If you’re a parent, you know board books. Those chunky, colorful books that babies sometimes lick and chew. Those same books that babies point excitedly to with their eyes, and often even mimic with inscrutable and delightful jibber-jabber. Books with few enough words to memorize and refrains that get stuck in our heads, even as adults.
But I want to talk about Jewish board books. Their slight number of pages and words belies a world of meaning and importance hidden in them. Jewish children’s books provide mirrors and windows that nourish Jewish and non-Jewish children alike. They are also often a baby and their parents’ very first entry point into Jewish culture.
At less than 100 words and aimed at babies and toddlers up to preschool, board books can have a powerful effect on a child’s language and social and emotional development. Before the age of 3 is when children are first learning words, concepts, pride, inclusion, empathy and a sense of community. Board books help supply these vital tools.
In the last couple of years, there has been an uptick in Jewish board books and the authors who are committed to writing them. PJ Library, a nonprofit organization that sends free Jewish-themed books to Jewish families every month, has even incentivized authors to write more board books, recognizing that there is a critical need to publish more of them. PJ Library alone distributes 25 new Jewish board books annually. The acknowledgment of the importance of board books can also be seen in the recent founding of the Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Awards to honor this growing genre.
And board books are exactly that – their own genre. While they’re often lumped together with picture books, the word count, story goals and illustration styles of board books are unique. I know this firsthand, as I am part of a Jewish board book group with five other talented authors and author/illustrators. I have seen how each of our books shows diversity in terms of content, format and theme, distinct from picture books.
For example, author and illustrator Ann Koffsky has a series of Jewish board books from Apples & Honey Press, four of which focus on a single object: “My Mezuzah,” “My Shofar,” “My Dreidel” and “My Matzah.” “The idea behind each of these,” Koffsky notes, “is to introduce a simple Jewish object in a kid-friendly and accessible way.”
As with Koffsky’s books, “Pippa’s Passover Plate” by Vivian Kirkfield (illustrated by Jill Weber, Holiday House) focuses on an object – a seder plate. But her gentle, rhyming book also touches on social emotional elements as her small mouse faces and overcomes fears to search for her missing plate in time for the holiday celebration, only to find unexpected help from kind animal friends.
Nancy Churnin’s board book, “Counting on Shabbat” (illustrated by Petronela Dostaleva, Kar-Ben Publishing) also tells a social emotional learning story of kindness within a short, rhyming tale of Shabbat and counting. Young children learn about the Shabbat traditions as well as numbers!
Barbara Kimmel’s rhyming board book, “Hanukkah Hippity-Hop” (illustrated by Ana Zurita, Kar-Ben Publishing), introduces toddlers to Hanukkah through fun, interactive movements they can easily follow, a reminder for young and old that holidays create inclusive, memorable experiences for all.
Board books also offer an opportunity to represent the diversity of Jewish culture. My own board books each center on Sephardic representation. One of my books, “Mazal Bueno!” (illustrated by Taia Morley, Kar-Ben Publishing), uses a special Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) phrase to celebrate milestones in a baby’s life. We need to normalize Jewish diversity right at the start. Board books can help do that.
Author and illustrator Varda Livney is passionate about representing diversity with the characters in her board books, too. “I am a white mom of Black kids,” Livney says. “It is crucial to me for my kids (and all kids) to be seen and to see others as a natural part of the Jewish landscape. That needs to be instilled from babyhood.”
Parents and kids will be delighted by the variety of Jewish board books, some rhyming, some not – some with stories, some focusing on concepts. Some can even be read sideways or backwards! There is something for everyone, and not just for babies. As Rachel Payne from Horn Book says, “Board books are some of the most important books any of us will ever read…” Especially in today’s world, when telling Jewish stories is more critical than ever, reading and sharing Jewish board books is one of the best gifts we can give our kids.
Here are a few recent Jewish board books I highly recommend (including one of my own):
“Challah” by Varda Livney
“Counting on Shabbat” by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Petronela Dostalova
“First Fruits: A Shavuot Story” by Amalia Hoffman
“Hanukkah Hippity-Hop” by Barbara Kimmel, illustrated by Ana Zurita
“Happy Birthday, Trees!” by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, illustrated by Holly Sterling
“Havdalah Sky” by Chris Barash, illustrated by Sarita Rich
“I Like Your Chutzpah” by Suzy Ultman
“Latke’s First Hanukkah” by Alan Silberberg
“Mazal Bueno!” by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Taia Morley
“My Mezuzah” by Ann Koffsky
“Pippa’s Passover Plate” by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Jill Weber
