Whаt аrе ѕοmе ехсеllеnt Jewish children’s tаlеѕ, οr books fοr children tο middle-school aged readers thаt hаνе Jewish themes аnd аrе аbουt Jewish characters?
Thе Chosen bу Chaim Potok іѕ a ехсеllеnt read, bυt іt wουld bе more appropriate fοr аn 8th grader thаn a 4th grader. More information аbουt thе book сουld bе found аt thе link below.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok is a excellent read, but it would be more appropriate for an 8th grader than a 4th grader. More information about the book could be found at the link below.
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http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/the_chosen/
number the stars
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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It was a very well written book about the Rescue of Jews in Denmark, after the people was taken by the Nazis.
Number the Stars won a Newbery Award (the Highest award given to school age children’s literature) in 1999.
Hope this helps. Take care.
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Small/Family Midrash Says is brilliant. It is perfect for that age range and is always entertaining .
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Number The Stars, Its Like Incredible It’s About A Jewish GIrl In The Hallacaust But It’s Deffinetly Apropriate For Kids As Young As 4th Grade Because Alot Of The Harsh Details Are Left Out, I Havent Read It Since 5th Grade (Im In 9th Grade Now) But I Remember It Was An Incredible Book And I Was So In Like With It I Made My Dad Read It And Even He Loved It (Or He Might’ve Lied To Me Lol) But Im Sure Any Child In Grades 4-8 Would Like It. I Can’t Remember It In Splendid Point But I Reckon It Was More About The Main Character Keeping Faith In Her Religon In That Dreadful Time Rather Than Mainly Focusing On How Sucky Thingz Were
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Check out some of Judy blume’s books
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For girls, try the classic "All of a Kind Family" series by Sydney Taylor. If they like the first one, they’ll want to read how the characters grow up.(It’s "dual purpose"; either they can read on their own, or you can read chapters as bed-time tales.) The fact that it is ancient fashioned for most Western kids adds to its charm and provides an element of peace and cool if read before bed.
Isaac Bashevis Singer’s " Zlateh the Goat" is a wonderful read for boys or girls.
A classic Hebrew series has been translated into English; "Our Sages Showed the Way" by Yocheved Segal is worth having in one’s home library. http://www.jewishbktown.com/st/Jewish_Children's_Books_Our_Sages_Showed_the_Way-vol1a.htm (There’s a sample tale at the link.) Many Israeli children reread it on their own for years. From experience, I can attest that the tales and the traditional morals imparted certainly impact a child’s education. http://www.jewishbktown.com/
If they are open to illustrated books, the younger ones will like the following award winning and special books.
Karen Hesse, "The Cats in Krasinski Square" . ISBN: 0439435404.
Taback, Simms. "Joseph Had a Small Overcoat". New York: Viking Children’s Books, 2000.
ISBN: 0670878553.
Prose, Francine. "You Never Know: A Legend of the Lamed-Vavniks"( Illus. by Mark Podwal) New York: Greenwillow Books, 1998. ISBN: 0688157580
Boys usually like to read about the golem from Prague. "Golem" http://www.alibris.com/quest/books/title/Golem/author/wisniewski
or Isaac Bashevis Singer. "The Golem" ( Ill. by Uri Shulevitz). Farrar, 1982. — NY Times Notable
Children’s Book
Also, many kids like translations of amusing Yiddish classics about Chelm, Hershele of Ostropol, Shalom Aleichem tales. For example, see Eric A. Kimmel, "The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol", Holiday House, 1995
There’s one recent book that I haven’t read yet, but urge you to look into on behalf of the 8th graders. "The Hebrew Kid and the Apache Maiden" won the 2006 Ben Franklin Award for Best First Book, in the fiction category . http://www.seraphicpress.com/thkatam.php
http://www.seraphicpress.com/thkatamadvancepraise.php
Of course, there is a never-ending list of new titles. See links below.
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For more thoughts: http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/awards/stba/st_books_all_award_winners.pdf
http://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=865&gps=113_10_796_431&f=00&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.ajljewishvalues.org/
http://childrensbooks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=childrensbooks&cdn=parenting&tm=1341&gps=116_9_796_431&f=00&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//falcon.jmu.edu/%7Eramseyil/muljewhol.htm