|
|
June 28, 2002/Tamuz 18 5762, Vol. 54, No. 41
Young children need summer reads, too
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Everywhere you turn there's a list of great summer reads for adults or school-age children. For a change of pace, here are a few quality titles for a younger crowd, preschool and up.
"My Two Grandmothers" by Effin Older, illustrated by Nancy Hayashi (Harcourt, $16 hardcover)
Not unlike many kids today, Lily is the product of an interfaith family. Her two grandmothers, Grammy Lane and Bubbe Silver, are very different. Grammy Lane lives on a farm and likes to play in the snow with Lily, while Bubbe Silver lives in the city, belongs to a country club and travels to a warmer climate for the winter months.
Both grandmothers pass their family traditions along to Lily, who loves family traditions so much, she decides to start her own tradition including both of her grandmothers.
Children in interfaith families will especially appreciate this story.
This picture book is recommended for ages 3-7.
"What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street" by Elsa Okon Rael, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (Simon & Schuster, $16 hardcover)
When Zeesie turns seven years old, she is allowed to attend her first package party - a fund-raising celebration full of music, food and fun, where each family brings a surprise package of homemade food to be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Zeesie attends the package party with her birthday dollar in hand, imagining all of the possibilities for spending her money. In the middle of the meal, her father disappears into a small room. When he returns, Zeesie is full of questions. Papa tells her that is a room called the "money room." Men visit the room and leave money if they have some to give and take money if they need it.
Despite her father's warning that the room is only entered by men and that the activities inside are secret, Zeesie finds herself sneaking into the room and leaving behind her precious birthday money.
This is a very sweet story and a great opportunity to talk to children about mitzvot and community.
This book is recommended for ages 4 and up.
"Rachel Captures the Moon" by Richard Ungar (Tundra Books, $18.99 hardcover)
This Jewish folktale relates the story of the villagers of Chelm who want to capture the moon so they can appreciate its beauty whenever they want to. The villagers take turns trying to capture the moon - with everything from a fishing net to an enticing soup - without success. Finally, to the villagers' delight, a young girl named Rachel is able to catch the moon in a rain barrel.
This cute story makes a great introduction to Jewish folklore.
This book is recommended for ages 4 and up.
"Marven of the Great North Woods" by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (Harcourt Brace & Company, $16 hardcover)
This is a wonderfully written story based on the life of the author's father. A young Jewish boy, Marven, is sent to live at a logging camp by his parents in the hope that his life will be spared from a flu epidemic.
Ten-year-old Marven is terrified to travel to the far-away place where the French-Canadian loggers speak French. However, Marven makes the difficult journey from city to woods and finds his place as the logging camp's bookkeeper. He also makes friends with one of the lumberjacks, Jean Louis.
This is a touching story about friendship and courage and would make a wonderful addition to any home library. The icy cold, snowy setting makes this book a perfect read on a hot summer day.
This book is recommended for ages 5 and up.
|
