For Jewish parents struggling to impart Jewish values in a secular world, children's books provide a good beginning. The Jewish children's book market has flowered in the past decade. No longer is the number of books in the category limited to the fingers of both hands. Skim the books to make sure you are comfortable with the traditions pictured, which vary widely from Orthodox families complete with payis to women carrying Torahs. Holidays predominate as the theme of Jewish children's books, largely because that's what sells at gift-giving seasons such as Hanukkah and Passover.
Many books describe holiday customs and history, often within the context of a story.
But even if you are reading a simple tale, try to make the leap between simply imparting information to sharing deeper values. As predominant as they are in children's books, holidays represent only one square on the quilt of Jewish heritage. Whimsical and wise folktales, biblical stories reclaimed and retold, and modern midrashim based on classic sources help children trace the long lines of Jewish tradition. In a contemporary vein, stories featuring Jewish characters who subliminally impart their pride in being Jewish or who struggle with their Jewish identities can focus parents and pre-adolescents on the questions and comforts of being Jewish in America today. In his new book, Jewish Parenting Wisdom, Steven Rosman shares a story originally told by Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late Lubavitcher rebbe.