A child's relationship with his grandfather is at the heart of The Shabbat Puppy, written by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Jaime Zollars.
The Shabbat Puppy tells the story of a little boy named Noah who walked with his grandfather every Saturday, looking for Shabbat Shalom (Sabbath peace). Central to the story is the Jewish value of Kibud Zekeinim, honoring our elders.
MORE ABOUT GRANDPARENTS
As Rabbi Barbara Aiello explains in her InterfaithFamily.com article “How Grandparents Can Share Their Jewish Heritage with Interfaith Grandchildren,” grandparents play an important role in nurturing Jewish connections among children. Aiello writes, “Issues regarding how and when to share Jewish traditions are an important part of the grandparenting experience.”
Of course, we believe PJ Library books provide a great way for grandparents make those Jewish connections. After all, reading aloud is a good way to spark conversations with children. Find PJ Library selections with grandparent-related themes, with our book list, 15 Books to Read With Grandparents.
Don't forget to check out, How to Keep in Touch With Grandparents for tips on building relationships with relatives who live far away.
MORE ABOUT YIDDISH
Yiddish is fun. While few will speak it quite like Bubbe, it’s nevertheless a fun Jewish legacy to hand down. To learn new Yiddish words, try the online Yiddish Dictionary -- it’s a translator of sorts. You can also test your Yiddish vocabulary using Kveller.com’s Yiddish Food Quiz.
For young PJ readers, parents (and grandparents, of course!) can read aloud PJ Library selections containing Yiddish words. For example, early readers might enjoy Nosh, Schlep, Schluff: BabYiddish by Laurel Snyder.
Preschoolers might prefer Beautiful Yetta: The Yiddish Chicken by Daniel Pinkwater & Jill Pinkwater. This book tells the story of Yetta, a country hen who relies on the kindness of new friends.
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July 9, 2012