Spellbound by creative storytelling

PAnd there was Evening and there was Morning by Harriet Cohen Helfand and Ellen Kahan Zager (£6.29) is no ordinary rhyming picture book about the days of creation. Each of Kahan Zager’s illustrations is made up of exquisite Hebrew lettering, spelling out the things shown. So, a sun’s rays are formed by the letters of shemesh, Hebrew for sun; the sea contains hundreds of tiny repetitions of mayim (water); a date palm is hung with date-shaped clusters of the word tamar. All words are glossed at the back of the book. Highly recommended for the whole family.

The Abayudaya community (Jews of Uganda) is the setting for Who’s Got the Etrog? (£5.99), a Succot picture book by Jane Kohuth, illustrated by Elissambura (who does a fantastically bristly lion, as well as a fine, wrinkly Aunty face). Aunty Sanya, overturning the stereotype of a Jewish elderly relative, builds a succah in her garden and each day an extra animal comes to visit — but the warthog is keeping the etrog to himself — until he is taught how to share.

Repetition is used to good effect in building up anticipation and readers will learn about adverbs as well as manners. Age up to six.

This September PJ Library will be distributing packs of books to more than 5,500 children and their families throughout the UK. Lauren Hamburger, of the UK branch of PJ Library, says “If you know a child aged eight years or under, you can sign them up to receive a free, monthly book to keep at pjlibrary.org.uk.

The books include And There Was Evening and There Was Morning, as well as Is It Rosh Hashanah Yet? Summer has ended, apples are on the trees, leaves are turning colour and families are getting ready for a big holiday. How can kids tell when the New Year has arrived? This book shows them the different symbols and rituals to look out for, including picking apples, peeling pomegranates, hearing the shofar and gathering with friends and family.

Also among the free books is Engineer Ari and the Sukkah Express. Much-loved Engineer Ari stops to see all his friends as he drives his train to Jerusalem and each one helps him gather the supplies he needs for his succah.

Shani’s Shoebox introduces a year of festivals. When Shani gets new shoes for Rosh Hashanah, she reuses the box for the different festivals throughout the year. This book is a lovely way to talk to children about the calendar, discussing when each festival falls and how we make them meaningful.

All these books are published by Kar-Ben