New Jewish Books for the Fall Holidays

It is September.  School has resumed, and families are once again juggling homework and extracurricular activities and finding ways to add meaningful time together to that balance.  The Jewish fall holidays, beginning later this month, always led a certain freshness to the season.  Amidst sports and music lessons, taking the time to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah is the perfect way to make family time special. 

There are some really great new Jewish books recently released, so as you look to find something new to augment your apples and honey, take a peek at these.

For younger children:

Joseph and the SabbathFish by Eric A. Kimmel

Joseph always welcomes guests to his Sabbath table, while his greedy neighbor Judah scoffs at Joseph’s generosity. Even as his fortunes decline, Joseph’s door remains open. But times change and Judah turns to his Joseph for help. A very special fish helps Joseph save the day. (Grades K-3)

Talia and the RudeVegetables by Linda Elovitz Marshal

“How can a vegetable be ‘rude’?” Talia wonders, when she mis-hears her grandmother asking her to gather “root” vegetables for a Rosh Hashanah stew. As Talia digs in the garden, she collects the twisted, ornery carrots and parsnips – the “rude” vegetables that she thinks her grandmother wants -- and finds a good home for the rest. (PreK-2)

Sadie’s SukkahBreakfast by Jamie Korngold

Waking up early in the morning on Sukkot, Sadie and Ori decide to serve breakfast in the sukkah. But when the table is set and the food is ready, they remember that a sukkah celebration needs guests. No one is awake, so who should they invite? (PreK-1)

For older children:

Green Bible Stories forChildren by Tami Lehman-Wilzig

Beginning with the story of Creation, the Bible teaches us to use and respect the land, conserve natural resources, and save energy. The Bible stories of Noah, Abraham, Joshua and others are retold, and reinforced with activities that will help young readers understand how to nurture and protect the environment. (Grades 3-5)

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, by Barry Deutsch

Eleven year-old Mirka, living in a contemporary Orthodox community, has more on her

mind than learning the “womanly arts” her stepmother insists she acquire. She is on a

quest to find a sword and slay a dragon, when she encounters witches, trolls, a vicious

pig, and a ghost along the way. Computer generated illustrations in a muted palette

create an amusing and refreshing graphic novel adventure. (Grades 4-7)

Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From HolocaustSurvivor to Comic Book Pioneer, by Trina Robbins

In 1938, Lily Renée Wilheim is a 14-year-old Jewish girl living in Vienna. Her days are filled with art and ballet. Then the Nazis march into Austria, and Lily's life is shattered overnight. Suddenly, her own country is no longer safe for her or her family. To survive, Lily leaves her parents behind and travels alone to England.  Escaping the Nazis is only the start of Lily's journey. She must escape many more times--from servitude, hardship, and danger. Will she find a way to have her own sort of revenge on the Nazis? Follow the story of a brave girl who becomes an artist of heroes and a true pioneer in comic books.

For teens:

TheThings a Brother Knows, by Dana Reinhardt

When Levi’s older brother Boaz makes an uncharacteristic decision to join the Marines, his Israeli-American family is shocked. He returns safely but hardly speaks to anyone and barely leaves his room. When Boaz claims he is going on a hiking trip, Levi follows him on a journey from Boston to Washington, DC on foot and comes to understand the depth of his brother’s pain, and his love and loyalty for his family. (Grades 8-12)

For parents:

The Blessing of a BMinus: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Resilient Teenagers by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.

Social-clinical psychologist Mogel concentrates on the hidden blessings of raising teenagers in this engaging follow-up to The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. Intermingling wisdom and guidelines from Judaism and adolescent psychology, Mogel compares the teen years to the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. As kids wander in the "desert" of adolescence, she advises parents to offer counsel and guidance, demonstrate empathy without entanglement, and resist the urge to intervene or rescue. In chapters peppered with true-to-life examples and humor, Mogel examines the blessings of a B minus, staying up late, hangovers, breaking the rules, and a variety of other teen topics, urging parents not just to look on the bright side, but to help kids benefit from the learning opportunities inherent in difficult situations.