Amazon.com

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy.The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Why are the sequels out of print?
I first read this book when I was eight years old, and I loved it so much I went to the library and checked out the sequels. As other readers mentioned, not only are these books interesting and fun to read (I still enjoy reading them at age 37) but Christians can get a glimpse of what the Jewish religion is really like on a day-by-day basis. Other than Hanukah and Passover, school kids aren't really taught much about the other Jewish holidays. I remember in fourth grade, a Jewish girl in my class brought in Hamentaschen pastries, and I normally wouldn't have tried something with prunes in it - but because I had read about Purim in "All of a Kind Family", I discovered a wonderful treat!

I should also say that the illustrations in the books are terrific! Esp in the later books, little Charlie is so cute.

Hopefully the publisher or whoever owns the copyright to Ms. Taylor's books will read the reviews here on Amazon and re-release the entire series, as it deserves to be done. (I seem to recall the paperbacks were available in a gift box in the 70's).

Required reading for Arab-Israeli peace talks!
I'd like to completely agree with and expand on Amanda Quick's review of this book. I return to it again and again (I'm more than twice her age, so that's a lot of re-readings), and expressions like "library lady" have become part of my family vocabulary. Like Amanda, I was raised Protestant; I never knew anyone Jewish until I went to college, and although I had some idea of festivals and food (my family was very international in its speech: for example, we used the word "tuchus" all the time, but I didn't know it was Yiddish until years later), I learned a LOT from all of Taylor's books. I have been teaching people from all over the world for years, and without exception, the Israelis and Jews from other countries are thrilled that I know about holidays and rituals, and all want to read the Taylor books when I tell them how important they were to me. The story of Succos alone is worth the entire series--magical. I truly believe this series could contribute to international understanding and peace. Meanwhile, read them all--they'll make you feel good about life

Loved in our Family
Everyday my 3 year old boy listens to the audio tape of All of a Kind Family 3-5 times. He calls it his "little girls tape" and sits in front of the stereo drinking in the stories. While he loves the Little House in the Prairies cd's this is his long time favourite. We have listened to this continually for a year now and he has every word memorised... I should know because he often starts to retell the stories (verbatim) and my wife and I have to listen to this little gentile kid retell jewish stories. Anyway, it is a fantastic slice of life and definately helps us to inculcate the kind of values that we want in our family.

An audiobook worth listening to!
As an elementary school teacher I rely on audiobooks a great deal as it helps struggling readers not only participate fully in the story, but works as a wonderful foray into the world of reading.I personally enjoyed this audiobook so much that I played it for my entire class. They loved it! The narration was excellent, calming even the rowdiest kids, and they were instantly drawn in. It was a great introduction to the Jewish culture and heritage, as well as an excellent discussion piece about immigrant America at the turn of the century! Consider this for your classroom, it has sparked curiosity, debate and learning for weeks!

one of the best ever
This book is funny and really fun to read because you really like the charachters and really care about what happens to them. The book is really exciting because the family has lots of adventures. ... Read more

Book Description

Out of all the young women of Persia, Esther shines like a star. King Ahasuerus decides that she will be his new queen. Esther's cousin Mordecai warns her never to reveal that she is a Jew. "There are those at court who hate our people," he tells her.

One day the king's prime minister, a schemer named Haman, orders Mordecai to bow down before him. Mordecai refuses, saying he will bow only to God. Furious, Haman convinces the king that all of the Jews in the kingdom should be destroyed.

Mordecai realizes that Queen Esther will have to tell the king the truth and try to change his mind about the Jews. Will Esther and Mordecai be brave and clever enough to triumph over the evil Haman?

With lively storytelling and intricate illustrations that recall ancient Persia, Mordicai Gerstein breathes new life into this dramatic tale about remaining true to oneself and to God. It Is sure to be enjoyed on Purim and all year round. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great book for ages 5 to 10.
Mordecai Gerstein's Queen Esther The Morning Star will reach ages 5-10 with its involving story of Esther, who must hide the fact that she's Jewish in order to marry the king. When the king decides all the Jews in the kingdom will have to be destroyed, it's up to Queen Esther to reveal her secret and save them. ... Read more

Book Description

"God's all there is and all that you see!""But I still don't see God so how can it be?"  

Where does God live? How can we "see" God? Using simple, everyday examples that children can relate to, this colorful book helps young readers develop a direct and personal understanding of God.

Where Does God Live? playfully guides children down their own path of spiritual discovery...and reminds us all that this world is full of wonder.

"Explains and celebrates God's presence in everything and everything's presence in God. Children will love it, but adults will love it just as much." --Mitch Finley, author of The Joy of Being Catholic and Prayer for People Who Think Too Much

"Through gentle verse and wondrous photographs, Where Does God Live? invites you to take a journey with your children to discover the God in all of us and our world." --Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of God's Paintbrush and In God's Name

"Brimming with love on every page, Where Does God Live? sparkles with a profound message told in an endearing style.." --Connie Bowen, author of I Believe in Me

"Using everyday situations in a child's world, Where Does God Live? incorporates charming verse and real-life photos to answer this question in a delightful way!" --Debbie Trafton O'Neal, author of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

"How lovely to have this book for young children that uses images and words they know well to convey the intimacy, immediacy, and availability of the experience of God." --Sylvia Boorstein, author of That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Book to Share
This is a wonderful little book for children and their parents to share. It introduces the notion of the divine and its place in the world through images that are unique and enjoyable. There's no right or wrong way to see God in the world and this book helps children (and their parents) understand that.

My seven year old nephew loves his copy and has been reading it to his mother before he goes to sleep each night.

This is a simple book with a profound message.

Great Book For Children!
This is a magnificent little book about God for children. I highly recommend it, especially for people with kids under five. It's great - the two authors did a phenomenal job! ... Read more

Book Description

Many years ago in Poland, there lived a rabbi who had a wife and three daughters. One day, the rabbi asks his children a powerful question: "How much do you love me?" His older daughters profess their love in gold and diamonds, but his youngest daughter, Mireleh, declares she loves her father the way meat loves salt. For this remark, she is banished from her father's home.

In this flavorful Jewish Cinderella tale, Mireleh's courageous journey is peppered with a perfect blend of magic and romance, leading to a reconciliation with her beloved father. Lavishly illustrated in Louise August's bold linocuts, The Way Meat Loves Salt will make a wonderful gift for the Jewish holidays.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Cindrella tale and a love test from the Jewish Tradition
"The Way Meat Loves Salt" is subtitled "A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition," but older readers will recognize a bit of Shakespeare's "King Lear" in the beginning of this story told by Nina Jaffe. The setting is many years ago in Poland where a rabbi one day asks his three daughters "How much do you love me?" Reyzeleh, the oldest daughter, replies, "I love you as much as diamonds." Khaveleh, the middle child, answers, " I love you as much as gold and silver." However, Mireleh, the youngest daughter, replies "I love you the way meat loves salt," at which point her father banishes her from the home since she has compared him to lowly salt. As to the meaning of Mireleh's comment, that is not yet explained and the rabbi, despite being a student of the Talmud who ponders questions long and hard, spends no time trying to figure out the meaning of his daughter's words.

As for Mireleh, she encounters an old man with shining eyes who gives him a small wooden stick. He sends her off to the home of Rabbi Yitskhok ben Levi, the renown scholar of Lublin, who lives with his wife and son, and explains that the stick is magic: tap in on the ground three times and anything Mireleh wishes for will appear. The young girl is taken into Rabbi Yitskhok's home as a beggar girl and allowed to stay in the attic. When the family goes to Cracow for a wedding, Mireleh longs to attend and uses the magic stick to come up with a dress. At this point we are into the familiar territory of the Cinderella story. But there is still the question of the meaning of Mireleh's words to her father and their reconciliation.

Jaffe notes that the Cinderella tale has been found in countless cultures around the world, with the earliest version being recorded in China in the 9th century. The Jewish version of the tale comes from the story "How Much Do You Love Me?" from the classic collection "Yiddish Folktales," and was apparently sent down in Poland in the 1920s. Jaffe acknowledges that the framing device of "the love test," appears in both Shakespeare and folktales from around the world as well. In Jaffe's hands this becomes a "vunder-mayse" (a wonder tale) of the sort her grandmother might have heard as a child.

"The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition" is illustrated by Louise August, who worked with full-color oils on rice paper, providing a rather distinctive look quite compatible with the origins of this story. Teachers or parents will find this story a nice way of showing young readers how there are variations of a well-known theme to be found in literature. What I especially liked about this one is how the elements of a different story, "the love test," are combined in the telling of this particular tale. Consequently we not only have an example of comparative literature here but a look at a more complex form of such storytelling.

The Jewish Cinderella
This book is somewhat similar to the Cinderella that I know, but it has a different twist. It combines Cinderella and the Jewish culture. I will leave the rest for you, the reader, to find out what goes on the book.

A very interesting version of Cinderell
this is another interesting version of Cinderella, but it also plays off of Shakespeare's King Lear. Look for the reference, shakespeare buffs and I am sure that you will find it. I really think that this books opens up a non-western tale in a traditional way that children will understand.

salt =/ as money
Great cultural spin on "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach", and even a father's heart can be deceived by what his ears hear and his mind perceives.

cinderella rides again
Cinderella tales have been found from almost every land and culture. This Cinderella story is another treasure for those who enjoy fairy tales and studying cultural influence on them. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

Benny adores helping out his Grandpa at the bagel bakery, the best in town. The young Jewish boy loves his grandfather's bagels so much, he wants to thank God for them. But how? One morning, he asks his Grandpa if he could pay him for his work with a big bag of bagels. So equipped, he heads for the synagogue, takes a deep breath, opens the big wooden cupboard that is the Holy Ark, and places the steaming bag inside: "King of the Universe," he whispered. "I brought You some bagels. I know You make them. But You never taste them, because Grandpa sells every last one." Benny keeps this up week after week until he discovers, to his dismay, that a poor man in a tattered coat has been eating his bagels, and not God. How will God know he is thanking Him if someone else is eating the bagels? Grandpa reassures him that by making the world better, he is indeed thanking God. Dusan Petricic's expressive, cross-hatched illustrations, each one as round and warm and brown as a freshly baked bagel, illuminate all of the story's best moments with humor and emotion. This simple, touching Jewish folktale from Spaintranscends Judaism as a story of human kindness and generosity of spirit that will resonate with all children. --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Meaningful
I shed a tear when I read this one. I can't wait to buy it and read it to our Religious School children. It is touching, poignant and meaningful.

Winner of the 2003 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD!
Bagels From Benny is the gold medal winner of the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries! It was selected out of nearly 200 eligible titles as the best Judaic book of the year for younger readers.

Based on an ancient Jewish folktale, this is a whimsical yet serious story of a child's attempt to connect with God. Benny's grandfather bakes the best bagels in town, but gives the credit to God, the source of the earth from which the wheat grows. Benny wants to say 'thank you,' and places bagels in the Holy Ark so that God can taste the results of His handiwork. Benny finally discovers that the bagels have been eaten, not by God, but by a hungry, tattered man, and is disappointed until grandfather explains that Benny has thanked God by helping others and making the world a better place. In some ways, this adaptation is more believable than the original tale in which a grown man places challahs in the Ark; after all, it is more developmentally appropriate for a child to believe that God needs to eat!

Author Aubrey Davis is a storyteller as well as a writer, and the poetic text has a "read-aloud" quality. Dusan Petricic's slightly surreal illustrations emphasize Benny's emotions. The palette leans toward a warm, bagel-y beige with splashes of brighter color. Small sepia sketches capture moments like Grandpa's eyebrows raised in surprise, or provide context by giving exterior views of the bakery or synagogue. The final illustration, which merges Benny and Grandpa with the starry sky, is a perfect metaphor for the oneness with the universe they've just achieved by thanking God.

While the word "Jewish" appears only in the end note, this is a story of strong Jewish identity and values. We see Benny visiting the synagogue, opening the Ark, and wearing a yarmulke to Shabbat services. We learn about Jewish values like gratitude, charity, love between the generations, and most of all, "tikkun olam," the repair of the world. It is not only the moral of the story that is Jewish, but the attitudes and actions of all its characters. While the Judaic elements of the story are not explained, enough context is provided for non-Jewish readers to understand them, and the emotional facets of the story can be appreciated by any reader. A valuable addition to Judaic AND public children's library collections, and to home collections as well. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The strength of prayer
The bond of grandson and grandfather in this handsome and heart-warming tale about a Tallit is indeed good for people of all ages and all faiths--girls and women, boys and men. It tells of the undying human urge for freedom and fulfillment and reinforces the importance of prayer, and the strength of tradition and family. Alyssa A. Lappen

A Bar Mitzvah Gift
I got this as a pre Bar Mitzvah gift and at first I thought it wasn't what I wanted because I figured it was for younger kids but when I read it I felt it was for everybody, even people who aren't Jewish. It was a story about a person's whole life and how they change which was pretty neat to think about especially when you are having a bar mitzvah. My grandmother gave it to me because she said it was like her dad's life. It is sort of getting me ready for my bar mitzvah to think about the importance of tradition in your life

A moving celebration of famiy and religious tradition
This is a beautiful, moving story that was a gift for our son on his bris. (It moved me to tears when I first read it.) Exquisitely illustrated and well-told, the story celebrates values, tradition, and intergenerational relationships. It will be a great conversation starter with our son, when he is older, about our own family history. It would make a great gift for a bar mitzvah or any occasion. ... Read more

Book Description

Grandma tells the best stories

Joshua spends every Friday night and every Saturday with his grandmother, celebrating the Jewish Sabbath. On Friday night, Grandma blesses the Sabbath lights, and the two share a traditional meal. On Saturday afternoon, they settle down with a box they call "the remembering box." Joshua draws an item from the box, and Grandma tells its story. And what wonderful stories they are!

Reviews (1)

The Remembering Box
The Remembering box tells about a little boy named Joshua and his Grandmother who collects items that mean a lot to her. One day Joshua wanted to go to his Grandmother's but his father told him that since you got smart with me you are not going to your Grandmpthers house. Joshua then and was very upset and was not happy with his father, so he went to his room and begin to cry on his bed.The reason Joshua got very upset and unhappy with his father was because he wanted to go to his Grandmother's house. Joshua wanted to go to his Grandmother's house was to sit down with his Grandmother and go through the box in which they called The Remembering Box because it brought back good memories. It sometimes brough back bad ones. There was item in the box thet I do remember. It was a stick that belonged to his Grandmother's father. He used this stick by poking it in the ground to find out where the water was so that he could dig a well. This is how they found water in those days. Well,so far in this story I liked this book. There was only one thing i didn't like about this story ,was when Joahua's Dad told him that he couldn't go to his Grandmother's house. Other than that I give this book and the author, ETH CLIFFORD, an A+. ... Read more

Book Description

What is God like? Mixing sparks of curiosity and spiritual imagination, this wondrous book lights children’s creativity and shows how God is with us everyday, in every way.

In this, their first collaborative book, husband-and-wife team Lawrence and Karen Kushner combine their experience to help introduce children to the possibilities of spiritual life.Real-life examples of happiness and sadness-from goodnight stories, to the hope and fear felt the first time at bat, to the closing moments of someone’s life-invite parents and children to explore, together, the questions we all have about God, no matter what our age. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Doesn't Talk Down to Your Kids
I've looked many years for a book that is spiritual, but doesn't talk down to kids, to share with my many grandchildren. There is another: "God's Paintbrush" but we have read it so many times that I needed something new. This is it! A wonderful, delightful exploration of who God is, and what God does in the world through us. Cuddle up to your grandchildren with this one. ... Read more

Book Description

It's Rosh Hashanah, and the loving family of Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights and Hooray! It's Passover gets ready once again for another holiday. After a special dinner, the family goes to synagogue to hear Uncle Jake sound the shofar and bring in the New Year. Ten days later, it's Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. With simple text and glowing illustrations, this story captures the rituals and importance of the ten special days called the Days of Awe or the High Holy Days that Jewish people all around the world celebrate.

Reviews (2)

Recommended for ages 3 to 6
It's Rosh Hashana. Uncle jake is practicing the Shofar. All the relatives come for dinner. There are candles, wine, apples, honey, and a round challah. Even the cats lick up some honey for a sweet new year. At the synagogue the rabbi and cantor, a man and a woman (which is which? hehe), lead the congregation and a portly Uncle Jake sounds the Shafar. For Yom Kippur, there is a collection of canned goods for a food bank tzedakah contribution, and a chance to change our ways. Finally, it's evening, and Uncle Jake sounds the neillah Shofar

Very enjoyable read for children
As a middle school social studies teacher who teaches world cultures, I wanted to expose my students to the High Holy Days, I was seeking a colorful, fun and informative introduction to this most important time in the Jewish year. My mostly Christian students knew nothing of Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur which led me to choose a book that was very simple and straight forward. When I discovered Sound the Shofar, I knew that it was perfect.

The story centers on one family's celebration of the High Holy Days and focuses on the reasons behind some of the more allegorical traditions (such as blowing the shofar, dipping apples in honey...)My students did gain a basic understanding, but the book, in my opinion, is really meant for a much younger audience (perhaps kindergarten - second grade) although children through 10 will most likely enjoy it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

We are proud of Rabbi Debbie Cohen for her new book!
As vice president of education for Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill, NJ, it has been a real pleasure and honor for me to work closely with Rabbi Debbie Cohen, our director of lifelong learning as she leads our religious school and adult education activities. We are especially proud of the publication of her first book, The Seventh Day, and we hope that her joy and enthusiasm for teaching our children about Shabbat will reach many readers, young and old. ... Read more

Book Description

"The year was 1980. Fifty-two Americans were being held hostage in Iran, and President Carter's efforts to rescue them were not successful ... Ronald Reagan got elected president, John Lennon of the Beatles was shot dead, I drove everyone nuts singing the Doobie Brothers hit 'What a Fool Believes' night and day, and Zayda came to live with us."

And so begins the extraordinary story of how one family, and one young boy in particular, are changed forever when Zayda (Yiddish for "grandfather") comes to live with them. At first the young narrator, Bill, is resistant to all the changes in the house: Zayda spooks his friends, tries to get Bill to speak Yiddish, and demands strange foods like herring.

But as Zayda starts telling Bill and his brother Danny the fascinating story of his life, a story filled with many extraordinary dangers and adventures, the boys begin to see their grandfather in a whole new light. From why, as a young boy, he was forced to flee his Russian village for America to how he eventually became a cowboy, Zayda holds the boys captive with his amazing tale.

Like Zayda's grandsons, young readers -- and their parents and teachers -- will also be entranced by Zayda's saga. While the characters are fictional, Zayda's experiences are historically correct and are a colorful retelling of a fascinating yet little-known time of Jewish-American history.

This book, like Zayda himself -- funny, touching, and memorable -- is destined to be a favorite of Jewish and non-Jewish children alike, teachers, librarians, and educators for many years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

In the year 72 C.E. after a four-year war between Rome and Judea, only one fortress remains to be taken: Masada, high above the Dead Sea in what is now Israel.

In this eloquent and unforgettable novel, historically based, we meet 17-year-old Simon ben Eleazar, son of the Jewish leader of the Zealots. As Simon records the relentless siege of the Roman legion, he tells the moving story of the Jews' last stand on Masada.

We also meet Flavius Silva, commander of the Roman Tenth Legion. When the Jews refuse to surrender, he begins to attack the fortress with a vengeance--an attack that will last for seven terrifying months.

Simon, apprenticed to Masada's only physician, learns to help victims of the enemy's onslought even as he struggles with his feelings for young Deborah, the beloved of his best friend, and with the painful decision he must ultimately make.

Can he take a difficult stand that will change his life just as he is truly beginning to live it? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Masada
This book is okay, I had to read it in school. I've read better books before but if you are a person who likes to read historical books. then this book might be the type you're looking for. It's told from the point of views of 17year old Simon and the Roman Commander, Flavis Silva. it's Interesting how you get to know what's going on both sides of the 'war' During the last few months before the Romans won

Another winner by Miklowitz
Though I wouldn't recommend this book for younger audiences because of the violence and references to camp harlots, it was a compelling drama. Besides the political and religious aspects of the story, there is the underlying love story of unrequited love between Simon and Deborah, who is pledged to his best friend, John. It is the story of courage and hope despite overwhelming odds. By writing from the Roman general's point of view also, we get a look at his insights into the situation as well as political greed, corruption, honor, and cruelty. The themes in this novel are universal.

Compelling story of the last Jewish stronghold of Judea
Gloria Miklowitz has written an interesting work of historical fiction, that will leave young readers awed at the Zealots courage, and disgusted with the Roman resolve to conquer all. The author uses several devices to keep young adults both male and female reading including the friendship/conflict between the young narrator and John, the rising military leader for the Jews and their struggles in loving the same young woman. Alternating voices of the young Jewish narrator and the commander of Roman forces are easily distinguished and insightful. Adults and young adults will have plenty to discuss and think about. Not recommended for ages ten and under, for the mass suicide at the end would be both frightening and difficult for younger children to comprehend.

Fascinating historical novel told from Roman & Jewish viewpt
This book held my interest from the first pages. It's told from the Roman commander's viewpoint and the son of the Jewish leader who wants to be a physican and succeeds just at the time when he must kill those he loves. The last chapters had me in tears. It really brings alive the people and problems of the period. Imagine the Romans, surrounding the fortress, having to haul in water and supplies for months in the desert heat, and the Jews - trying to stop the building of the ramp which would let the Romans use their battering ram to break into their fortress. Don't have to be Jewish to find the book fascinating ... Read more

Book Description

In a faraway town where every has long, beautiful hair, Pincess Allopecia, or Alo as everyone calls her, prepares for he leading role in the Rapunzel Festival.Alo has the longest, lovliest and most beautiful hair of everyone.

But one morning, Alo sees a clump of hair on her pillow.Soon she is losing more and more hair.How can she let down her hair at the Rapunzel Festival she wonders?But her teacher, along with her classmates, teach Alo a lesson in friendship and sensitivity she will long remember. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nicely enhanced throughout with supportive artwork
Winner of the Gold Triangle Awards 2000 of the American Academy of Dermatology, Princess Alopecia by Yaacov Peterseil is the story of Alopecia, a young woman with long, beautiful hair. Yet when her hair suddenly begins to fall out Alopecia feels horrible about herself, and about losing her chance to play Princess Rapunzel in the school play! Her teacher sees what is happening and calls a class meeting to make Alopecia feel better. A heartwarming story written especially for children ages 6 through 10 who find themselves having to deal with the condition of alopecia, Princess Alopecia is nicely enhanced throughout with the supportive artwork of Avi Katz. ... Read more