Children's Book Suggestions | Jewish American Heritage Month

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with these books about Jewish kids of all ages! More books about Jewish characters can be found in our online catalog.

For books about specific Jewish holidays, check out our Holiday books. Hanukkah has its own section and the rest are in the general Holiday section under 296.

For readers looking for books about the Holocaust, browse books about the Holocaust in the online catalog or check out 940.5318 in the Children's Nonfiction section.

Updated February 15, 2024
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Dear Mr. Dickens
Churnin, Nancy
Paper Book
2021 National Jewish Book Award Winner - Children's Picture Book 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor for Picture Books Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021 The Best Jewish Children's Books of...

The true story of Eliza Davis, a 19th century Jewish woman, convinced the popular novelist Charles Dickens to discontinue Jewish stereotypes and include positive portrayals of British Jews in his books. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

Just shy of ordinary
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
A SYDNEY TAYLOR HONOR BOOK ★ In this heartfelt novel about family, friendship, and identity perfect for fans of The List of Things That Will Not Change and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, a thirteen-year-old nonbinary kid discovers that life doesn't...

A nonbinary, autistic middle schooler adjusts to life post-pandemic despite questions about identity, friendships, and relationships that complicate their "new normal" routine. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Black bird, blue road
Pasternack, Sofiya
Paper Book
In this historical fantasy novel, praised as a "rich, omen-filled journey that powerfully shows love and its limits*" and "propulsive, wise, and heartbreaking,"** Ziva will do anything to save her twin brother Pesah from his illness--even facing the Angel of Death himself....

A girls is determined to save her brother, who has leprosy, from the Angel of Death in this fantasy story inspired by medieval central Asian Jewish communities. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

A place at the table
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
A timely, accessible, and beautifully written story exploring themes of food, friendship, family and what it means to belong, featuring sixth graders Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a white, Jewish girl taking a South Asian cooking class taught by Sara's mom. Sixth graders Sara...

A South Asian cooking class brings Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a white Jewish girl together who overcome their differences to create a British-Pakistani fusion cuisine for a cooking competition. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Aviva vs. the Dybbuk
Lowe, Mari
Paper Book
Sydney Taylor Award Winner BEST OF THE YEAR NPR · Kirkus · New York Public Library · Evanston Public Library A compelling, tender story about friendship and community, grief and healing, and one indomitable girl who...
A middle school girl helps a classmate plan a Bat Mitzvah ceremony while dealing with a dybbuk (or ghost) haunting her family's Orthodox Jewish bathhouse. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)
The witch of Woodland
Snyder, Laurel
Paper Book
A young girl preparing for her bat mitzvah discovers she has mysterious abilities in this magical contemporary coming-of-age story from the beloved author of Orphan Island. Hi, whoever is reading this. I'm Zipporah Chava McConnell, but everyone calls me Zippy. Things used to be...

A girl who defines herself as a "part time Jew" learns more about her heritage when she develops magical powers while preparing for her bat mitzvah. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)


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