Books for these youngest of listeners contain simple pictures and concepts, often in the form of sturdy board books. Most appropriate at this stage are books with uncluttered, vivid illustrations and short, straightforward text.
For this age group, books with eye-catching illustrations coupled with predictable language and action have great appeal. Children at this stage enjoy concept books in which characters and subject matter touch on the reality of their daily lives.
With an increased attention span, these youngsters become engaged by slightly longer text and more complex illustrations. They enjoy relatively predictable plots. Repetition is often incorporated to encourage the listener to join in with or memorize the story.
Children at this age are attracted to books with longer texts and a more sophisticated vocabulary. Stories may contain an element of suspense, and humor often makes an appearance. Most books in this group continue to have neat resolutions and 'happily-ever-after' endings.
At this age, children enjoy increasingly involved stories that may contain fantasy. While interested in magic and fantastical happenings, these youngsters are likely still drawn to realistic stories in which they encounter people, places, and events with which they can see connections to their own lives. An attraction to folktales and simple historical fiction often begins at this stage.
At this age, children take flight in fantasy, tall tales, and folktales. While youngsters at this age may begin to read on their own, they still need and enjoy being read stories from different times and settings, with language richer and more complex than their own early reading vocabulary permits.
Children at this age gravitate toward increasingly complex, "juicy" stories with plots that may contain twists and turns as well as elements of sadness or hardships to be overcome. At this stage, simple biographies and engaging historical fiction often appeal to children's love of facts, history, and lives of people from long ago.
Our most advanced listeners and readers are presented with literature aimed at engaging and encouraging a love of reading and promoting discussion. Books for this age may come in the form of story collections or, on occasion, reference-type books that combine facts with compelling stories.
Does your child come home from school talking about PJ Library books? The PJ Goes to School (PJGtS) program uses PJ Library books in Jewish school settings to delight, engage and teach young children about Jewish tradition and values. Learn more about the program here.
Each December, PJ Library mails a music selection. The music we send is a perfect companion to the books and brings together Jewish themes, holidays, and traditions in a sweet and playful way. Music is chosen by a committee of musicians and parents who have both personal and professional experience in children’s music.
Ometz Lev (from the Hebrew word meaning courage) refers to acts of courage. Ometz Lev is central to the stories of Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover: the outnumbered Maccabees confronting the Assyrian Greeks, Vashti, and Esther speaking up to the king, the midwives defying Egyptian decrees, Moses facing down Pharaoh, and Nachshon daring to take the first step into the water.
Just as these ancient folk overcame their fears, our children can be encouraged to develop the qualities of perseverance and courage to: jump into the pool, get up on the bike again, sleep outside in the dark, start a new school, or try something new.
Teshuvah, commonly translated as "repentance," literally means "return." Teshuvah, a central theme during the High Holiday season, is an opportunity for a person to realign themselves to their goals and return to what's important.
Saying sorry, apologizing to friends for mistakes, and developing empathy for how other people feel are accessible ways for young children to practice Teshuvah. It's never too late for a person of any age to do Teshuvah - there are no time constraints or limits.
The value of re'ut, friendship, is aptly expressed in the Book of Ecclesiastes: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe to the one who falls and has no companion to raise that person up! (4:9-10)
The value of Dibbuk Haverim, attachment to friends, is expressed when we respect friends by listening, appreciating, honoring, keeping secrets. Whenever we treat our friends as we wish to be treated we honor the value of Dibbuk Haverim.
A popular Biblical proverb reads, "Who is rich? Those who rejoice in what they have" (Pirkei Avot, 4:1).
Gratitude, referred to in Hebrew as Hoda'ah, involves appreciating what we have, acknowledging the blessings and gifts we've been given, and appreciating those who do so much for us. Practicing gratitude allows an individual to appreciate what one has on a deeper level.
Help instill gratitude in your children by discussing with them what you and your child are grateful for, encouraging them to say thank you, modeling appreciative behavior, and utilizing the books listed below.
Ben Zoma, one of the many sages quoted in Pirkei Avot (an important volume of Jewish ethics) states, "Who is rich? The one who is happy with what one has" (Pirkei Avot 4:1). According to Ben Zoma, true happiness depends not on how much wealth or possessions one has, but on the attitude with which one approaches life. The value of Same'ach B'Chelko (pronounced sah-may-akh beh-khel-ko) focuses on the importance of being happy with what one has.
Following Ben Zoma's advice, parents can set their children on the path to happiness by repeatedly encouraging their children to acknowledge the good in their lives: from the beauty of nature, to the generosity of friends, to the taste of good food.
A value highlighted in the 10 Commandments, Kibbud Av V'Eim literally means "Honor Your Father and Mother." For children, honor means love, and love means action. While young children may not fully comprehend the concept of "honoring," they do feel an inborn sense of love toward their parents. Children perceive love as action, and therefore may demonstrate their love toward their parents through helping behaviors. This perception tendency is supported by the fact that the Hebrew word for love, Ahavah, is built upon the root H-V, meaning "to give." Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, a 20th century Jewish thinker, defines love from the Jewish point of view as "giving without expecting to take."
Gemilut Chasadim (literally meaning "the giving of loving-kindness") is a fundamental Jewish value expressed through personal acts of kindness. We can encourage gemilut chasadim in our children by setting a climate of helpfulness at home, praising unsolicited loving kindness on our child's part, and modeling mensch-like behavior ourselves.
In Jewish teaching, compassion, one of the highest virtues, is to be extended to animals as well as to humans. There is even a rule in the Talmud that before sitting down to a meal one must first see that the domestic animals are fed. Tz'ar Ba'alei Chayim, kindness to animals, is a mitzvah that can easily engage young children.
Learning from everyone, lomed mikol adam, is a Jewish value that shows us how much each person has to offer. Because everyone has something they can teach us, we know that we can learn from each person's unique gifts. This value is an extension of the idea that every life has meaning.
The Jewish value of Shalom Bayit is traditionally translated as "peace in the home." The Hebrew root of the word "shalom" is sh-l-m, meaning completeness or wholeness ("shaleim"). Shalom Bayit emphasizes the importance of family members - spouses, siblings, parents, children, and all others who live together - working together to create a home that is beneficial for everyone.
To attain Shalom Bayit, family members listen carefully to one another, treat one another with respect, willingly cooperate with one other, and graciously forgive mistakes. Peace in the home is a collaborative effort. Show your children that conflict can be healthy for a family, and involve them in helping make your home into a harmonious, safe environment.
Prayer,
tefillah in Hebrew, is a dialogue with God, our community, and ourselves. Jewish tradition and modern interpretation offer us a wealth of ways to pray and methods to connect with Judaism.
Adam Yehidi Nivrah, literally meaning "every person is a unique creation," is a fundamental Jewish value expressed through the respect given to all human beings. We can celebrate the uniqueness in every living being by delighting in what makes us different and by taking joy in the distinctive qualities that make us extraordinary.
Tzedakah (from the Hebrew word meaning righteousness, fairness, or justice) refers to the responsibility to give money and/or assistance to the poor or needy or to worthwhile causes. Tzedakah is about making sure that all of the world's resources (food, water, clothing, education, shelter, etc.) are shared justly.
Engaging kids with the idea of tzedakah involves helping them to think through the many different ways of helping those in need. Even very young children can begin to take part in acts of tzedakah and learn to do the right thing. They, too, can come to realize they can, in many small ways, make a significant difference in this world.
It is written in the Talmud: "One who visits a person who is ill takes away a sixtieth of that person's pain." The mitzvah of Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick), a Jewish tradition to support those who are sick, can be traced back to the Torah when God visits Abraham after his circumcision.
This mitzvah can be performed with children starting at an early age. Young children remember being sick, so they can easily empathize with another person.
Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming guests) is a core Jewish value, biblically modeled by Abraham and Sarah in the Book of Genesis. When guests unexpectedly arrived at the tent of Abraham and Sarah, the couple warmly welcomed the visitors, made them comfortable, and fed them generously.
The mitzvah of welcoming and being hospitable can be taught to children starting at an early age.
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Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is an eight-day spring holiday that celebrates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
The main ritual of Passover is the seder, a carefully choreographed meal held on the first two evenings of the holiday (in Israel, and for most Reform Jews, there's only one seder, on the first night). The seder is designed to provoke questions from children and to provide an opportunity for telling the story of how the Israelites were redeemed from slavery and given the gift of the Torah.
Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.
Purim is the joyous holiday that celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia from annihilation. Along with reading the biblical Book of Esther (often called the megillah) on Purim, we dress up in costumes, share a festive meal, give gifts to our friends, and money to those in need.
On Purim you eat hamantaschen, triangular cookies with a filling (poppy and jam are popular options). Hamantaschen means Haman's pockets, and various legends connect the triangular pastries with Haman's hat, ears, and pockets. Many people put their hamantaschen in small packages of foods and gifts, which they distribute to friends and to the poor. Finally, a festive meal at home closes the holiday. It is traditional to serve alcohol, as well as a sumptuous feast, at this meal.
Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.
The Jewish sabbath, Shabbat, is a 25-hour period of rest lasting from just before sunset on Friday evening until nightfall on Saturday. The idea is to take a break from ordinary life, and focus on family, community, and spiritual growth. In our fast-paced lives it can be a welcome change to stop rushing from work to preschool to the grocery store and, instead, enjoy a weekly reconnection with the people and ideas that really matter in life.
In many families, the central observance of Shabbat takes place on Friday night, around the dinner table. This is a time for family and friends to spend relaxed time together, reconnecting at the end of a busy week of work and school. In addition to Friday night dinner, on Saturday many families partake in a festive lunch and a pre-sundown dinner.
Though Shabbat celebration at home tends to be meal-focused, other Shabbat past-times include reading, playing board games, talking, walking, and napping. It can be a major relief to have time set aside for these calming activities that aren't usually prioritized during the hubbub of the workweek.
Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.
Originally an ancient harvest festival celebrating the grain crop, Shavuot means "weeks" in Hebrew. It is the holiday is celebrated seven weeks after Passover begins. Shavuot is also recognized as the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and most Shavuot celebrations are centered on Torah study and other Jewish learning. On the first night of the holiday many people stay up all night studying Jewish texts.
There is a custom of eating dairy foods--especially cheesecakes and blintzes--on Shavuot. The reason for this tradition is not entirely clear, but one popular explanation is that immediately after the Israelites received the Torah and learned about the laws of keeping kosher, it was too complicated for them to begin butchering and preparing fresh kosher meat. So they stuck with eating dairy--and now we do the same on Shavuot to commemorate this.
Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.
Tu B'Shevat is a minor holiday that is sometimes called the New Year for Trees. It comes at the very beginning of spring, when the rains are plentiful and the trees blossom in Israel (though in some parts of America there's still snow on the ground at this "springtime" celebration). The words "Tu B'Shevat" literally mean the 15th of the month of Shevat.
Today, many people mark this holiday by planting saplings and participating in a meal that evokes the Passover seder, where fruits, nuts, and wine or grape juice are on the menu. Besides the seder, many families spend Tu B'Shevat planting a tree, working in a garden, eating special fruit, or doing something else to show some love for trees and the earth.
Holiday description provided by Kveller.com.
Yom Ha’atzmaut is Israeli Independence Day. It celebrates the anniversary of the creation of Israel on May 14, 1948 (or, according to the Jewish calendar, the 5th of Iyyar in 5708). On that day, David Ben Gurion, who became Israel's first Prime Minister, declared the establishment of the State of Israel and the end of the British Mandate. From then on, the 5th of Iyyar became a national holiday, celebrated both in Israel and by Jews and Zionists around the world.
In Israel, Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks, barbecues, and public concerts. Outside Israel, Jewish communities host parties and gatherings to celebrate Israel. Often, the focus of these events is on Israeli culture, everything from classic Israeli foods -- hummus, falafel, schnitzel, and shawarma -- to Israeli dance, Israeli music, and all things Hebrew. People wear blue and white, and wave Israeli flags.
Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.
Los libros de PJ Library son seleccionados entre los mejores libros judaicos para niños. Interesantes y fascinantes historias e ilustraciones de gran calidad son el sello distintivo de los libros de PJ Library. Todos ellos son cuidadosamente seleccionados por un comité profesional abocado a la selección de libros y examinados por expertos de las comunidades participantes.
Cada libro de PJ Library incluye una guía de lectura impresa, que proporciona información acerca de los conceptos judíos más relevantes en dicho libro. También sugiere temas de conversación y actividades destinadas a mejorar la experiencia de la lectura familiar.
Dependiendo de la comunidad, el programa PJ Library ofrece libros para niños de 3 a 8+ años.
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BOOK SELECTIONS for the PJ Library program are chosen from among the very best of Jewish children's books and music. A committee of reading specialists and professionals in Jewish and early childhood education seek out compelling stories, captivating illustrations and diverse perspectives on Jewish customs and practice. Through an extensive evaluation process, the committee selects ten books per age group each year. Many of the children's books selected to be included in PJ Library have been honored by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL), one of the foremost authorities of Jewish children's literature.
Each December, PJ Library mails a music selection in place of a book. Sometimes tender and moving, sometimes fun and snappy, the music we send is a perfect companion to the books and brings together Jewish themes, holidays and traditions in a sweet and playful way. Music is chosen by a committee of musicians and parents who have both personal and professional experience in children’s music.
The PJ Library program offers materials for children ranging in age from 6 months to 8+ years. Select an age group to access book titles, book synopses, and other links and resources.
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