Author Archive

Top 10 time! Here are some fun, occasionally educational, and at times funny, links to get you in the mood for the chag.

 

#1-The 10 Commandments. Nothin’ can touch Mr. Charlton Heston.

 

#2- Mel Brooks take on the 10 Commandments…or Mel Brooks.

 

#3-Torah Web    A nice pile of Divrei Torah from the Rabbeim at Yeshiva University.

 

#4 A Mountain of Blintzes- Fun kids book.

 

#5 Martha’s cheesecakes  Yum!

 

#6 National Gallery     Something pretty to look at.

 

#7 Coloring Page  By moi!

 

#8 Crafting Paper Tissue Flowers the basic instructions and materials list.

 

#9 How to stay up all night if you can handle it!

 

and last but not least:

#10 How to recover  from staying up all night!!

 

Got any of your own on topic links? Feel free to share them in the comments!

 

Today is the 33rd day of the Omer! Which means it’s time to post my Shavuot coloring page. We’re countin’ down…and while you are here, come check out my “top 10 Shavuot links” over here.

Thank you to the JCC of Dallas and the PJ Library in Dallas (and Rachelle and Rivae) for hosting me. I really enjoyed meeting the kids (they were great!) and had a wonderful time sharing my book,  ”Noah’s Swim-a-Thon.”

First Rain by Charlotte Herman

illustrated by Kathryn Mitter

I love this book. A lot.  It tells the story of Abby, who moves to Israel with her family. She’s excited…but she misses her Grandma, who still lives America. As we hear about Abby’s adventure, we learn more about Israel, and see how she and Grandma maintain their close connection even though they are separated by an ocean. All the while, Abby waits for the first rain, a blessing and cause for celebration every year in Israel.

 

The Good Stuff

 

-The subject–it’s a perfect book for Yom Ha’atzamaut.

-The modern details. Grandma keeps in touch with Abby by writing letters—but she also Skypes on the computer.

-The great descriptions about unique aspects of Israeli culture, such as the celebration that welcomes Abby and her family at Ben Gurion airport, the cheese and vegetables for breakfast, and the significance of a First Rain.

-The illustrations. They are accurate in their depictions of Israel, and show the varied emotions that the characters go through beautifully.

 

Not-So-Good Stuff

 

It was hard to come up with something. I really love the story…my only crit was:

-Why did the illustrator choose to not show Grandma with the dead seas mud all over her face? That could have been a really great image.

 

In case you haven’t figured it out by now… I HIGHLY recommend this book! I found it warm, touching, and a beautiful read.

 

Rating: 5 of 5 stars.
Click here to get First Rain

And the winner of My Cousin Tamar Lives In Israel is…Roberta!

Roberta’s beautiful comment about Israel was, “The sky is a special shade of blue over the Kotel; I have never seen anything like it anyplace else in the world.”

I have truly enjoyed each of your comments, and they have made my celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut this year much more special–really.

 

Thanks to my daughter for her excellent raffle selecting!

Yom Ha’atzmaut is coming up! If you’re looking for a fun and sweet way to introduce younger kids to Israel, check out this book and accompanying  CD, “My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel”. I will be giving one book away to celebrate!

The book is really great, because it introduces the kids to normal, (not headline driven) life in Israel. I’ve used both of them as baby and birthday gifts alot, either together as a set or by themselves. (And, of yeah, I lllustrated them both!)

To enter the GIVEAWAY, just leave any comment about Israel on this post. (This book is non-political so NO POLITICS, please!)

I will pick the winner on this coming Tuesday, so enter soon!

Around the World in One Shabbat

by Durga Yael Burnhard

 

Burnhard’s charming book takes its’ readers on a voyage,  peeking into Jewish homes  around the world. Readers will get to experience the diverse Shabbat traditions of each culture, and yet still recognize the Shabbat they are familiar with from their own lives. It’s a wonderful way to show the multicultural rainbow that all falls under Judaisms’ giant umbrella.

Around the World in One Shabbat: Jewish People Celebrate the Sabbath Together

 

The Good stuff

-The Mood

Burnhard is a very talented author and artist. Her beautiful pictures and matching words create a flowing narrative that captures the calm and serenity of Shabbat.

Even the type is set to flow lyrically over the page.

 

-The Details

The portrayal of Shabbat focuses on the unique culture of each country. For example, in Ethiopia Avraham is happy he doesn’t have to gather firewood on Shabbat; In Thailand the father takes his Shabbat snooze on a hammock.

 

-The Illustrations

The clever images have amazing patterns and details to discover, like how the Kiddush cup used in Jerusalem has an image of Jerusalem carved into it, or how a challah cover incorporates images of characters and scenes from all over the book into it’s design.

 

Not So Good

The Length

The text is very long. Sitting and reading it to a young child that you are trying to get to sleep might be slightly torturous.

 

(FYI

The books shows both traditional and contemporary synagogues, and includes images of a female Rabbi and mixed seating at a Temple.)

 

 

This is a wonderful book that conveys the warmth and specialness of Shabbat, with every page overflowing with beauty and detail. Each time it is read their will be new gems to find.

 

Rating : 4 of 5

Thanks to Andrea Peleg and the Boyton Beach JCC for hosting me yesterday! The weather and the kids were fantastic, and fun was had by all. 

I have been having fun over at Pinterest creating several Passover boards. There is still time to take a look before the chametz comes back:

passover-art-for-kids

Random Passover things I like

Great Passover Toys

Etsy Stuff 

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the Chag!

 

 

 

Since a whole bunch of kids are actually home today and even more tomorrow,( not sure why…)I thought you might like a second Passover activity to keep them occupied. This one is a color by letter–B is for blue, R for Red etc.

If you would like more, you can my second coloring page here.

Just click on the image of the pages, and print.

 

Happy Passover!