“Especially in the final generations, the prime avodah is to lend a heart to the needs of another,” wrote the Beis Yisroel, the Gerrer Rebbe ztz”l.
During these times of the Three Weeks, together with our children, inside our homes and neighborhoods, or bungalows and summer camps, we turn our hearts toward one another. What can we do for others, using our personalities, our unique skills, belongings, or just plain compassion?
Even if you don’t have kids around, there’s a lot of depth in children’s picture books! Let’s not underestimate the power of reading to children, cuddled next to us or in our laps. There are some very powerful moments to be shared, and lessons to be taught.
The following is a list I compiled of children’s picture books (most available in public libraries) that portray emotional giving, empathy, sensitivity, or making moral choices that reflect Jewish values and character traits we may polish at any age.
1. In Should I Share My Ice Cream, by Mo Willems, Gerald the elephant works through a moral dilemma about whether or not to share his ice cream with friend, Piggie, “who might be sad somewhere.” He struggles when he realizes, though, “she does not know I have ice cream…” This easy reader packs wisdom.
2. In Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson, a brilliant father teaches his son the recipe for turning a worst enemy into a best friend; undivided time. “Maybe Jeremy Ross wasn’t so bad after all. I was beginning to think maybe we should just forget about Enemy Pie.”
3. The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber is not only a cute and colorful rhyming story, it is a lesson in becoming someone new by making good choices. First, Monster loses the “M” in his name, so “Now he’s just ‘The Onster, and the teasing never ends. Not only has he lost his Mean- he’s lost his monster friends.” He’s not sure he wants to lose the monster friends, though, so he tries once more to be mean like them. “Perhaps I’ll pull the flowers out of Mrs. Power’s yard! He stares at all the roses in their stunning shade of red, but just can’t bear to harm them, so he waters them instead.” Even though it’s about monsters, it is not scary, and it is very relatable with a positive message!
4. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts is about a boy whose family cannot afford the latest fashion. This sensitive boy makes a hard but rewarding decision once he finally acquires “those shoes.”
5. Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright
This is one of my favorites, and not just because it’s about chocolate! Love Monster finds a box of chocolates and has a moral dilemma, should he save them for his friends? “Love monster decided it would be safer and kinder and better for everyone if he kept the chocolates…just for himself…without a whisper of a word to anyone.” Of course, that’s not the end of the story. An adorable and colorful and lovable tale of warmth and friendship.
6. When a Friend Needs a Friend by Roozeboos is a more mellow book about a friendship that gets challenged by the mystery of big feelings. One of the pair experiences some low moods and intensity, and the other friend doesn’t know how to react, but then learns that being a loyal friend and sometimes giving him space is all her friend needs.
7. Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell is also a tale about having a friend who has been through something big. Elba (a hippo) drags around a ‘big block,’ symbolizing a loss she’s been through. Norris, the alligator, is always surrounded by butterflies and constantly wants Elba to join him on picnics and fun. But Ella is stuck with her block, where she just wants to stay put.
Norris suggests, “I feel something in there. Something sad. I think it wants to come out.” Elba asks, “How?” Norris is a really patient and creative friend, giving Elba time and space and patiently tolerates the block on their trips.
Finally, Elba shares “I miss Little Bird.” Norris says he misses her too. Elba is surprised, because Norris didn’t know her. He responds with acceptance and empathy that no, he didn’t know her, “But you are my friend, so I can help you miss her.”
8. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld is a another tale about a loyal friend who doesn’t try to fix the problem in their own way (like the chicken, the bear, the hyena and all the others try to do,) but rather sits with Taylor, being warm and present. Rabbit waits and hears him out, and then Taylor is ready to make a new start.
Along similar lines, The Friend That Stayed by Chanie Kamman is a Jewish book for small children, with a big message. So big, that I gifted this book to my own good friend, from adult to adult.
9. A Bike Like Sergio’s, is written by Maribeth Boelts, the same author as Those Shoes. Ruben feels like the only one without a bike. He wishes he could get one like Sergio’s. One day, he picks up a dollar bill that was dropped, later realizing it was a one hundred dollar bill! Now he could get that bike! We watch him make the honest choice: “I am happy and mixed up, full and empty, with what’s right and what’s gone.”
10. Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by Dyanne DiSalvo-Ryan reminds me of the Jewish book, Quarters & Dimes and Nickels & Pennies, by Baila Olidort.
Both books describe working in a soup kitchen and providing food for those less fortunate. Both depict the process of a young child seeing where his time (and, in the latter, his tzedakah money) can benefit those in need in a very real way.
11. The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright uses a clever story to explain how it’s human to be human! We all have feelings and situations, and when we make assumptions about others, we are so often wrong. “Yes, that day they BOTH learned that, no matter your size, we all have a mouse AND a lion inside.”
12. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig shares a profound lesson in the experience of the child who is not feeling included, until a new boy enters the school. Justin watches the students make fun of the new boy’s ethnic food. Justin quietly slips the new boy a caring and welcoming note, using his drawing skills. The book shows with sensitivity how Brian, the invisible boy, is actually depicted in black and white (the rest of the book is in color) until Justin, the new boy, makes all the difference and teaches by example how to be an inclusive friend. [Disclaimer: there is one reference to a not-the-most-refined word used to describe what comes out of the nose.]
13. Perfect Soup by Lisa Moser follows Murry the mouse as he sets out to find a carrot, so his soup can be perfect. He is in a big hurry, as snow falls, and everyone who can possibly help him seems to only offer to help on condition they get something back. Eventually Murry learns that it’s worth a lot more to slow down and help others, than to get exactly what he wants!
14. A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker is just a cute and humorous book! It shows Bear, who thinks he just wants to be alone, how sweet friendship can be, if only you let someone in.
15. But No Elephants by Jerry Smath is hard to find, but good to keep! I first heard this story from Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin, when he was visiting our house and my eldest kids were young! They wanted him to tell it over and over! He claims that while it is not a Jewish book, it is “the most Jewish book” because it tells how everybody helps each other, working together to solve a problem! It has adorable illustrations and just enough repetition that every child wants to hear it one more time.
Julie Hauser is the author of several children’s (and adult’s) books. To view her website, visit: https://juliehauser.my.canva.site/
View other inspiration articles by Julie Hauser on this website.
(Her recipes are also on here!)
