Callista's List

Here's my tentative list, subject to change.

1. The Illuminated Soul by Aryeh Lev Stollman
2. Hanna's Suitcase by Karen Levine
3. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
4. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Challenge Wrap-Up

Well I finished my challenge and had great fun. I'm glad so many people joined me for it. I fully intend to hold it again come Hanukkah.

Books I read:

Even Higher by Richard Ungar
Hanukkah by Roni Schotter
Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights by Leslie Kimmelman
The Channukah Tree by Eric A. Kimmel
The Channukah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel
I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum
The Christmas Revolution by Barbara Cohen
The Rabbi's Girls by Johanna Hurwitz
Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
Emil and Karl by Yankev Glatshteyn
Hooray it's Passover by Leslie Kimmelman
A Woman in Jerusalem by A.B. Yehoshua

You can find all my review here.

My favourite novel was Emil and Karl by Yankev Glatshteyn and my favourite picture book was The Channukah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel.

A Woman in Jerusalem by A.B. Yehoshua

Stars: ****

This is a very interesting novel by a Jewish author. It’s written differently than most books I’ve read. It’s written from a third person point of view and makes me feel like I’m listening to a narrator.

What’s really interesting is every so often throughout the book is a small italicized paragraph or two that shows what is thought from the point of view of someone not important to the story; for example a neighbour or guard. I found this extremely interesting and a great idea.

The actual storyline is quite different. The title makes you think the book is about a woman who lives in Jerusalem when in fact, the beginning of the book, the woman is dead and the whole book takes place after that. This is quite a unique perspective. To the average person, when someone dies, a funeral is held and they are buried and that is that. If it’s not someone you knew personally, than the details don’t concern you at all. This book gives a glimpse of how things work after someone dies from identification to finding next of kin to making arrangements for funeral and burial. It’s not extremely depressing though like you may think it is.

I also liked that the main character’s dreams are described in detail. It shows how our minds take things in our lives and jumble them up to make our dreams. This is why our dreams often don’t make sense, because they are a bunch of stories jumbled up into one. It’s like taking the pages of a short story book and rearranging them completely.All in all this was a very interesting book

Hooray, It’s Passover by Leslie Kimmelman

Stars: ****

It's very straightforward about what happens during the holiday but is still told in a fun way with adorable illustrations by John Himmelman. Definitely recommend to teach your child what to expect during the Passover holidays or to teach non-Jewish children what Passover is all about.

Emil and Karl by Yankev Glatshteyn

Stars: *****

Unlike most books about the Holocaust, this one was written before WW II even started. It was originally written in Yiddish and was translated by Jeffrey Shandler into English which is how I read it.

Something else that makes this book different from all the others is that it was written for children in Jewish School in America to learn more about what was happening to kid’s their age in Europe. The author did a good job of putting in just the right amount of detail about the horrid things that happened to Jews. Enough to make it clear how things were but not too much so that the kids would go home scared and have nightmares. Written from a 3rd person point of view so that you get to hear what the thoughts are from both boys. I think this was a good choice.

Something From Nothing by Phoebe Giilman

Stars: ****

Basic storyline is a child who has a well-loved blue blankie. It gets so worn out that the mom says it has to go but Grandpa makes it into a coat. Then it wears out and mom says it has to go and Grandpa saves it once again by making it into a vest. This continues all the way to a button.

Although I’ve seen this idea before (can't find the name of the book. This one was read and I think a bathrobe first,) this one is nicely written with beautiful illustrations. Also if you look closely, at the bottom of the page mice are shown in the space below the house and they are using the scraps cut off the blankie/coat/vest etc… to make their own clothes. By the end of the book. All the mice are clothed in blue.

One thing that makes this book better than any others I’ve seen with this idea is the ending. I don’t like writing spoilers, even for picture books, so I won’t tell you exactly what happens but it’s a good ending.

The Rabbi's Girl's by Johanna Hurwitz

Stars: ****

This is a novel for ages 8-12, mostly for girls. It’s the story of the daughters of Rabbi Levin after they move to Lorain, Ohio in 1923.

There are good things and bad things that happen, just like in real life. This is a good book for non-Jewish kids to learn what it’s like to be Jewish. Many aspects of Judaism are explained. How the Shabbos is celebrated (like the Christian Sabbath), what Rosh Hashanah is all about, the special preperations for Passover and how the Jewish wedding works.

It also shows a bit of how life was different in the 20’s. Mama is a very superstitious person which I believe was very common in the 20’s. She forbids the family to talk of her pregnancy so as not to attract the evil eye. She doesn’t like people admiring her children for the same reason.

It is a very good book about Jewish life in the 20’s for pre-teens.

The Christmas Revolution by Barbara Cohen

Stars: ****1/2

This book was read for the Jewish Literature Challenge and the Christmas Theme Challenge because I couldn't get a hold of the books I originally chose.

It is the story of Simeone, an Orthodox Jew who refuses to participate in his school's Christmas activities. He convinces Emily, a Jewish Girl who has always just gone along with the Christmas activities to not participate too, to make a stand. Sally, Emily's twin sister however, doesn't see anything wrong with doing the activities, even if they don't believe. However both the twins and Simeone are being treated poorly just because Emily and Simeone stand up for what they feel is right. When the school Christmas Tree is found tipped over, everyone blames Simeone. He may not celebrate Christmas and refuse to participate, but he wouldn't knock over the tree. How can they prove it?

This book is a great story for Jewish Kids ages 8 and up.

I remember in grade school, there was one kid who didn’t celebrate Christmas, although he wasn’t Jewish or Muslim. He chose to sit out in the hall and do other work while we did Christmas puzzles or arts and crafts or read Christmas books. He didn’t come to school for our Christmas party. A year or so later, our school was getting a little more diverse and they changed our morning announcements to include announcing other cultures celebrations and to do a prayer/greeting from a different culture each morning. The only thing we always did was O Canada. Trying to be politically correct is a big thing now, so much so that’s it’s been taken to a whole new level. First it was a Christmas Tree, then a Holiday Tree, now it’s a Winter tree. I think we need to find a happy medium. The fact is, the majority of people in our society do celebrate Christmas but we should also teach the history and basics of the other holidays that are celebrated. Not just Chanukkah but Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Yule and Diwali too. If someone of a different culture wants to participate in the activities of Christmas, we should let them. However we should never force them.

This story was a good introduction to these issues that we adults deal with often in our society. This would be a good group read as it goes easily into a discussion. I can think of many questions I’d want to ask my kid’s after they read this. What would you have done if you were Emily? Do you think Simeone was going overboard or just standing up for his rights as he should have been. Do you think we should go to school separated by our religions? Would that solve the problem or just make us less tolerant? I could go on and on.

I definitely recommend this book, not just to kids, but adults too. I think our society needs to look at how we can be accepting of other cultures without overdoing it.

I Have A Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum

Illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Stars: ****

The well-known song told in story form with many more verses. Very cute.

The Chanukkah Tree and The Chanukkah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrated by Giora Carmi

Stars: *****

Adorable story of a guy selling christmas trees who has only one left and convinces the not so bright town Chelm that it’s a Hanukkah tree and it’s all the rage in America. So starts a tradition. 5 and up.

Illustrated by Giora Carmi

Stars: ***

Old lady who can’t see well is cooking meal for rabbi and other guests. A hungry bear comes by and the woman thinks it’s the rabbi. When the real rabbi comes by, all the food is gone! Happy Chanukkah, Bear.

Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights by Leslie Kimmelman

Illustrated by John Himmenlman

Stars: ***

Short board book about what’s done on each night of hanukkah. E.g The Nieces spin their four-sided dreidels. Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah. The flames on the cover are sparkly.

Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter

Illustrated by Marylin Hafner

Stars: *****

Cute story of a family celebrating hanukkah, saying prayers, singing songs, lighting menorah, cooking latkes, spinning dreidels. Also baby Moe learns how to say hanukkah.

Even Higher by Richard Ungar

Stars: ****

I received this book for review from Tundra Books.

The story of the town’s Rabbi who mysteriously disappears the day before Rosh Hashanah every year. The villagers think he must be soaring up to heaven to beg forgiveness for the sins of the townspeople, but is he? Young Reuven and his friends aren’t so certain so Rueven follows the rabbi to learn the truth. Reuven follows the rabbi, disguised as a woodcutter passed the synagogue, the cheder and Beryl the Baker’s House and enters the great forest. Where could be possibly be going?

This is a great Jewish folktale with a great ending. If I was raising my chidren Jewish this is a book I would want and even though I’m not, it’s a good book to teach of my Jewish background (and therefore my daughter’s.) The book is for ages 7-10 although I could see reading it as young as 5.

The illustrations are much different than anything I’ve ever seen which you can get a glimpse of via the book cover.

Callista's List

Okay I finally decided on my books. I'll be reading the following:

The Christmas Revolution by Barbara Cohen
The Rabbi's Girls by Johanna Hurwitz
A Woman in Jerusalem by A.B. Yehoshua
Emil and Karl by Jacob Glatstein
Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
The Illuminated Soul by Aryeh Lev Stollman

Plus I'll be reading Picture books and Children's Non-fiction on Hannukah and Passover that I just pick from the library at the time.