Archive for the ‘Jewish values’ Category
Emet: Speak the Truth to One Another… (Zech. 8:16)
02/15/10
In keeping with my goal to “target a Jewish value each month and find secular books that support it,” February’s Jewish value is Emet, Truth. Teaching children the value of telling the truth is a big task for parents and among the hardest. Books can help by leaving an important impression on young minds.
In February, we celebrate President’s day, the holiday that combines Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday. When I was growing up (or back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, as my kids would say), we celebrated both those holidays. I listened to stories about George Washington admitting to chopping down the cherry tree and Honest Abe studying by the fireplace. It was clear – through those stories – that telling the truth would get us ahead in this world.
We are also in the Hebrew month of Adar, the month when we celebrate the holiday of Purim. On 14 Adar, which begins at sundown on February 27, we start our Purim celebration with the reading of the Megillat Esther, The Book of Esther. The Book of Esther is full of palace intrigue and mystery. There are many secrets, slights and lies, all leading to misunderstandings, mistakes and apprehension. When the truth comes out, it makes for quite an impressive story. The story of Esther, Mordechai and Hamen cleverly teaches us that truth wins out in the end.
To honor this month’s “Heroes of Truth,” I have selected some of my favorite “telling the truth-themed” books to share with you:
The Empty Pot adapted and illustrated by Demi. Henry Holt & Company, 1996. Ages 4-8. 32 pages. Ping has a Green Thumb. When the Emperor decides that his successor will be the child who can grow the best plant from the seeds the emperor provides, Ping is sure he will be the winner. However, in spite of his best efforts, Ping’s seeds do not grow. Disappointed but proud of his attempt, Ping goes to the Emperor with his empty pot. Ignoring the pots filled with gorgeous flowers and overflowing plants, the Emperor chooses Ping to be his successor, stating that the seeds he handed out were boiled and nothing should have grown. The exquisite illustrations mimic round Chinese fans and beautifully support the simple yet powerful story.
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson. Illustrated by Virginia Burton. Houghton Mifflin, 1977. Ages 4-8. 48 pages. The classic story about the sovereign who, thinking more about his wardrobe than about his kingdom, spends more time in the day changing clothes than listening to his people. When two thieves offer him the opportunity to have an outfit made out of cloth that “could not be seen by anyone unfit for the office he held or was very stupid,” he jumps at the chance. Providing them with anything they want – jewels, coins, gold – they begin “weaving” the cloth. Seeing nothing, but not wanting to seem incompetent or stupid, every trusted person the king sends to review the progress reports back that the cloth is gorgeous. When the suit is ready and the king parades through the town in his “new suit,” it takes a child to point out the truth – “The king is not wearing any clothes!” This version illustrated by Virginia Burton is absolutely classic in every detail.
The Principal’s New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson. Illustrated by Denise Brunkus. Scholastic. Ages 4-8. 40 pages. There are many adaptations of Hans Christians Anderson’s story. Some have different illustrators, some put a slightly different twist to the story. In this version, a couple of con artists visit a snappily dressed school principal. They explain they will provide him with a suit that will be “invisible to anyone who is no good at his job or just plain stupid.” It takes a kindergarten child to point out what everyone clearly sees, but is unwilling to report – “The principal’s in his underwear!”
Wolf! Wolf! Adapted and illustrated by John Rocco. Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. Ages 4-8. 32 pages. There are also many versions of the Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Here, an old wolf, “too slow…and too stiff” for chasing the small animals he likes, is trying to grow a vegetable garden. Alas, all he is getting is weeds. Hearing a boy’s voice calling, “Wolf! Wolf!” He slowly climbs to the meadow to check it out. Sitting behind some rocks, he watches a young boy play his “trick” with the adults. He yells, “Wolf!” The adults run up the hill to help. The boy laughs at their funny looks when he tells them there is no wolf, he is just playing a joke on them. At last, the boy yells, “Wolf!” However, no adults respond. Instead, the wolf comes out from hiding and makes a deal with the terrified boy who will no doubt tell the truth from now on. The twist at the end of the story is sure to delight everyone, as will the beautiful, richly colored illustrations. .
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack. Illustrated by Giselle Potter. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Ages 5-9. 36 pages. Are there a right and a wrong way to tell the truth? Libby Louise Sullivan is about to find out. When Libby tells her mother a small white lie, she gets in some big trouble. She decides she will only tell the truth from that moment on. By the end of the week, she had told so many truths – like Ruthie Mae had a hole in her sock, Willie had not done his geography homework and Miz Tusselbury’s garden looked like a jungle – she had no friends left. Boy was she confused! When someone called Ol’ Boss, Libby’s aged carriage horse, an “old flea-ridden swayback,” she finally got it…and spent some time apologizing to her friends for being a little too truthful. This is a fun, engaging story with primitive-style illustrations.
Holes by Louis Sachar. Farrar Straus and Giroux, 1998. Ages 9-12. 233 pages. This Newbery Medal and National Book Award winner is for older kids, but younger children may also enjoy it as a read-aloud. There are many stories in this amazing book, but among them is the story of Camp Green Lake, the juvenile detention center, where Stanley Yelnats and the other children are sent to dig their holes. What is the truth of the camp? Why are they really digging all of those holes? Stanley is in search of the truth, and it is quite an adventure.
Nothing but the Truth by Avi. Scholastic, 1991. Ages 9-12. 208 pages. Philip Malloy wants to run on the track team. He is not doing well in English. His English teacher is also his Homeroom teacher. Feeling she has it “out for him” and looking to find a way to get away from her, he comes up with a plan. The school policy is to “stand at respectful silent attention” as the national anthem is played over the loud speaker during Homeroom. Philip Malloy stands and hums. This book, written in a documentary style format, demonstrates how a small act turns into a national debate on Freedom of Speech, individual rights and how society determines “the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
I hope you find these books helpful in your efforts to teach your children the importance of being honest and truthful. After all, Pirke Avot, the Sayings of the Fathers, informs us that “Rabbi Simeon, son of Gamliel, said: ‘On three things the world stands: on Justice, on Truth and on Peace…’ (Pirke Avot 1:18), so telling the truth is no small thing.
I wish you a Hag Sameach- Happy Holiday! May your Purim be filled with colorful costumes, noisy groggers, tasty hamentashen and lots of joy.
Happy Reading!
Kathy B.
This post is linked to the Kidlitosphere’s February Carnival of Children’s Literature, hosted this month at Ye Olde Blog – Whispers of Dawn. Visit for an excellent list of author interviews, book reviews and more.
©2010 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved. Books used in this review were borrowed from my local library or my personal collection.
I am an Amazon Affiliate.
If you click on a book title referred to on my web site and purchase it from Amazon,
I may receive a very small commission on your purchase.
You will incur no additional cost, however.
I appreciate your support.
Bal Tashchit – Do Not Be Wasteful
01/14/10
While it may be difficult for those of us in the cold northeast to appreciate, at the end of January – on January 30 to be exact – we will be celebrating the Jewish Holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees also known as the Birthday of the Trees. Tu B’Shevat literally means the fifteenth of Shevat, referring to the date on the Jewish calendar when the holiday occurs. Because there are not many customs surrounding this holiday, it has become very popular with the Jewish “Green” Movement. As a result, you may hear this holiday referred to as the Jewish Arbor Day or Jewish Earth Day.
Books appropriate for Tu B’Shevat support the Jewish values of Bal Tashchit (do not be wasteful) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). The following quote says it all:
“See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.” Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah §1-7:13
With that in mind, I want to introduce a few wonderful, secular books about trees, nature and taking care of our planet that can be enjoyed during this holiday:
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, illustrated by Marc Simont. Ages 4-8. First published in 1956, this timeless classic is a perfect book for Tu B’Shevat explaining in simple language all the benefits that trees provide children and their families. From fruit to shade to the air we breathe, trees are an important and necessary part of our world. The Caldecott Award winning illustrations further enhance the message, “Trees are very nice.
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The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Ages 5-9. If I were to pick an author to write a childre
n’s book to save our planet, Dr. Seuss would be my choice. When Truffula Trees are discovered and their tufts turned into Thneeds, no amount of warning from the Lorax will dissuade the manufacturer from continuing the destruction of the Truffula Tree forest. When the last tree falls, the forest animals have disappeared and the environment damaged beyond repair, the Lorax’s message becomes clear. With his unmistakable Seussian rhyme and his characteristic Seussian illustrations, the inimitable Doctor describes what happens in a world where greed and selfishness take precedence over the needs of the planet, its plants and animals.
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Measuring Angels by Lesley Ely, illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Ages 4-8. “Every blade of grass below has a guardian official above.” Zohar (Book of Enlightenment.) In this charming and brightly illustrated book, a smart teacher uses sunflower seeds and flowerpots to help rebuild a friendship. A little girl, who used to be best friends with Sophie, is very unhappy when she finds out that she and Sophie are partners in the sunflower-growing contest. Their flower does not grow at all until…they begin talking nicely to it every day, and together with their friend Gabriel, create a beautiful angel to watch over it. This delightful story demonstrates the power of working together for a common cause and that every living thing needs tender loving care.
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Milo and the Magical Stones by Marcus Pfister. Ages 4-8. Milo and his mice friends live comfortably on an island mountain in the middle of the sea. When Milo finds a beautiful, glowing stone, buried deep in the mountain that gives off light and warmth, everyone wants one. As the mice hurry off to grab their stones, the wisest mouse warns, “Don’t forget, the stones belong to the island. If you take something from the island, you must give something in return.” With two endings, one happy, one sad, you decide which direction to take. You can make comparisons to the choices we make everyday as we live on our personal islands on earth. This is a great discussion starter about the consequences of our environmental choices and actions.
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Once There Was a Tree by Natalia Romanova, illustrated by Gennady Spirin. Ages 4-8. A tree falls during a forest thunderstorm. Its stump becomes home to many of the forest’s animals from the smallest termite to the largest bear. All claim the stump belongs to them, but who actually owns it? With rich text and magnificent illustrations, the author and artist make the interconnectedness of all living things clearly visible in this outstanding book.
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Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert. Ages 3-8. For the very youngest children, this delightful, colorful book tells the simple story of a how a maple tree found its way to a young child’s yard, how the child helped to plant it and now watches it – and their friendship – grow. The text is simple and the illustrations are vibrant. The back of the book shares tips for selecting and planting a tree at your own home.
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Last but not least, a new book I stumbled upon while wandering through my local bookstore. The Tree that Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science and Imagination is filled with the most amazing poems selected by Mary Ann Hoberman, the U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, and Linda Winston. All Ages. It is a perfect collection of poetry for Tu B’Shevat or anytime of year. It comes with an audio CD of some of the poets reading their verse aloud. Here is one of my favorites from this marvelous book:
FOR THE FUTURE
by Wendell Berry
Planting trees early in spring,
We make a place for birds to sing
in time to come. How do we know?
They are singing here now.
There is no other guarantee
that singing will ever be.
May your Tu B’Shevat be filled with an appreciation and delight in the world around you. Enjoy these books and allow them to add to your celebration.
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
©2010 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved.
Books used in this review were from my personal collection or my local library.
I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click on a book title referred to on my web site and purchase it from Amazon, I may receive a very small commission on your purchase. You, however, will incur no additional cost. I appreciate your support.
Book Review | Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swim
by Deborah Bodin Cohen
Score: 4
Illustrated by Jago
© 2009 Kar-Ben Publishing.
A 2009 Sydney Taylor Honor Book. This is a beautifully written midrash about the story of Nachshon, the individual who was the first to step into the waters of the Reed Sea thereby enabling the Jewish People to reach freedom on the other side. Nachshon is portrayed as a [...]
Are the Times Changing?
10/27/09
Three articles arriving one after the other have raised my blood pressure recently.
– “The School that Opted Out” by Julianna Baggott
– “Heather Has Two Mommies Turns 20” by Leslea Newman
– “Scholastic Censors ‘Luv Ya Bunches’ from Book Fairs.” by Rocco Staino
I have thought, long and hard, about how I could put into words my reactions, my feelings about the contents of these pieces. What could I write that could possibly make a difference, effect a change in what has been written? How can I respond in a positive way to what I so strongly disagree with?
I could rant and rave, call principals and teachers, congress people and librarians, Scholastic, perhaps all of publishing on the carpet declaring them all wrong (of course) and me all right (of course). I am pretty good at that, but it doesn’t feel right. Why add fuel to the fire.
I could stay silent and let it all pass over and wait for a quieter moment, an easier topic to write about. Not being the silent type, that doesn’t feel right either.
Instead, I decided to look through the piles of books in my office to see if there might be an answer or two there. As always, the response was right under my nose:
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We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures
© 2008
Amnesty International. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.
Ages 4-8
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 30 artist-illustrators from around the world have provided art for this extraordinary picture book representing a simplified version of these rights for children of all ages. A profound and meaningful way to begin discussions of the theme: “Dignity and Justice for All.”
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Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace
By Shelle
y Moore Thomas. Photographs by Eric Futran.
©1998 Albert Whitman & Company.
Ages 3-8
Beautiful photographs of the world’s children with their friends and families demonstrate the many ways they create peace everyday by taking care of each other and the world, like “planting a tree,” “visiting someone who is old” or “reading a book.” The text is simple enough for even the youngest child to understand.
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Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class
By Eilee
n Spinelli. Illustrated by Anne Kennedy.
©2009 Albert Whitman & Company.
Ages 4-8
I wish I were a student of Miss Fox. She has the best ideas! As her student’s quarrel and squabble with each other, she implements the idea of Peace Week. The language of this book is simple enough that even the youngest child can understand. The dilemmas faced by the students are realistic and the solutions easy to appreciate: “Don’t say mean things,” “Help others,” for example. The artwork is expressive, colorful and fun. It would be easy to implement a “Peace Week” in your own school using the ideas in this book. Perhaps children’s publishing could institute a Peace Week and we all write happy blogs and blissful news for one entire week.
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I believe that Shalom Bayit, peace in the house, and Derekh Eretz, Common Courtesy/Respect will always take us farther than intolerance and misunderstanding. Who would ever have thought that Bob Dylan would be writing about his own generation when he composed the lyrics to The Times They Are A-changin’ :
“Come mothers and fathers/Throughout the land/And don’t criticize/What you can’t understand/Your sons and your daughters/Are beyond your command/Your old road is/Rapidly agin’./Please get out of the new one/If you can’t lend your hand/For the times they are a-changin’.”
Indeed.
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
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I received the copies of We Are All Born Free, Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class and Somewhere Today that I reviewed in this blog from the publishers at my request.
I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click to Amazon from the book covers of books pictured in my blogs and buy something, I receive a portion of the book price.
© Kathleen M. Bloomfield of forwordsbooks.com
Is “Where The Wild Things Are” a Jewish Book?
10/21/09
Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are, has been all over the news lately, as well he should be. I’m sure you’re aware that Sendak based the Wild Things on relatives from Europe, who his father rescued from the Holocaust. He has discussed this in Newsweek magazine, but in perhaps the most interesting interview, recorded on his 80th birthday and recently replayed on WBUR radio’s Here and Now, he described how most of his books have their roots in the Holocaust. It was a fascinating interview and I loved listening to him speak. However, he didn’t specifically address the relative merits – Jewishly – of his time honored classic, Where the Wild Things Are, as much as I might have liked. Since finding Jewish values in secular books is one of my specialties, permit me to correct that oversight.
According to Judaism, each of us is born with a tendency toward immoral behavior or choices, known as the Yezter Hara, the evil inclination. In Jewish tradition, 13 years after we are born, we receive our Yetzer Tov, our good inclination, which enables us to have the free will to choose between our good and evil tendencies. It’s this concept – of the Yetzer Hara and the Yetzer Tov – that makes Where the Wild Things Are a Jewish book.
Max, wearing his wolf suit, is hammering nails into walls, chasing the dog and yelling at his mother. He has clearly allowed his Yetzer Hara to take control of him and he is enjoying every moment of it. His imagination runs wild as he creates a world filled with Wild Things who move at his command. “Let the wild rumpus start!” Max cries, and everyone howls at the moon, swings from the trees and dances in the forest. However, Max quickly learns that days and nights of debauchery can be very exhausting. He yearns for a warm, loving place.
When 
he returns home, we see him beginning to remove his wolf skin and smiling to see “his supper waiting for him/ and it was still hot.” If you compare Max before he left his room for the Wild Things with Max upon his return, you will notice a few changes. Max looks a bit taller, a bit more mature. Could it be…is it possible…he is tapping into his Yetzer Tov.
As tradition teaches and the book reveals, it gets easier to choose the Yetzer Tov over the Yetzer Hara as we mature. Nonetheless, there is a wild thing (or two or three) in each one of us eager for a wild rumpus every now and then. Sometimes we need help taming them, as Max’s mom did by sending him to bed without his supper. Other times we sail across the sea to Wild Things Island and swing from the trees or howl at the moon, personally a brisk walk around the block, a little yoga and some journal writing tend to do the trick for me. What’s important to know is that we have both tendencies – Hara and Tov – and the choice to use either. We would not be human otherwise. It is in learning how to choose between them, how to manage our Wild Things, and where to find our “still hot supper waiting for us” that moves us from childhood fantasy to adult reality.
So, is Where the Wild Things Are a Jewish book? Absolutely!
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
The copy of Where the Wild Things Are that I reviewed was from my personal collection.
I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click to Amazon from the book covers of books pictured in my blogs and buy something, I receive a portion of the book price.
© Kathleen M. Bloomfield of forwordsbooks.com
