In a media centered universe saturated with unsavory role models, many parents look towards reading as an alternative form of entertainment for their children. There are so many wonderful books for children to read and others less so. Reading the right books is a wonderful and safe way to open up the world to your children. In this column I present some children’s books for ages 8-12 that help to ignite a positive value system. Happy Reading!
Here are five books that deal beautifully with the theme of friendship, a prominent value in the lives of both children and adults. Friends in these books assume all different forms; an adult caretaker, a pen-pal, the most popular girl in fifth grade and the least popular one as well. But all display the truest forms of friendship; loyalty, caring and love.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord: Harper Trophy
Black and White illustrations by Mark Simont
In the Year of the Dog, 4645, otherwise known as 1947, a Chinese girl’s family decides to move away from the clan in China to make a new life for themselves in New York. The girl is known as Sixth cousin or Bandit, but is knighted Shirley Temple Wong as her American moniker. Shirley attempts to navigate the world that is America while hopelessly longing for home, for her cousins and her servants, and even more desperately pining for a friend. Slowly, Shirley finds a place for herself, befriending Mabel, the scariest girl in fifth grade, taking piano lessons and acclimating to life in New York. But Shirley finds hope and consolation in the great American dream when she discovers baseball and best of all, Jackie Robinson. This book is both poignant and hilarious, dealing with themes such as belonging, friendship and loyalty. Sports fans will enjoy the bit of baseball history and all readers will be drawn to the humor and spirit doled out by Shirley.click here to purchase from Amazon.com
Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary: Harper Trophy
Black and White Illustrations by Paul. O. Zelinsky
Beloved author Beverly Clearly wins kids over again in this touching Newbery award-winning book, narrated by sixth grader Leigh Botts. After Leigh’s parents divorce, Leigh lives with his mother in a ramshackle hut by the sea while his father continues hauling his rig around the country – barely remembering to call Leigh. Leigh has no friends at his new school and many emotions brewing inside of him. He finds an unlikely catharsis when he begins a correspondence with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Through this friendship of letters and postcards, Leigh comes to terms with the way things are, realizing that as his mother says “Whenever I watch the waves, I always feel that no matter how bad things seem, life will go on.” Children will cheer as Leigh finally makes a friend at school and reaches an understanding with his father. A beloved canine rounds this book out to a great read. This book will appeal to any child learning to deal with change. The themes are sensitive but the language and narration coupled with the illustrations make the book very readable even for reluctant readers.click here to purchase from Amazon.com
Confessions of a Closet Catholic, by Sarah Darer Littman: Puffin Books
Justine Silver, aka Jussy wishes her family were more like her best friend Catherine Mary McAllister’s family. The only problem is that ‘Mac’s family is Catholic while Jussy’s is Jewish. Jussy decides that her parents’ distance from their own religion legitimizes her own exploration of other religions. She weighs each of the religions, deciding against them for various reasons, Hinduism, for example is ruled out because “there are a lot of gods and remembering things isn’t my strong suit. I can just see myself calling one of them by the wrong name and being sentenced to come back as a cockroach.” Eventually deciding on Catholicism, Jussy converts her closet into a secret confessional where she stows her rosary beads and her oversized teddy-bear serving as “Father Ted.” But when Jussy’s beloved Bubbe gets sick, she is saddled with guilt. Her Bubbe, a Holocaust survivor, still keeps all of the Jewish laws that her parents find so archaic and Jussy wonders if her abandonment of her faith led to Bubbe’s stroke. Jussy is led to reexamine the religion of her birth, setting upon her research with her characteristic gusto. And when Jussy encounters authentic Judaism, she discovers that the greatest friendship of all is with her very own religion.
This thoroughly enjoyable book, winner of the Sydney Taylor Award, will have young readers identifying with Jussy’s pre-adolescent angst and insecurity. It is a wonderful way to help non-religious Jewish children explore their Jewish identity through a humorous and relatable story. click here to purchase from Amazon.com
Ida B …and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and (Possibly) Save the World, by Katherine Hannigan: Greenwillow Books
Fourth grader Ida B would be perfectly content to go on being home schooled on her beautiful property with her brook and her orchard her whole life. But when Mama gets sick, Ida B is forced to go to school, something she thinks she can never forgive her father for. She sets herself against making friends or achieving any sort of happiness at school, entering a “black” period of her life. But when her classmate Claire moves on to Ida B’s property with her family to help Daddy pay for Mama’s medical bills, Ida B behaves in a way that even she is ashamed of. And then just when Ida B thinks things couldn’t be any darker - they start to get better. This story is told with approachable first person narration, with Ida B its quirky, funny and extraordinary heroine.click here to purchase from Amazon.com
For advanced Readers:
A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park: Yearling
Tree-Ear, an orphan boy in 12th century Korea, lives under a bridge with his dear friend Crane-Man, a man whose wisdom and love more than compensate for his physical disability. But Tree-Ear dreams of becoming a potter one day, spying on the master potters as he forages for food in their rubbish heaps. Tree-Ear can’t believe his good fortune when Min the master Potter agrees to use Tree-Ear as an apprentice, earning him a meal to share with Crane-Man each night and insight into the art he so admires. But the backbreaking labor of collecting wood and clay is not exactly what he had hoped for and the gruff manner in which Min relates to Tree-Ear is a far cry from his peaceful little life with Crane-Man. But when Min’s work is considered for a commission from the king, Tree-Ear offers to chance the long journey alone to present master Min’s pottery to the King’s emissary. Unexpected obstacles along the way force Tree-Ear to dig into untapped wells of courage within him.
This beautifully woven story of friendship, adventure and perseverance received the 2002 Newbery medal. Children who are open to expansive subject matter in their reading will greatly enjoy this book.click here to purchase from Amazon.com
(18) Anonymous, May 23, 2010 7:12 PM
young children
Which books would you recommend for a 2 year old to kindle the yiddishkeit in his/her soul?
(17) Leah Larson, March 4, 2010 1:18 AM
New Books for Jewish Girls
YM Books a division of Yaldah Media,Inc. will release its first Jewish-themed, young adult novel in Spring of 2010. One is Not a Lonely Number is geared for girls ages 10-15. Check the website for more information.
(16) Lidia, February 21, 2010 1:39 AM
I liked the recommendations; I have middle school boys and they are avid readers. I find it a bit difficult to get books for them sometimes- I want something that is interesting, well written and age appropriate, and more than anything, that it would have a positive message- Jewish books written for this age also,if possible.
(15) Yael Mermelstein, February 20, 2010 10:23 PM
To Judy:
Hi Judy, THe books I mentioned are to you ARE for older teenagers. It is hard to find appropriate reading material for teens but those are some good examples. I will try to get to teen literature in the future. Bests, Yael
(14) Judy, February 18, 2010 6:12 PM
Recommentations
I appreciate the recommendations, but the books suggested are for younger girls. Is there nothing out there for high school girls?
(13) Anonymous, February 18, 2010 6:47 AM
Some Good Books
I would recommend books by Margaret Peterson Haddox especially Running out of Time and the Shadow Children series. For younger children, I would suggest Beverly Cleary books, Flat Stanley and The Giving Tree. Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Westing Game, The Cricket in Times Square, the Encyclopedia Brown series, and My Side of the Mountain are also good books.
(12) Sara, February 17, 2010 8:35 PM
thanks for a great service
This is a wonderful idea!! I am constantly searching for books that are appropriate, and as one of your commenters noted, they are not always interested in Jewish books (actually I think my kids have read pretty much all thats out there in Jewish fiction). I think your aish readers would love to see this feature maybe once every couple of months- if possible!!
(11) Yael Mermelstein, February 17, 2010 8:34 AM
Author Responds
To Ayelet: I think this book would be more appropriate for someone who is seeking and not yet Torah observant To Judy: Did she read "Invisible Me" by Tzipi Caton (Targum Press) I found it wonderfully written. And Goose Girl by Shannon Hale was wonderful too and appropriate - you may want to check out other books of Shannon Hale as well.
(10) Judy, February 16, 2010 8:52 PM
Teen novels
Can you recommend books for teenaged girls? My daughter finds the books from the Jewish publishers predictable, boring and not very well written. So many secular novels aren't appropriate.
(9) barbara, February 16, 2010 4:04 PM
a treasure trove of new book to read
thank you so much for these wonderful book reviews. each one sounds well worth buying for my grand neices and nephews. the reviewer adroitly pinpoints the highlights and values of each, which is so helpful! i'm looking forward to reading them along with the children.
(8) Miriam Pines, February 16, 2010 3:48 PM
How about Jewish Books?
Can you recommend any good Jewish children's books? Our local Judaica stores don't carry too many....
(7) Ayelet, February 15, 2010 2:06 AM
Perfect
My second-grader devours books faster than I can provide them and/or do the research to find the right books. This is a wonderful service you are providing by recommending appropriate books that deliver messages about positive values. (I think back to the junk I read as a kid and shudder!) It sounds like the books you listed are varied and thought-provoking which is just the sort of thing I'm looking for. I notice you recommend Confessions of a Closet Catholic for non-religious Jewish children. I wonder, do you feel it would be inappropriate for a girl who is Torah-observant?
(6) SusanE, February 14, 2010 7:46 PM
It's been Awhile. Some Books are always Relevant.
My Kids are adults now, so I don't know what books are out there for kids. Thank you for the list, it is varied and something there for each childs tastes. Do todays children still read some of the classics from years ago? Some of these are for the younger children who don't yet read and some are for new readers.. " The Little Engine that Could. The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings. Winnie the Poo. Where the Sidewalk Ends. Little Women. A Childs Garden of Verses. Alice in Wonderland. The Boxcar Children. The Bobbsey Twin Series. The Hardy Boys Series. Nancy Drew. All these have adventure that a child could actually imagine themselves involved in. There are relevent today. I found some old childrens books in my travels. The neighbor children would come over to hear chapter by chapter. The books were exciting and tapped the kids imagination and curiosity. One was titled "The Keeper of the Bees". Gene Stratton-Porter wrote it. It and reviews are available on Amazon.com . I bought an old one at an estate sale. An older one would be original content. I loved it and the kids loved it.
(5) chava, February 14, 2010 7:45 PM
you've done my work for me
how wonderful to have a ready list of books to read to my grandchildren without having to worry if it's a good book. thank you for the reviews and i look forward to sharing many magical moments reading to my grandchildren.
(4) Lia, February 14, 2010 6:36 PM
Want more!
Please continue to post lists of good books for children of this age and younger.
(3) Bernie Siegel, MD, February 14, 2010 3:57 PM
more books
Award winning "Smudge Bunny" based upon a true story relates how difficulties can become blessings and "Buddy's Candle" teaches us how to cope with the loss of a loved one of any species. These are are two books I recommend, not omnly because I authored them, but because they do contain important messages for our children to live by.
(2) Anonymous, February 14, 2010 3:19 PM
Great list
Thanks for this list. I've read (and love) two of the books on this list, and I look forward to reading the other three. It's great to finally have list of books to instill good values in our children.
(1) lisa, February 14, 2010 2:38 PM
Books are back!!!
Thank you....we could always use recommandations for good quality kids books!!!!! I am going out right now to buy a few!!!