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"A" Is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet

Name: "A" Is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet
Author: Richard Michelson
ISBN: 9781585363223

by Richard Michelson, Ron Mazellan

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Pages: 40
Hardcover
ISBN: 9781585363223

Available to Buy

Overview of "A" Is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet

From Abraham to Zayde, and from ancient times to modern day, A is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet encompasses the history of Jewish traditions and customs and how they are still popularly practiced today.

Following the aphabet, a poem identifies the letter topic while sidebar text provides background information.

C could be the challah that my bubbe used to braid,
or C could be the chicken sop, when I was sick she made,
or chocolate coins on Chanukah we added to our coffers.
But I say C should be for chai, to "life" and all it offers.

This joyful celebration of family and heritage includes the meaning behind celebrations such as the Festival of Lights, Passover, and Sukkot; important names and stories from the Old Testament; and how modern-day families continue to celebrate their heritage.

Synopsis of "A" Is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet

Following the aphabet, a poem identifies the letter topic while sidebar text provides background information.

Children's Literature

If one looks closely at the title, he or she will note that this book uses the English alphabet and not the Hebrew aleph-bet as a framework for teaching Jewish customs, beliefs, and history. The purpose is to teach Jewish children, or anyone interested in Jewish customs and beliefs, something about Judaism. It is written in such a way that it will be acceptable to all Jewish movements and to people of other religious affiliations. Each new alphabet letter prompts a very interesting piece of information. It is hard to pinpoint the exact ages of children for whom the book is meant, since a young child might enjoy it and an adult might also learn many new things. The book is exquisitely adaptable to different ways of sharing information with a young child. Using the beautiful pictures, an adult could read the information literally to a child. Or an adult might silently read the text and then pick out a few things to teach a young child. The adult might even easily add some personal memories or comments to a discussion of the text. It is a book that might grow along with a child as he or she gains a deeper understanding of life. The book is well made and will endure use by a young child. As is true in many children's books these days, the illustrations are inspiring! It is possible to imagine buying two books and framing some of the pictures from one of the books in order to place them on a child's bedroom wall. Reviewer: Ali Fell

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Ali Fell

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3

This entry in an ever-expanding alphabet series presents a facet of Jewish tradition for each letter. Large, colorful illustrations are accompanied by short rhymes and prose sidebars with additional information. The rhymes are uneven in quality and do not always scan well. They often require knowledge of Jewish life to be understood. The sidebars provide background and context to fill in these gaps, but even so, the information is limited and broadly simplified, and the book will best be appreciated by those familiar with Judaism. As in many such alphabet books, the facts are somewhat random. The author introduces an assortment of holiday customs, biblical or other famous Jewish figures, and cultural elements like klezmer music. Despite many references to Israel, the book has an American point of view; the letter "U" represents "U.S. of A. where half the world's Jews are living today." The luminous illustrations are the book's best feature. The realistic paintings show expressive individuals often captured in quiet moments of emotion. The modern scenes depict mainstream white American Jews with whom many non-Orthodox readers can identify. This is a solid choice for identity-building and education in Jewish settings, and it could be used to introduce Judaism if interpreted by a knowledgeable facilitator and combined with other titles.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL