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Books For Kids ...I

FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND

Wishing everyone a
happy & healthy
Rosh Hashanah

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

'T N

1410'

R S LE

FihvAlfS AT

9/29
2000

152

INTERNATIONAL
'NEWS PLUS

372 Oullette Avenue • Windsor, Canada

sun, the moon and the stars; cut out the
burning bush; create a picture of Pharaoh
plagued by frogs made from thumbprints
dipped in green food color, and so on.
The directions are clear, the materi-
als needed for the crafts are basic and
the ideas for the projects are interest-
ing and go beyond the ordinary.
Thinking of the child (or parent!)
whose drawing skills may be limited, patterns of figures and
objects specified in the crafts are provided to copy or trace.
This is an excellent idea that will short-circuit frustration in
doing the projects.
In addition to the stories and crafts, there are musical
instruments and costumes, again using readily available
items, for children to make to dress up as biblical charac-
ters. And what child doesn't love to
dress up?
This is an excellent book that, in
80 pages, manages to combine learn-
ing with crafts and projects that are
creative and unique without being
overly complex or confusing. Highly
recommended!
The 24th edition of My Very Own
Jewish Calendar (Kar-Ben Copies;
$7.95) by Judyth Gfoner and
Madeline Wilder is perfect for Rosh
Hashanah and the beginning of the
school year. Hang it on the wall in
your child's bedroom, and you can
follow together the Jewish and secu-
lar holidays, Torah portions of the
week, candle-lighting times, Hebrew dates, plus informa-
tion and activities. All this, and space to write in the child's
own activities.
What may have been no more than a footnote has
become a charming story in Come, Let Us Be Joyfill
(UAHC Press; $12.95) by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by
Rosalind Charney Kaye.
Mixing history and folklore, Manushkin writes of how a
wordless melody, brought by European immigrants to pre-
state Israel, became the popular Hebrew song, "Hava
Nagila," or, in English, "Come, let us be joyful."
According to this story, A.Z. Idelsohn, a collector and
teacher of Jewish songs, heard the melody and taught it to
his music class. One of his young students, Moshe
Nathanson, declared, "Teacher, this tune sounds lonely. I
think it wants words." And so he wrote the joyous words.
Soon the song was being sung throughout the land,
sprouting up everywhere, like sunflowers in the newly
planted Negev.
In fact it is not definitively known whether Nathanson or
Idelsohn wrote the words, since both later claimed they did
and each has his supporters.
Manushkin's engaging story gives the credit to young
Nathanson, fitting, of course, for a child's book.
Historical fiction can be a compelling way to spark inter-

Involvement in the High Holy Days and Jewish
activities throughout the year can be encouraged
through books that teach as well as entertain.

GILA WERTHEIMER

Chicago Jewish Star

•

A

t the High Holidays, many find themselves, as at
no other time of year, thinking about their
Jewish lives.
If you are parents of young children, you may
be considering enrolling your child in a
Jewish school. You may be paying more
attention to adopting Jewish traditions,
considering whether your children should
attend synagogue services with you this
year, deciding how to celebrate and observe
the holidays as a family.
If your children are pre-teens or teens,
you are surely pondering ways to keep
them involved in Jewish life.
The one-word key, no matter what their
age, is participation.
Experiential Judaism is the approach that
crosses all denominational lines. Kids have to
be part of Jewish holiday preparations, tradi-
tions and observances.
Since this gets harder and harder as they.
get older, start young. If they are already teens, you may
have to drag them into the holidays, but drag away.
Jewish involvement can be encouraged through Jewish
books, which can teach about all aspects of Jewish life as
they entertain.
Here is a brief look at selected new publications for children.
New this year, for early elementary age children is My
Jewish Holiday Fun Book (UAHC Press; $6.95) by Ann D.
Koffsky. This is a coloring and activity book that, in spite
of some slightly confusing directions, is a good way to
involve a young child in the holidays.
For Rosh Hashanah, for example, children can cut out
and color two New Year's cards. For Sukkot there are deco-
rations to make and a sukkah to color. For Shabbat, they
can make a placemat. There are also puzzles, games and
mazes — all activities that young children enjoy. An adult
or older sibling will be needed to read the directions and
help with the activities.
Similar in concept but with a focus on stories from the
Bible rather than on the holidays is Bible Story Crafts For
Little Hands (Kar-Ben Copies; $17.95) by Ruth Esrig
Brinn, illustrated by Sally Springer. Here are 30 brief Bible
stories, each with a picture to color and a craft activity.
Children can make Noah's Ark from a paper plate and con-
struction paper; construct Jacob's Dream Mobile, showing the