Peace in the Home

The Babka Sisters

Hester and Esther are shvesters (Yiddish for sisters), and they love each other very much – but sometimes they can get a little competitive, too. When Sylvester moves across the street from Hester and Esther, they each want to make him a babka to welcome him to the neighborhood – but which one is best? Sylvester is on the spot!

Be Kind

Being kind really does make the world a happier place. There are countless ways to be kind -- here are just a few!

A Big, Quiet House

What should you do when you live in a very small house filled with children -- and lots of clutter? In this retelling of an classic Yiddish folktale, one family gets some very odd advice...that turns out to be exactly right.

Bim! Sings the Baby

The baby can't say or do very much, but that doesn't matter. Shabbat dinner is fun for everyone in the family, even the littlest member.

Brand-New Bubbe

Jillian is wary of spending any time with Bubbe, her new stepdad’s mom. What will her Noni and Gram think? But Bubbe’s matzo ball soup sparks an idea to bring everyone together, and Jillian learns there’s always room for more family.

Bubbe and Bart’s Matzoh Ball Mayhem

Bubbe loves having everyone over for Shabbat dinner, almost as much as her dog Bart loves matzoh balls. But when the matzoh balls won’t stay in the pot, the pair must get creative to keep the chaos under control.

An Etrog from Across the Sea

Leah and Aaron are waiting for Papa’s ship to return to the docks of New York. He has promised to bring home a beautiful etrog from Corsica. But as Sukkot approaches, Papa and the etrog are nowhere to be found …

Friday Nights of Nana

In this contemporary intergenerational tale, Jennie and her grandmother find happiness in their joint preparations for the Sabbath.

Fridays Are Special

For this child’s family, Fridays aren’t like other days. On Fridays, the hustle and bustle is a little different. Everyone seems to be getting ready for something special -- something cozy and wonderful. What could it be?

Gracie's Night

Gracie and her papa have lots of love -- but only a little money. Gracie manages to get her papa a beautiful Hanukkah gift anyway -- but then she sees someone who could use a little generosity even more than her papa. What she does next transforms Hanukkah for all of them.

Hanukkah in Alaska

Hanukkah in Alaska is unlike anywhere else -- less daylight, more snow, and one very unexpected guest!

Harvest of Light

Follow along with an Israeli family as they make their own olive oil from fresh olives picked right from their own trees. It’s a bit of a process, but the resulting oil is not only delicious, it’s perfect for lighting a traditional Hanukkah menorah.

Help-a-Lot Shabbat

Getting ready for Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, can take a lot of preparation. Luckily, little ones often enjoy taking on household tasks (with varying results!). Whether you’re sweeping, cleaning, shopping, or chopping, this sweet book will remind you that small children love to “help a lot” – and including them can be a lovely bonding ritual, before Shabbat or anytime.

A Horse for Hanukkah

Hannah gets the horse she has always wanted as a gift for Hanukkah. The challenges of living with a horse – one that speaks Hebrew, no less! -- in a cramped apartment soon become apparent.

If I Lived with Noah

Imagine what life would be like on the ark. What kinds of things would you have to do? This boy has ideas!

It Could Always Be Worse

In this beloved tale from Eastern Europe, a distraught man discovers a positive attitude for dealing with the overcrowding in his small home.

Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean

Izzy the Whiz is an amateur inventor who, right before Passover, creates a super-duper machine that whirs and purrs and munches and crunches and miraculously cleans the entire house just in time for the holiday -- but not without creating havoc along the way.

Kayla and Kugel

Kugel the dog loves Shabbat, and loves helping his human, Kayla, get the house ready! At least, he thinks he’s helping...Kayla might say otherwise! In the end, everyone learns the importance of shalom bayit -- peace in the home.

Kishka for Koppel

In this retelling of a Jewish tale, a magic meat grinder helps a poor Jewish couple recognize their blessings after the three wishes it grants them don’t bring the happiness they expect.

Kopecks for Blintzes: A Jewish Folktale for Shavuot

Chelm stories are known for their wacky humor and unexpected turns -- and this one is no different. When Yankl and Gittele want to save up for blitzes for Shavuot, they come up with a plan -- but then “outsmart” themselves.

Lights in the Night

As the sun sets on Friday evening and Shabbat begins, lights of all kinds dot the darkness: candles, lanterns, moon, stars, fireflies, nightlights – and the next morning, a sunrise. This gentle story shows the beauty of Shabbat rituals against a backdrop of darkness and light.

Lights Out Shabbat

A young boy visiting his grandparents for Shabbat has a wonderful time despite (or maybe, in part, because of) a rare Georgia snowstorm that causes the power to go out.

Listen Sh'ma

“Sh’ma.” What does that sound like to you? This book uses the syllables of this important prayer to cherish the small but meaningful rituals of getting ready for bed.

The Little, Little House

Joseph and his family live in a very little house -- too little, if you ask Joseph. But then his wise Aunty Bella suggests he bring his chickens inside, and the rooster, and the goat! How do you think that made Joseph feel?

The Littlest Pair

There isn’t one animal happy to see a pair of termites come aboard their temporary floating home. When things aboard the ark get slippery and uncomfortable and the little termites have a solution to their problem, all those creatures quickly changetheir tune.

Many Days, One Shabbat

A family prepares for Shabbat together in a variety of ways and then enjoys the very special time with each other and with guests.

Melly's Menorah

Melly wants to help her family get ready for Hanukkah -- but everyone thinks she’s too little. Who would have guessed that in the end, she’d save the holiday?

The Mountain Jews and the Mirror

Newlyweds Yosef and Estrella have spent their entire lives as very simple mountain folk. But now they’ve moved to the big city, where they encounter many new -- and confusing -- things. Will their brand new marriage survive this comedy of errors?

A Mountain of Blintzes

The Catskill Mountains is the setting for this story in which the members of a family find ways to contribute the ingredients to make blintzes, a traditional food for the holiday of Shavuot.

Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks

An elderly woman is unable to enjoy her new residence until her rediscovery of a pair of memory-filled Sabbath candlesticks turns an apartment into a home.

My Sister Is Sleeping

This delightful, quiet story by famed Israeli author Devora Busheri describes an older sibling delighting in creation -- specifically, the creation of a beautiful baby sister.

Naamah and the Ark at Night

You know the story of Noah. But have you ever heard of Naamah, his wife? This story gives you a sense of what she had to deal with for forty days and forty nights!

Night Lights

On a dark night full of noises, a young brother and sister decide to sleep in the family sukkah. They realize that the stars they see in the sky are the same as those that guided the ancient Israelites on their journey through the desert.

Noah’s Bark

What’s a boat builder to do?! Noah has an ark to construct, but how can he manage his task with the snakes quacking, the beavers crowing, and the pigs howling? Find out how each animal came to make its unique sound in this retelling of the Noah's arkstory.

Old Noah's Elephants

The elephants are eating all the food on Noah’s Ark! They won’t listen to reason, and pretty soon their weight will tip the Ark over. At his wit’s end, Noah is willing to try some strange advice.

On Friday Afternoon: A Shabbat Celebration

Although Shabbat is a time for rest, preparing for it can be anything but restful! One disaster leads to another for Leelee and her dog Pickles, but with a lot of spirit (and some help from friends and family) they’re ready to enjoy a sweet Shabbat shalom.

Once Upon a Shabbos

A bear keeps taking the honey needed for the Shabbos kugel (noodle pudding), until Grandma learns he is lost and invites the bear to come to dinner.

Oy Vey: Life in a Shoe

Poor Lou! He lives in a shoe -- with a LOT of kids. The rabbi has an idea of what to do -- but it seems like his suggestion will just make life worse for Lou!

Oy! Feh! So?

Aunt Chanah, Aunt Essy, and Uncle Sam are really, really predictable. No matter what you do, they always say the same things: “oy,” “feh,” and “so?”. One day their niece and nephew try to get them to say something else. The result is funny for everyone -- and a nice reminder of how special family is.

Papa's Latkes

Mama’s tired of making latkes. But what would Hanukkah be without them? Don’t worry -- it turns out Papa makes the best latkes ever. Meanwhile, follow the instructions to make some Hanukkah crafts of your own.

Rachel's Roses

Rachel Berger wants special new buttons for her Rosh Hashanah outfit, but her family can't afford them, so she sets out to earn the money herself. Along the way she begins to learn what really matters on the Jewish New Year.

Rising

Baking challah requires a lot of waiting — for it to rise, bake, and cool. As this family finds when preparing to welcome Shabbat and the arrival of a new family member, the anticipation of something good can be special too.

Rosie Saves the World

Rosie is gung-ho to perform good deeds for everyone in her neighborhood. She wants to save the world! But what about the things her family needs her to do? She's about to learn that tikkun olam, saving the world, starts in one's very own home.

Scarlett and Sam: Escape from Egypt

Something strange has happened to Sam and Scarlett -- they’ve gone back in time to when Jews were slaves in Egypt! Can they help Moses cross the Red Sea?

The Schmutzy Family

The Schmutzys are messy all week long, and no one -- not even Mom! -- seems to care a bit. When Friday rolls around, everyone helps clean up as the family prepares for Shabbat.

Shabbat Hiccups

Jonah got the hiccups -- and it’s Shabbat! How can he get his hiccups to quiet down? Everyone has a remedy...

Shabbat is Coming

It’s Friday! You know what that means, don’t you? Jump and cheer as this family -- including the puppy! -- gets ready for Shabbat.

Shalom Bayit: A Peaceful Home

From birds in the trees to worms underground, everyone feels safe and sound when they experience shalom bayit, a peaceful home.

The Shalom Book

For such a little word, “shalom” packs in a lot of meaning -- hello, goodbye, and peace. This simple, dynamic board book explores the many expressions of shalom.

Sheep Says Shalom

A sheep explores the meaning of the Hebrew word “shalom” as he greets his friends on the farm. As the little sheep in this book shows us, shalom is a word with many uses.

Someone for Mr. Sussman

In this contemporary tale, humor and perseverance are necessary for a matchmaker to find just the right someone for a very picky bachelor. As Bubbie always says: There’s no pot so crooked that there isn’t a lid to fit it!

A Song for My Sister

Mira’s wish for a baby in the family comes true, but who knew how much noise she would make? No matter what Mira and her parents do, the baby’s reaction is WAAAA. On the day of her simchat bat (Jewish welcoming ceremony for a baby girl) Mira finallyfinds the answer to all the wailing!

Terrible, Terrible

In this contemporary take on a beloved Jewish folktale, a rabbi helps Abigail discover the wonderful aspects of her newly-blended family.

This Is the Challah

When Bubbe and her grandchild bake challah for Shabbat, they make a big mess -- and have a great time doing it. Told in rhyme, this story illustrates the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Shabbat -- and the peacefulness that settles when it arrives.

Time for Bed

Toddlers love bedtime rituals. Bath time, reading books, singing songs, and of course, lots of cuddles – these are the sorts of things that set little ones up for an easy transition to sleep. With this sweet board book, parents can say laila tov (Hebrew for “good night”) to their kids…and then maybe get a little peace and quiet for themselves before they turn in.

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah

A miniature-sized Jewish family living behind the wall of a synagogue must deal with a scary cat if they are to get the candles they need for their Hanukkah menorah.

Who Will Ask the Four Questions?

Eitan always asks the Four Questions at his family's Passover seder...but this year, his younger sister Evie says she's old enough to do it this year. But what will Eitan do if Evie takes this job away from him?