Max Makes a Cake

Introducing a Passover PJ library book!

Meet Max, who wants to bake a surprise Passover birthday cake for his mom. Max is a big boy, he can almost tie his shoes, and he even knows the four questions for Passover in Hebrew and English. But everyone knows that baking a cake during Passover is not so easy and one must get really creative. So Max gets to work, only he really needs the help of his dad to pull this off. But dad is too busy with Max’s fussy baby sister and so Max decides to take matters into his own hands. And that is exactly what Max does, starting with the frosting first, just in case dad makes it down in time to help.

“Why is this cake different from all other cakes?” asks Max at the end of the story. The author ties this question in beautifully with the importance of the Four Questions during the Passover Seder. This is a sweet and clever story about baking a cake with lots and lots of matzah as well as capturing a moment when a young boy realizes he can be independent. The author, Michelle Edwards, includes Max’s ingenious cake recipe along with a very brief description of the Passover Story.

Illustrations by Charles Santoso are adorable with warm and cheerful animated expressions. The illustrations were rendered with pencil on paper and then scanned and colored digitally.

Max Makes a Cake is a wonderful story that is perfect for story time during the Passover holiday and welcome in any Jewish library as well as Public libraries collections too. Recommended for ages 3-6.

What is PJ Library®?  It’s a program that mails FREE, high-quality Jewish children’s books and music to families in the San Francisco Bay Area (and across the country!) on a monthly basis.  Sign up here: http://pjlibrary.org/Communities/Enroll-in-a-Community.aspx?id=12 to enroll.  More info at www.pjlibrary.org

Thanksgivukkah

On November 28, for the first time ever, although there is some dispute over this and some say it won’t happen again until 2070, Jews around the world will celebrate the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving together. Thus, Thanksgivukkah!! Have you heard of potato latkes with cranberry sauce and turkey? Or how about sweet potato latkes or cranberry applesauce?

Ok, let’s put food aside and talk some great books. There are some wonderful children books to help us celebrate the festival lights. Below is my list with some of my favorites as well as new books for this year. Those books with an asterisk are for families who celebrate both holidays.

Hanukkah Books in alphabetical order by author

Our Candle by Eve Bunting

Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap by Deborah Cohen

Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa

Papa’s Latkes by Michelle Edwards

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser

Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser

Just enough is plenty: A Hanukkah tale by Barbara Goldin

The Best Hanukkah Ever by Barbara Goldin

*Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift by Dara Goldman

Gracie's Night: A Hanukkah Story by Lynn Taylor Gordon

Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland

Asher and the Capmakers: A Hanukkah story by Eric Kimmel

The Chanukah Guest by Eric Kimmel

Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel ( a revised version of the above book)

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel

The Magic Dreidels by Eric Kimmel

Zigazak: A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric Kimmel

The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman

Sadie’s Almost Marvelous Menorah  by Jamie Korngold

Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky

The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll

A Great miracle Happened There by Karla Kuskin

Nathan Blows out the Hanukkah Candles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin

Moishe’s Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Melmed

It’s Hanukkah by Jeanne Modesitt

* Light the Lights! A Story about celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman

Runaway Dreidel by Leslea Newman

*My Two Holidays: A Hanukkah and Christmas Story by Danielle Novak

*My Two Grandmothers by Effin Older

The Miracle of the Potato Latkes: A Hanukkah Story by Malka Penn

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco

Hanukah Money by Uri Shulevitz

The Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman

Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper

Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster by Jane Sutton

The Eighth Menorah  by Lauren Wohl

Beni’s First Chanukah by Jane Zalben

* Stories that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas

Poetry Books:

Hanukkah lights: A Holiday Poetry by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Hanukkah Haiku by Harriet Ziefert

Don't Sneeze at the Wedding

“Press lip, wiggle earlobe, say ‘pineapple’, tap forehead, pinch nose, don’t sneeze!” These are the different pieces of advice that Anna has received during the day and must remember in order to not sneeze during her Aunt Rachel’s wedding. Why? Because she has the very important job of being the flower girl. This is a darling story with colorful and animated illustrations that go through the day before a traditional Jewish wedding. Anna, dressed in her little pink dress, pink shoes with pink flowers in her hair, doesn’t want to ruin the day with a loud sneeze. But guess where she ends up sneezing, only the Rabbi knows. Another fabulous PJ library book that not only goes through the events of a day leading up to a Jewish wedding but has short explanations of the customs and symbols. Don’t Sneeze at the Wedding is a delightful story showing the humor of families and the joy of weddings. I loved this book! 

Check out more from this author and illustrator

By author, Pamela Mayer:

The Scariest Monster in the Whole Wide World

The Grandma Cure

By illustrator, Martha Aviles:
The Shabbat Princess

Say Hello, Lily

Abuelita: Full of Life

Stones for Grandpa (a recent publication)

The Fiesta Dress

New Beginnings

New Beginnings for Rosh Hashanah

Back-To-School is a time for new beginnings.  For the Jewish community, it is also a time to start fresh with a new year in the Hebrew calendar called Rosh Hashanah (starting the evening of September 4^th).  On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of the world while dipping apples in honey to represent a sweet year ahead.  What better way to think about fresh starts then through some fabulous children’s books?  

PJ Library® is a local program that sends free Jewish books and music to the homes of children in the Bay Area.  Here are some PJ Library® favorites that teach children about the values and traditions of Rosh Hashanah through wonderful stories: 

Apples and Honey by Joan Jolub and Illustrated by Cary Pillo (published 2003)

This sweet lift-the-flap book follows a family as they prepare for Rosh Hashanah. There is so much to do from making holiday cards, baking challah, eating apples and honey and going to temple to hear the Shofar. Each page offers an interactive page for a young reader to enjoy. This story is a lovely introduction of the holiday for children, ages 2-6.

Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride by Deborah Cohen Illustrated by Shahar Kober (published 2008)

A playful introduction of Rosh Hashanah through a story about Israel’s first train from Jaffa to Jerusalem.  Follow along and see all the special deliveries Engineer Ari makes as he arrives in Jerusalem in time to celebrate the New Year. This story uses all the traditional symbols of Rosh Hashanah from the apples and honey, round challahs, and the Shofar. Recommended for children, ages 4 and up.

The World’s Birthday by Barbara Goldin and Illustrated by Jeanette Winter (published 1990)

Daniel is determined to have a birthday party for the world to celebrate the Jewish New Year. But how can you have a party and invite the whole world? That is just too many people. See how Daniel celebrates the Jewish New Year with his family and includes the whole world in the celebration. Recommended for children, ages 4-8

New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story by April Wayland and Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch (published 2009)

On Rosh Hashanah, Izzy and his family make a list of all their wrongdoings from the year. Then they apologize for them and throw pieces of bread into the water as a way to “clean the slate” or clear their hearts which is called Taslich.  This is a must read story that truly shows the importance of reflection and forgiveness. Recommended for children, ages 5-8. Winner of the Sydney Taylor Gold Medal for best Jewish picture book of the year!

The Secret Shofar of Barcelona by Jacqueline Greene and Illustrated by Doug Chayka (published 2009)

This special story takes place in the late 1500’s when Don Fernando, the conductor of the Royal Orchestra of Barcelona, prepares a concert to celebrate the Spanish colonies in the New World. Meanwhile his son, Rafael, secretly practices blowing the Shofar despite laws forbidding Jews from practicing their religion.  Rafael must decide whether he can blow the Shofar while his father’s Orchestra performs. A beautiful story that includes historical facts and a glossary to help explain what life was life during that period of time. Recommended for children, ages 6 and up.

While taking time to prepare for the year ahead, remember to take some quiet moments to read to your children.  PJ Library® is an amazing resource in our community that helps introduce Jewish values and traditions through reading.  These books will quickly become cherished bedtime stories. 

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!