Hanukkah Chanukah Jewish Holidays Childrens Kids Books

National Geographic's Holidays Around the World series introduces young readers in Grades 1-4 to different religious and cultural holidays celebrated throughout the globe. With dazzling photographs and lively text, each volume exemplifies the commitment to excellence that has been the hallmark of National Geographic publications since 1888.

This extraordinary set of Jewish holiday books--Celebrating Passover, Celebrating Hanukkah,  and Celebrating Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur--are beautifully photographed, thoughtfully written, and highly educational. These remarkable hard-bound books will not only bring your children and grandchildren many hours of reading pleasure, they will be lovingly passed on from generation to generation.

Author Deborah Heiligman specializes in writing books about complex subjects for young people particularly in the areas of science and social studies. She has authored more than 15 books on subjects ranging from butterflies to the Titanic. Her award-winning titles for National Geographic include: Honeybees; Babies: All You Need To Know; and High Hopes: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy. Her expert consultant on this series was Rabbi Shira Stern, Pastoral Counselor and Chaplain, and Director of the Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling in Marlboro, New Jersey.

In addition to providing the historical and religious background of the different Jewish holidays, the emphasis of these books is to present a global, sociological, and cultural perspective of the holidays. The focus of the series is to celebrate the diversity of the World Jewish community and NOT to advocate for any particular religious viewpoint or type of observance. The Jewish experience is portrayed as a vital, vibrant, and colorful tapestry which is--at one and the same time--profoundly meaningful and amazingly diverse.

Each of these hard-bound volumes is 32 pages in length. In addition to glorious full-color photographs and an overview of the history and customs associated with particular Jewish holiday, each book has a detailed appendix that includes a glossary, recommended additional readings, a list related web links, songs, and even recipes. One of my favorite features is the world map identifying the countries where each of the volume's photographs were taken.

Celebrate Passover with Matzah, Maror, and Memories
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The most celebrated holiday in the Jewish year, Passover commemorates the Exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt to freedom over 3,500 years ago. This colorful book explores the many forms that this week-long celebration takes worldwide. Deborah Heiligman's rich text details the long lavish meals called Seders in which the Exodus from Egypt is recalled in ritual, prayer, song, and story. The historical significance of the food at these Passover feasts is also explained, and delicious recipes encourage readers to experience the full flavors of this internationally observed holiday. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note provides parents and teachers with a historical and cultural background of the celebration of Passover. In their review of this book, Jewish Book World Magazine described it as "simple and clear, written in succinct language" and praised its use white space, large fonts, and bright color photos as extremely visually appealing to young readers. (Copyright 2007)

Celebrate Hanukkah with Light, Latkes, and Dreidels
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
In Celebrate Hanukkah, Deborah Heiligman welcomes readers to a holiday celebrated by Jewish communities around the world. The vivid photography of National Geographic illustrates the joyous celebrations of Jewish people around the world—including Ghana, Uganda, India, Israel, Peru, the United States, and Poland, as they light menorahs, spin dreidels, and make Latkes.The richly informative book details many facts, such as the story of U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman, who brought a Menorah and a Dreidel on his Space Shuttle mission in 1993. Hoffman observed the traditional spinning of the Dreidel, but wisely left the Menorah unlit in the proximity of several thousand liters of rocket fuel! Also included are the author's sure-to-please Latke recipe, Hanukkah blessings, and a Hanukkah song. A note from Rabbi Shira Stern, the book's consultant, sets the holiday in its global, religious, and cultural context. A 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Younger Readers, the American Library Review Booklist described this book as attractive, informative, with succinct text that is appropriate for reading aloud, while the Jewish Book World Magazine praised it as a welcome addition to any library. (Copyright 2006)

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur with Honey, Prayers, and the Shofar
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur examines how these Jewish High Holy Days are celebrated worldwide. Rosh Hashanah, known as the Jewish New Year, is a time for reflection and resolution. On Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, Jews fast, pray, and ask God's forgiveness for their sins. Deborah Heiligman's lively first-person text introduces readers to the sounding of the Shofar, the greeting cards associated with the holiday, prayers, and special foods. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note puts the High Holy Days into wider historical and cultural context for parents and teachers. (Copyright 2007)

This outstanding set of books does a remarkable job of introducing and explaining Jewish holidays to young children who may not be familiar with them. By showing the same Jewish holidays being celebrated across the face of the planet in many different ways, these books emphasize and reinforce the essential sense of "interconnectedness" among all Jews everywhere.

To paraphrase a review on Amazon by Nancy Austein (from Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas): "Who would have thought there was anything new to say to children on this topic? However, Heiligman's excellent book[s], published by National Geographic as part of its Holidays around the World series, offer a unique perspective." What sets these books apart are the first-rate, full-page, crisp photographs that depict Jews celebrating Jewish holidays all over the globe. In exotic locations as far-flung as South Korea, Uganda and Peru, the Jewish holidays are still being celebrated and still hold meaning. Through the photos, it becomes clear that, although Jews live in a variety of cultures and countries, they all celebrate the holidays in very much the same way.

This set would make a priceless addition to the library of any Jewish youngster. Even more importantly, this series offers non-Jewish children the opportunity to read about and learn to understand Jewish holidays and customs.

DIMENSIONS:
Each hard-bound volume in this three volume set measures approximately 8.75 in width ,10 inches in height and about .25 inches in depth and weighs about a pound.

This set makes a great present for children and for parents and grandparents who love reading and beautiful hard-bound books--one size fits all. It would also make a great gift for a teacher, classroom, or school.

The list price for just one of these volumes is $15.95.

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