The Sydney Taylor Book Award, administered by the Association of Jewish Libraries, an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), is named in memory of the classic All-of-a-Kind Family series author Sydney Taylor. The award recognizes titles for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

1) A song for my sister

Author

Simpson, Lesley

Description

Mira's birthday wish comes true when her baby sister is born, but the little one spends her first eight days wailing, leaving the family at a loss for a name to announce at her simchat bat until Mira's song duriing the naming ceremony has an unexpected effect.

2) Apple days: a Rosh Hashanah story

Author

Soffer, Allison

Description

Katy looks forward to her family's Rosh Hashanah tradition of making applesauce from scratch, but with a new baby, will the family be too busy this year?

3) Hanukkah hippity-hop

Author

Kimmel, Barbara

Formats:

Board Books, eBook

Description

It's time to celebrate- and get your wiggles out- by doing the Hanukkah Hippity-Hop! March like a Maccabee and stomp your feet. Then shake like the jelly in a doughnut treat. An active approach to Hanukkah for toddlers.

4) When Zaydeh danced on Eldridge Street

Author

Description

While staying with her grandparents in New York City in the mid-1930s, eight-year-old Zeesie joins in the celebration of Simchat Torah and sees a different side of her stern grandfather.

5) A dragon for Hanukkah

Author

Mlynowski, Sarah

Description

"Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with Hannah as she receives eight magical presents--one for each night. There's a playful dragon, a gleaming treasure chest, some rowdy unicorns--and more. But are the gifts what they seem to be? When Hannah gathers with family and friends to light the menorah, she'll discover the true magic of Hanukkah"--Amazon.

6) Beam of light: the story of the first White House menorah

Author

Description

"The nonfiction story of how the official White House menorah came to be"-- Provided by publisher.

7) The Sabbath lion: a Jewish folktale from Algeria

Author

Schwartz, Howard

Description

Because of Yosef's devotion to honoring the Sabbath, he is given special protection by a great lion during a dangerous journey through the desert.

Author

Sabelko, Rebecca

Series

Happy Holidays!

Description

We light the menorah and play dreidel. It is Hanukkah! This beginning title introduces young readers to the Jewish Festival of Light. Simple, predictable text and crisp photos tell about what the holiday honors, when it takes place, and how people celebrate today. A special feature reinforces the text, while a photo glossary aids with unfamiliar words. This supportive introduction is perfect for students who are just starting to read independently....

9) Mixed-up mooncakes

Author

Matula, Christina

Description

"It's time for Ruby and her family to celebrate two extra-special harvest holidays. For the Mid-Autumn Festival, she and Nainai pick out fruit, nuts, and red chrysanthemums from the store. And with Zayde, Ruby buys a lulav and etrog from the market for Sukkot. But something is missing to truly combine these two celebrations. Can Ruby figure out the perfect way to blend the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival?

10) One small spark: a Tikkun Olam story

Author

Description

A young girl explores the Jewish philosophy of tikkun olam and is inspired to make a positive change in the world as she fixes her local park and inspires other community members to help.

11) Rosh Hashanah: new year, gather near

Author

Description

"L'shana tova! This Rosh Hashanah, celebrate family and a bright future."-- Provided by publisher.

Author

Description

"A child and a mother measure, mix, knead, shape, and tuck their dough under a towel like a sleeping baby. Then, as they do every week, they wait while their dough rises, soon to be baked and gratefully shared at a Shabbat gathering with loved ones. Author Sidura Ludwig's poetic narration captures the experience of a Jewish family as they make challah--a lesson in patience, slowing down, faith, and family"-- Provided by publisher.

13) Latke's first Hanukkah

Author

Silberberg, Alan

Description

"On the first night of Hanukkah, the latke lights the menorah. On the second night of Hanukkah, the gelt gets sweet and giddy. The party grows and grows until the eighth night of Hanukkah, when Latke's home is full and all eight candles on the menorah are lit (plus the shamas!)"-- Provided by publisher.

14) Hanukkah upside down

Author

Weissman, Elissa Brent

Formats:

Description

From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora have a competition to decide who can have the world's best Hanukkah, winter or summer, but as the eight nights of Hanukkah go on, they realize they have more in common than they thought.

15) In the Jerusalem forest

Author

Busheri, Devora

Series

Formats:

Description

A girl and her mother walk in a forest, growing in their appreciation of nature and of each other, especially as they gaze into a still pond. Includes note about Haim Nachman Bialik, on whose poem, "The Pond," the story is based.

16) Bitter and sweet

Author

Feder, Sandra V

Series

Formats:

Description

"When Hannah's family has to move, her grandmother tells her how she felt leaving the old country--it was both bitter and sweet. As Hannah leaves her friends behind and tries to get used to a new house, she only feels bitterness. Was her grandmother wrong about the sweetness? Hannah starts to feel better about the move when she sees her new house in the soft light of the Shabbat candles. When a new friend reaches out with a special gift, Hannah realizes...

17) Is it Purim yet?

Author

Series

Formats:

Description

"As winter winds down and springtime seems like it's still a dream away, a family begins preparations for Purim. It's time to fill hamantaschen, swing groggers, and gather together. Whether dressed as a queen or in a Mordecai crown, let's celebrate how Queen Esther's bravery protected the Jews!"--Jacket.

18) The Shema in the mezuzah: listening to each other

Author

Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg

Series

Formats:

Description

Grandma tells Annie a story to explain how, a long time ago, a wise rabbi settled an argument between two groups of townspeople who could not agree on how to hang a mezuzah.

19) Sadie and the big mountain

Author

Korngold, Jamie

Series

Sadie and Ori volume 2

Formats:

Description

When her synagogue's nursery school plans a hike to celebrate Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the day the Jewish people received the Ten Commandments, Sadie is not sure she will be able to climb a huge mountain. Includes facts about the holiday and a recipe for blintzes.

20) Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot cake

Author

Terwilliger, Kelly

Series

Sukkot and Simchat Torah

Formats:

Description

Bubbe Isabella invites many animal guests to spend Sukkot with her, but they are more interested in eating the Sukkah than her lovely lemon cake.