Jewish American Heritage Month

This May and beyond, discover the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans by browsing titles in our collection. Read on for kid, teen, and adult titles that celebrate stories by and about Jewish voices.    

EASY (Picture Books)

1, 2, 3, Nosh with Me by Micah Siva – Readers can practice counting with Buckwheat the dog while learning about traditional Jewish foods. For those interested in tasting a bite at home, try the Challah recipe at the end of the book!

The Hedgehog Who Said Who Cares? by Neri Aluma – Based on ancient Jewish teachings, this story about Hedgehog, Rabbit, and Mouse teaches readers about the importance of community and caring for one another.

What Rosa Brought by Jacob Sager Weinstein – When the Nazis arrive in Vienna, Austria, it is no longer safe for Rosa and her family to run their store. Because they are Jewish, they must decide whether to risk their lives in Vienna or leave the only home they know.

Additional titles:

• The Abba Tree by Devora Busheri (also available on Hoopla)
• Bring Back the Babka! by Marilyn Wolpin (also available on Hoopla)
• Challah for Shabbat Tonight by Sara Holly Ackerman
• One Small Spark: A Tukkun Olam Story by Ruth Spiro
• Sitting Shiva by Erin Silver (also available on Hoopla)
• Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells by Robin Rosenthal
• Tia Fortuna’s New Home by Ruth Behar
• Violin of Hope by Ella Schwartz (also available on Hoopla)

KIDS

Hereville series by Barry Deutsch (also available on Hoopla) – There may not be dragons in eleven-year-old Mirka’s Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, but that doesn’t keep her from practicing her dragon-fighting skills or accepting a challenge from a witch —especially when there’s a sword on the line.

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman – While preparing for her bat mitzvah, twelve-year-old Imani, the only Black Jewish girl in her Baltimore community, learns that her great grandmother, Anna, was adopted too. As Imani reads young Anna’s Holocaust-era diary, she gains a new perspective on the history of her family.

The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family by Sarah Kapit – Lara is reluctant to let her younger sister, Caroline, join her detective agency. But when Caroline brings in their first case, the sisters must work through their communication differences in order to crack the mystery.

Additional titles:

• The Artifact Hunters by Janet S. Fox
• My Grandmother’s Stories: A Collection of Jewish Folk Tales by Adele Geras
• Rachel Friedman series by Sarah Kapit
• She’s a Mensch! Jewish Women Who Rocked the World by Rachelle Burk
• Turtle Boy by Evan M. Wolkenstein
• What Jewish Looks Like by Liz Kleinrock
• White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio

TEENS

Artifice by Sharon Cameron (also available on Hoopla) – Set in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War II, protagonist Isa de Smit sells fake paintings to the Nazis in order to try and save her parents’ gallery, protect her friends’ artwork, and fund the rescue of Jewish children. To pull it off, she’ll need to master the art of forgery and of knowing who to trust.

The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz – Travelers at an inn share stories about the quest of three young children —a monastery oblate, a Jewish refugee, and a psychic peasant with a greyhound— who adventured across medieval France and confronted fantastical foes to flee persecution.

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum – Hoodie Rosen doesn’t anticipate the challenges his Orthodox Jewish community will face when they relocate to a mostly non-Jewish town. He also doesn’t anticipate falling for the daughter of the town’s mayor, who is vocal about wanting them to leave. As anti-Semitic violence escalates, Hoodie navigates feeling caught between the girl he loves and his community.

Additional titles:

• The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold (also available on Hoopla)
• The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros (also available on Hoopla)
• The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero
• The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel
• Heroines, Rescuers, Rabbis, Spies: Unsung Women of the Holocaust by Sara Silberstein Swartz (also available on Hoopla)
• How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow (also available on Hoopla)
• Song of a Blackbird by Maria Van Lieshout
• The Unfinished Corner by Dani Colman
• This is Just a Test: A Novel by Madelyn Rosenberg (also available on Hoopla)

ADULTS

How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty by Bonny Reichert – A perfect bowl of borscht in Warsaw prompts author Bonny Reichert to explore her family’s Holocaust history. Now a mother, wife, and chef, she reflects on how this history, and food, have always played a part in shaping her identity.

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland – The Golden Hotel, a once popular getaway in the Catskills, has seen better days. Now, sixty years later, the Goldman and Weingold families —whose friendship and business partnership have also seen better days— must determine the fate of their beloved resort. Everyone wants a say, new scandals emerge, and drama ensues in this hilarious multi-family saga.

Rules for Ghosting: A Novel by Shelly Shore – On the heels of a career shakeup and news that his mom ran off with the rabbi’s wife, Ezra reluctantly agrees to help save his family’s business. Not surprisingly, Ezra’s clairvoyant capabilities make running the family funeral home a bit complicated, especially when the ghost of his crush’s late husband starts haunting him. Rules for Ghosting is a funny and moving story about dysfunctional families and finding love.

Additional titles:

• City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter (also available on Hoopla)
• The Golem of Brooklyn: A Novel by Adam Mansbach
• Isola by Allegra Goodman
• I Want You to Know We’re Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir by Esther Safran Foer
• Jew-ish: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch: A Cookbook by Jake Cohen (also available for Hoopla)
• Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander
• Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
• The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land by Omer Friedlander
• What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon