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
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Mazal bueno!
Aroeste, Sarah
Paper Book
It's the moment when a baby grins its first grin and laughs its first laugh, when baby first tries to stand and says their first word. It's the moment for parents to cheer, clap, and hug. Mazal bueno! Go, baby go! This book features Ladino words, the language of the Sephardic Jewish community,...

A sweet board book introduction to simple words and phrases in Ladino. (Board Book Age 2-4)

The Mexican dreidel
Marshall, Linda Elovitz
Paper Book
Danielito loves Janucá, especially playing dreidel. This year, he is old enough to visit Bobe by himself. Piñatas hang from the trees, and the kids in Bobe's neighborhood play with Mexican tops called trompos. Danielito does not have a trompo, but he has a dreidel. "What is that?" "¿Qué es eso?"...
A Jewish boy celebrates Hanukkah in Mexico by showing his friends, who love to play with Mexican tops called trompos, how to play dreidel. (Holiday Picture Book Age 4-8)
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)

The book rescuer : how a mensch from Massachusetts saved Yiddish literature for generations to come
Macy, Sue
Paper Book
Recipient of a Sydney Taylor Book Award for Younger Readers An ALA Notable Book A Bank Street Best Book of the Year "Text and illustration meld beautifully." --The New York Times "Stunning."​ --Kirkus Reviews (starred...

A biography of the founder of the Yiddish Book Center, which has rescued over 1.5 million Yiddish books and preserved them for future generations. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

A sky full of song
Meyer, Susan
Paper Book
This heartwarming, beautifully written middle-grade historicalnovel about an untold American frontier story is destined to be a cherished classic.    North Dakota, 1905   After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire,...

Fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, a Ukrainian Jewish family settles on the prairie in turn of the century North Dakota. A great option for fans of the Little House on the Prairie books looking for more stories about the Pioneer Era. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Honey and me
Drazin, Meira
Stand-alone player

BFFs find their friendship tested when they start sixth grade at the same school for the first time. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Linked
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
An unforgettable novel from the New York Times bestselling Gordon Korman. Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika. Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end...

Told in three different voices, a group of middle schoolers try to unravel the mystery of anti-Semitic vandalism that appears on school property. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Hereville : how Mirka got her sword
Deutsch, Barry.
Paper Book
Spunky, strong-willed eleven-year-old Mirka Herschberg isn't interested in knitting lessons from her stepmother, or how-to-find-a-husband advice from her sister, or you-better-not warnings from her brother. There's only one thing she does want: to fight dragons! Granted, no dragons...

A spunky young girl faces down a monster to earn her sword in this graphic novel set in an Orthodox Jewish community. (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

Becoming Brianna
Libenson, Terri
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller! Terri Libenson returns with another endearing, relatable story of friendship and finding confidence. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm. Middle school is full of challenges. Everyone knows how much brainy Bri likes the spotlight (not...

A girl who prefers not to be the center of attention navigates school and family challenges when her mom pushes her into a Bat Mitvah she isn't totally ready for. (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 dubious pranks of Shaindy Goodman
Lowe, Mari
Paper Book
SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD WINNER NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD WINNER Kirkus Top 10 Middle Grade for Fall '23 SHAINDY is a twelve-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl who struggles in school and has no good friends. She watches with...

A lonely Orthodox Jewish girl gets drawn into a series of nasty pranks by popular neighbor Gayil and must decide how to make amends as Yom Kippur approaches. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

All-of-a-kind family
Taylor, Sydney
Paper Book
Meet the All-of-a-Kindnbsp;nbsp;Family -- Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie -- who live with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century. Together they share adventures that find them searching for hidden buttons while dusting Mama's front parlor and visiting with...

The OG Jewish classic featuring a Jewish family growing up in turn-of-the-century New York City. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

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)

Two tribes
Bowen Cohen, Emily
Paper Book
In her poignant debut graphic novel inspired by her own life, Emily Bowen Cohen embraces the complexity, meaning, and deep love that comes from being part of two vibrant tribes. Mia is still getting used to living with her mom and stepfather, and to the new role their Jewish...

A Jewish/Muscogee teen embraces both sides of her heritage when she runs off to Oklahoma to learn more about her dad's Indigenous side of the family. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Chunky
Mercado, Yehudi
Paper Book
In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican...

A graphic novel memoir starring a Mexican Jewish teen whose dreams of pursuing a comedy career on SNL are hampered by a medical condition that requires him to find a sport to maintain his physical health. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)


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