Recommended Books

by Michelle Edwards

Rody lives on a kibbutz, but is called “Chicken Man” because of his work with chickens. The story details how a kibbutz functions and promotes the rabbinic saying (Pirkei Avot) “Who is rich? Those who are happy with what they have.”

by Tami Shem-Tov and Rachella Sandbank
illustrated by Avi Ofer

Uri is bored hanging around his parents’ delicatessen in 1930s Tel-Aviv until his German-speaking Grandma takes him on a walk and introduces him to the famous classical musician, Mr. Huberman, a friend she knew back in Europe.  A Concert in the Sand tells the story of the first performance of what was to become Israel’s Philharmonic Orchestra.

by Deborah Bodin Cohen
illustrated by Shahar Kober

The story of an engineer named Ari who is rushing to complete his final trail trip from Jaffa to Jerusalem before Passover begins. The book takes place during Ottoman-ruled Palestine and includes a picture and history of the actual first train that rolled into Jerusalem in 1892 and discusses how the father of modern Hebrew, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, came up with the Hebrew word for “train.”

by Deborah Bodin Cohen
illustrated by Yael Kimhi Orrelle

Today is Israel’s Independence Day and Engineer Arielle is getting ready to go to work at Jerusalem’s new light rail train station. Engineer Arielle drives her train through Jerusalem and runs into family and friends who tell her how they are going to celebrate Israel’s birthday!

by Gili Bar-Hillel
photography by Prodeepta Das

Photographed and written in Israel, this book will introduce young readers to many aspects of Israeli society and culture, including language, animals, holidays, cities, and food.

by Devora Busheri
illustrated by Noa Kelner

Based on the poem, “The Pond,” by Hayim Nahman Bialik, who is regarded as Israel’s national poet, a child and her mother take a walk in a forest near Jerusalem.

by Michelle Shapiro Abraham
illustrated by Ann D. Koffsky

An American Jewish child compares celebrating Jewish holidays in the Diaspora versus her cousin Tamar’s experience of living in Israel. This book will resonate with many Jewish readers who have been to Israel and for the first time, understand what it means to be in the Jewish homeland.

by Alice Blumenthal McGinty
illustrated by Rotem Teplow

Travel to Israel and learn about the diverse people who together contribute to Israel’s commerce, religions, cultures, and various industries. Although Israel is a tiny country, it is a leader in innovations that help the world with growing crops, improving communication systems, and new medical technologies.

by Susan Tarcov
illustrated by Fotini Tikkou

A story about the famous professor and philosopher Martin Buber and his nine cats. Buber was active in the Zionist movement and moved to Israel after the Nazis came to power in the 1930s.