By Laura Seymour
Dear Families,
I love books, especially Jewish children’s books. Come to my office and you will see books galore. But an even better place to look is the Tycher Library upstairs at the JCC — a beautiful setting with lots wonderful Jewish books, and a knowledgeable and helpful staff led by Nina Golboro.
Nina and her staff recently compiled an amazing list of books that reinforce the Jewish values we emphasize at our children’s camps. Here are a few of their recommendations; go to the Tycher Library and tell them that Laura sent you. (And don’t forget that children’s books can teach values to adults, too!)
Kehillah — Community
“Speak Up, Tommy!” by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
“God In Between” by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
“Joseph and Anna’s Time Capsule: A Legacy from Old Jewish Prague” by Chaya M. Burstein
“Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword” by Barry Deutsch
“Butchers and Bakers, Rabbis and Kings” by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
“What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street” by Elsa Okon Rael
Chesed — Kindness
“Noah’s Ark” by Lucy Cousins
“Brothers: a Hebrew Legend” by Florence Bernstein Freedman
“Sammy Spider’s First Day of School” by Sylvia A. Rouss
“Hanna’s Sabbath Dress” by Itzhak Schweiger-Dmi’el
“I Am Kind” by Juliet Concord
Hoda’ah — Appreciation
“The Hanukkah Ghosts” by Malka Penn
“Joseph Had a Little Overcoat” by Simms Taback
“A Nickel, a Trolley, a Treasure House” by Sharon Reiss Baker
“In Jesse’s Shoes: Appreciating Kids with Special Needs” by Beverly Lewis
“Marc Chagall” by Howard Greenfeld
“The Tattooed Torah” by Marvell Ginsburg
Shalom … from the Shabbat Lady,
Laura Seymour is director of Camping Services at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas.