Jewish children's books win awards

BETH OLSON
Staff Writer

Award winning children's titles make a great addition to any home library. Here are a few recent recipients of Jewish book awards.

Winner of the National Jewish Book - Children's Picture Book Award 2002:

"The Littlest Pair" written by Sylvia Rouss, illustrated by Holly Hannon (Pitspopany Press, $14.95 hardcover)

This is the story of Noah told from the viewpoint of a pair of termites. The animals on the ark fear that the wood-eating insects will destroy the ship, but in the end, the termites' special skills save them all.

Finalists of the National Jewish Book - Children's Picture Book Award 2002:

"Why the Snake Crawls on Its Belly" by Eric Kimmel (Pitspopany Press, $14.95 hardcover)

This book tells the story of why the snake has a forked tongue, no eyelids or legs, and why the snake sheds its skin, set within the story of Adam and Eve.

"The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story" by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn (Kar-Ben Copies, $6.95 paperback)

This story follows Ziz, an oddly colored giant bird who loves children.

After Ziz makes a few correctable mistakes, he eventually makes one he cannot fix. When he goes to God for advice, God tells Ziz to search the world for the hardest word.

After bringing back to Mount Sinai everything from "goodnight" to "spaghetti," Ziz finally finds the answer: "sorry."

Sidney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers:

"Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of the Mind" by Catherine Reef (Clarion, $19 hardcover)

This biography covers Freud's personal and professional life and includes a variety of photographs.

Sidney Taylor Honor Book for Younger Readers:

"A Cloak for the Moon" by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina (Holiday House, $12 hardcover)

This is the story of a tailor who dreams that the moon asks him to make her a cloak to keep warm. He agrees, then embarks on a journey to fulfill his promise.

Sydney Taylor Book Award for Younger Readers:

"Rivka's First Thanksgiving" by Elsa Okon Rael, illustrated by Maryann Kovalski (Mcelderry Books, $16 hardcover)

Rivka learns about Thanksgiving in school and tries to convince her immigrant family and the local rabbi that Thanksgiving is a holiday for all Americans - even Jews.

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