Top Picks to Read During Jewish Book Month

By Lysa Yang, Heilicher Library Manager 

Hello Heilicher Families,

It’s that time of year again—Jewish Book Month! This is a great opportunity to read and learn more about Jewish history, traditions, and holidays and to discover some wonderful books written by Jewish authors. 

Here are a few books available in the Lieberman library to inspire you and your child: 

Grades K-2

Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis
This heart-warming book highlights the values of giving thanks, sharing with others, and building a strong sense of community.  

Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher by Laurel Snyder
This curious pig wants to join in the fun of Shabbat dinner, but what can he do first to join? Tag along with Baxter for a ride of misunderstandings that lead to a warm message of welcoming and community.

Netta and Her Plant by Ellie Gellman
When Netta is very small, her preschool teacher gives her a plant for Tu B'Shevat, and as the years pass both Netta and her plant grow and change together.

Grades 3-4

Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco
This wonderful classic takes readers on a journey through the tenderness of friendship.  

All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Follow the adventures of a large and delightful Jewish family in New York's Lower East Side in the early 1900s. With such a big family, how can one person enjoy the holidays? Find out for yourself when you read this beautiful classic.

Across the Alley by Richard Michelson
Able and Willie live across the alley from each other, and each is culturally different. They don’t talk during the day, but they teach games and hobbies to one another at night. Will they ever have the courage to reveal their friendship during the day?

Grades 5-6

Sliding into the New Year by Dori Weinstein (Heilicher alumni parent)
What would you do if the brand new indoor water park opens on Rosh Hashana? Would you rather go swimming or celebrate Rosh Hashana with friends and family? Read about this exact problem that YaYa and YoYo must face as they slide into the new year.

Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer
Black Radishes (a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner) is a suspenseful WWII/Holocaust story in which one boy learns what it means to be Jewish and French at a time when everything is changing.

Grades 7-8

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 
Who would ever want to become a book thief? They’re free at the library! But read about why one girl must steal books in this unforgettable story where books have the ability to feed the soul.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Yet another great classic from a talented Jewish author. Blume touches on a very sensitive topic—God. Everyone believes in God, right? And they join together to praise God, right? Maybe. But what do you do when the God you believe in is different from the God that others believe in? Rediscover Judy Blume with your emerging adolescents.

There are more of course, so encourage your child to explore the library. Don’t forget to check out our Jewish holiday books in the book nook. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break and see you soon in the library,

Ms. Lysa Yang

P.S. Here’s a list of Jewish authors with books sitting on our shelves. Don’t forget to check out their masterpieces:

David Adler

Ellen Bar

Judy Blume

Barbara Cohen

Deborah DaCosta

Ezra Jack Keats

Michael Rosen

Sylvia Rouss

Louis Sacher

Maurice Sendak

Francesca Simon

Lemony Snicket

Carol Snyder

Laurel Snyder 

Sydney Taylor

Dori Weinstein

Jane Yolen