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Unabridged: a Charlesbridge Children's Book Blog

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7 Children's Books to Celebrate Jewish Book Month

7 Children's Books to Celebrate Jewish Book Month 0

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Month, it’s the perfect time to honor stories that nurture identity, community, and connection. Below is a curated collection of Charlesbridge titles that shine with faith, family, friendship, and interwoven cultures, offering meaningful reads for this milestone month and beyond.

 

 

A Moon for Moe and Mo

Written by Jane Breskin Zalben; illustrated by Mehrdohkt Amini

When Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, overlaps with the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, two boys forge an interfaith friendship.

 

Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail

Written by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Susan Gal

Celebrated author Lesléa Newman unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship.

 

The Golden Dreidel

Written by Ellen Kushner; illustrated by Kevin Keele

This rollicking adventure steeped in Jewish folklore and tradition will delight youngsters both excited and reluctant about the holidays.

 

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story

Written by Fran Manushkin; illustrated by Kris Easler

A cat and dog create a Hanukkah miracle, just in the nick of time in this updated reissue of the beloved holiday classic.

 

On Friday Afternoon: A Shabbat Celebration

Written by Michal Babay; illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt

The Friday afternoon mitzvot turn into a rambunctious picture book adventure as their family gets ready for Shabbat!

 

Gingerbread Dreidels

Written by Jane Breskin Zalben; illustrated by Thai Phuong

Chanukah and Christmas come together in this story of an interfaith, intergenerational family's blended holiday.

 

Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story (Preorder Now!)

Written by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Sarita Rich

As Lizzie participates in the Jewish customs of mourning for the first time, she begins to understand a new side of friendship. Maybe all Joshua needs right now is someone to listen.

 

You can find Charlesbridge's full list of Jewish books here.

 

As we mark this special centennial year, these picture books remind us why stories matter. How they help children honor their own traditions, discover the beauty in others, and feel connected to something larger than themselves. May these books continue to spark conversations, nurture empathy, and bring families together all year long.

 

 

 

 

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  • Jaliza Burwell

Moving Tips from Lola 0

Moving Tips from Lola! Don't move house until you read this. 

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  • Donna Spurlock
5 Picture Books to Soothe the First-Day Jitters

5 Picture Books to Soothe the First-Day Jitters 0

 

Going to school for the first time—or even returning—can be intimating for students. They get the jitters and don’t know what to do with them. Back-to-school books like First Day Jitters face those butterflies head-on in a humorous way, acting as a heartwarming reminder that teachers get the jitters, too.

This beloved picture-book supports social-emotional learning by helping children recognize their feelings and understand how those around them—like their family, friends, and teachers—can help ease their worries. This relatable read is the perfect conversation starter for any child facing the jitters.

Once they've had a successful first day at school, download the Certificate of Courage to celebrate their bravery. And, they can have fun filling out the First Day Memories page!

 

Pair these These four picture books  with First Day Jitters to help your child confidently go to school, not just on first day, but any time of the school year.

Lola Goes to School

Lola Goes to School is a comforting and cheerful picture book that explores the school day and it's new routine for first-time students. In this sweet story, Lola prepares for the day, plays, learns, and says goodbye on her first day at school. The perfect book for children who wonder what will happen on the big day!

 

A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices

The jitters aren't just for students who are experiencing school for the first time, but for older students too. A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices introduces a diverse group of six children ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Each child prepares for the new school year with not just nerves, but excitement too as they hustle in the morning, meet new teachers and new classmates during the day, and head home at the end of the day.

Each child shares a different perspective as they share their worries, hopes, and success on the first day of the school year.

 

I'm New Here

I'm New Here book cover

I'm New Here is a great way to prepare your child for meeting new classmates. Following three immigrant students from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia, the story explores the challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a new school while holding on to one's cultural roots. With the support of kind classmates and teachers, each child finds their voice and place in the classroom. A wonderful picture book for immigrant students, new students, and even children preparing to welcome someone new to their classroom.

A warm and reassuring resource to help children understand what it means to welcome others, build cross-cultural friendships, and create a community where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued.

 

Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen

New kids sharing their culture will appreciate Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen, a picture book about identity and courage while being in a new environment. Rostam moved to the U.S. from Iran and he's nervous about wearing his traditional pusteen for school pictures. This gentle, relatable story explores the social-emotional challenges of fitting in while staying true to yourself.

Encouraging young children to celebrate what makes them unique and to embrace the differences in others, too. A thoughtful reminder that sharing your story can help others feel brave enough to share theirs.

 

All of these heartfelt stories foster empathy, confidence, and inclusion, making them perfect companions for the new school year as your child learns to navigate friendships, learn to express themselves, and celebrate what makes everyone unique.

Other Charlesbridge favorites include:

Someone New, a companion story to I'm New Here
Clothesline Clues to the First Day of School
Chicken Soup for the Soul BABIES: No School for Me! (Change Is Hard)
Did You Burp? How to Ask Questions (or Not!)
Counting Kindness: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children

For more back-to-school books, check out our collection.

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  • Jaliza Burwell
Empathy Through Story: A Q&A with Miriam Chernick on The Zuzu Secret

Empathy Through Story: A Q&A with Miriam Chernick on The Zuzu Secret 0

To close out Disability Pride Month, we're honored to share this heartfelt Q&A with author Miriam Chernik, whose new middle grade novel The Zuzu Secret is inspired by her real-life experiences growing up with a brother who has Prader-Willi Syndrome. In this conversation, Miriam reflects on the power of storytelling, the importance of representation, and what she hopes readers will take away.

 

The Zuzu Secret features a main character with Prader-Willi syndrome. Why was it important to you to write a story that includes this specific disability?
 
I grew up with an older brother, Daniel, who was born with PWS, and I’ve been helping care for him ever since. During the COVID lockdown, Daniel came to live with me and my family for over fifteen months, so he and I spent many hours walking, talking, and reminiscing. Caring for a sibling in the role of parent was new and really hard, so I started to journal some of our conversations as a kind of coping mechanism. I wrote about what I was experiencing in real time and later, with Daniel’s unique speech pattern stuck in my head, my journaling became the basis of this story told in alternating voices.
 
What do you hope young readers—especially those with disabilities or who have siblings with disabilities—take away from this story?
 
For young readers who are unfamiliar with this disease or who have not grown up in this type of family, The Zuzu Secret is what we call a “window story,” as if the reader is looking through a window into a different world. For kids or siblings of kids with PWS or another disabling disease, this will be more of a “mirror story,” where they see a part of themselves as they read. In either case, I hope everyone who picks up this book will enjoy it for the story and characters but also come away with more empathy for their fellow humans. 

Do you have any favorite books—past or present—that portray disability with care and authenticity?
 
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White is about a boy, Sam, who helps Louis, a swan who was born unable to honk, learn to “speak” by using a trumpet. As a child, I loved this book for two reasons. First, it’s about animals—and I love animals! Second, it’s a story about disability, about Louis struggling because he cannot communicate with his flock. I sympathized with this swan’s difficult predicament and understood Sam’s wanting to help him. 
 
More recently, I read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, a masterfully written story about abilities, disabilities, and the “othering” that is so prevalent in our society. I read this book straight through, distraught over the treatment of some of the characters. And yet, in the end, Klune left me feeling hopeful.
 
What do you wish more people understood about Prader-Willi syndrome and similar rare conditions?
 
When my brother Daniel was growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s, disabled people were sent away to institutions or shuttered at home. (Our family’s situation was exceptional in that way. My brother lived at home and participated in everything the family did until he was an adult). Thanks to the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), which was signed into law in 1990, people with disabilities have many more rights. Today there are more services that enable people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities to be out in the world. Still, for some, seeing people with disabilities in public places—such as at the grocery store—is off-putting. They turn away. They tell children, “don’t stare.” But kids are curious. They learn by looking. So, as long as it’s not with contempt, I believe it’s okay to look at a disabled person—and acknowledge them. How? With a nod, a smile, a wave, or even a “hello,” just like you might acknowledge someone else. Every human deserves to be recognized.  
 
What has the response been like from families or readers who share similar lived experiences?
The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive and heartfelt. After reading The Zuzu Secret, people in PWS families have been eager to share their own unique stories. Many have said they bought the book for friends and family to better understand this difficult disease. One mom told me, “When someone asks me what it’s like to live in a family with someone with this type of disability, I don’t have to answer anymore. I just hand them the book and say, ‘read this’.”

 

The Zuzu Secret is a story of honesty, empathy, and the bonds that shape us. We’re grateful to Miriam for sharing her experiences and shedding light on the realities—and the love—within families touched by disability. As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, may stories like this continue to open hearts and minds all year long.

More Resources for The Zuzu Secret:
Reader Group Guide
The Zuzu Secret Webpage

 

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