Books for Kids: Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish Heritage Month. Check out some of these titles to celebrate throughout the month!

Updated April 26, 2023
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Lucky broken girl
Behar, Ruth
Paper Book
Winner of the 2018 Pura Belpre Award! "A book for anyone mending from childhood wounds."--Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street   In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative--based on the author's childhood in the 1960s--a...
Big dreams, small fish
Cohen, Paula (Illustrator)
Paper Book
Sydney Taylor Honor Book In the new country, Shirley and her family all have big dreams. Take the family store: Shirley has great ideas about how to make it more modern! Prettier! More profitable! She even thinks she can sell the one specialty no one seems to want...
No vacancy
Cohen, Tziporah
Paper Book
With the help of her Catholic friend, an eleven-year-old Jewish girl creates a provocative local tourist attraction to save her family's failing motel. Buying and moving into the run-down Jewel Motor Inn in upstate New York wasn't eleven-year-old Miriam Brockman's dream, but at least it's...
Honey and me
Drazin, Meira
Paper Book
Fans of Judy Blume, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, and The Penderwicks will love this funny, charismatic story of a Jewish girl striving to forge her own identity in the shadow of her fearless best friend. **A 2023 Sydney Taylor Award Honor Book!** **A...
How to find what you're not looking for
Hiranandani, Veera
Paper Book
New historical fiction from a Newbery Honor-winning author about how middle schooler Ariel Goldberg's life changes when her big sister elopes following the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision, and she's forced to grapple with both her family's prejudice and the antisemitism she experiences,...
The people's painter : how Ben Shahn fought for justice with art
Levinson, Cynthia
Paper Book
A lyrically told, exquisitely illustrated biography of influential Jewish artist and activist Ben Shahn "The first thing I can remember," Ben said, "I drew." As an observant child growing up in Lithuania, Ben Shahn yearns to draw everything he sees-and,...
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...
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...
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...
Chunky goes to camp
Mercado, Yehudi
Paper Book
In Yehudi Mercado's full-color middle grade graphic memoir sequel to Chunky, Hudi and his imaginary friend, Chunky, head to Jewish summer camp, where the dynamic duo meet a new friend who can see Chunky, too, and get mixed up in a prank war. This series is perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and...
The woman who split the atom : Lise Meitner
Moss, Marissa
Paper Book
As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers. Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when...
Gittel's journey : an Ellis Island story
Newman, Lesle a
Paper Book
Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story is an award-winning picture book from author Lesléa Newman and illustrator Amy Bates. Gittel and her mother were supposed to immigrate to America together, but when her mother is stopped by the health...
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. From Sydney...
Beautiful Yetta : the Yiddish chicken
Pinkwater, Daniel Manus
Paper Book
Yetta, beautiful Yetta, manages to escape from the butcher's shop. But now she is lost in Brooklyn--a strange place filled with rude rats and dangerous buses! !?????? geVAHLT! Oh, dear! But then, brave Yetta saves a small green bird from a...
Osnat and her dove : the true story of the world's first female rabbi
Samuel, Sigal
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection Canadian Jewish Literary Award Winner National Jewish Book Award Finalist Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids School Library Journal Best of the Year Tablet Best of the Year ★ "A vibrant...
Ellen outside the lines. [online electronic book]
Sass, A. J.
Ebook
Nicky & Vera : a quiet hero of the Holocaust and the children he rescued
Si?s, Peter
Paper Book
In December 1938, a young Englishman canceled a ski vacation and went instead to Prague to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Nazis who were crowded into the city. Setting up a makeshift headquarters in his hotel room, Nicholas Winton took names and photographs from parents...
Sitting shiva
Silver, Erin
Paper Book
Key Selling Points A heartwarming story that explains an important Jewish custom in a child-appropriate way. Centers around the beauty of an age-old tradition that shows how much more alike we are than different as we seek to comfort and nourish one another in times of need....
Raquela's seder.
Stein, Joel Edward
Paper Book
Raquela yearns to celebrate a Passover seder, but Inquisition-era Spain is a time when Jews must hide their religion. Under the rising moon, her clever papa, the best fisherman in town, creates a unique celebration for his family. In his fishing boat on the sea, far from prying eyes, they...
Klezmer! /
Teis, Kyra
Paper Book
When Eastern European Jewish immigrants bring their klezmer music with them to America, it takes on a rockin' new vibe, adding elements of Jazz borrowed from its new country. In the beautifully illustrated Klezmer!, a child makes an exciting music-filled visit to her grandparents' apartment in...

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