New Children’s Books: A Magical Shoebox and Animals from Everywhere

September 5, 2018 Penny Schwartz

"Where's the Potty on This Ark?," Kerry Olitzky; illustration by Abigail Tompkins, Kar-Ben; ages 1-4 -- Even on Noah's Ark, the animals need to use the potty. Young kids will be delightfully surprised with this inventive spin on the biblical story of Noah, from the Book of Genesis. As Noah and his wife, Naamah, greet each of the animals onto the ark, Naamah makes sure they are comfortable.

BOSTON (JTA) – From an African warthog to swinging orangutans, animals from all corners of the planet are featured in two stories among a new crop of children’s books at the Jewish New Year that also includes a lyrical poem of the biblical story of Creation and a magical story about an ordinary shoebox.

And a bonus: An illustrated picture book tells the story of Regina Jonas, the German Jewish girl who followed her dream to become the first woman ordained as a rabbi.

Young ones can get a jump start on the new year by turning the pages on these entertaining and informative reads.

“Who’s Got the Etrog?,”Jane Kohuth; illustrations by Elissambura, Kar-Ben; ages 4-8 —In this brightly illustrated story for Sukkot, Jane Kohuth weaves a playful folk-like tale told in simple poetic verse. In her rural village in Uganda, under a bright and full milk-bowl moon, Auntie Sanyu is preparing for the fall harvest holiday when Jews build a hut called a sukkah where they eat, welcome guests and sometimes even sleep. Kids follow Auntie Sanyu as she decorates her sukkah and places a lulav, the bunch of green palm branches, and a bright yellow etrog, the lemon-like fruit, on a tray to be used in the holiday rituals by Auntie Sanyu’s animal guests. But Warthog loves the etrog so much, he doesn’t want to hand it over to the lion, parrots or giraffe. A young girl named Sara intervenes.
“Where’s the Potty on This Ark?,” Kerry Olitzky; illustration by Abigail Tompkins, Kar-Ben; ages 1-4 —Even on Noah’s Ark, the animals need to use the potty. Young kids will be delightfully surprised with this inventive spin on the biblical story of Noah, from the Book of Genesis. As Noah and his wife, Naamah, greet each of the animals onto the ark, Naamah makes sure they are comfortable.
“Shani’s Shoebox,” Written and illustrated by Rinat Hoffman; translated (from Hebrew) by Noga Applebaum, Green Bean Books; ages 4-8 — Prepare to be enchanted! “Shani’s Shoebox,” a gently rhyming poem-story for Rosh Hashanah by the award-winning Israeli illustrator and children’s author Rinat Hoffman, will kick off the Jewish New Year on the right foot.
“Regina Persisted: An Untold Story,” Sandy Eisenberg Sasso; illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Apples & Honey Press; ages 7-12 — These days, when Jewish-American kids attend synagogue during the High Holidays, it’s not that unusual to have a female rabbi leading the congregation. Older kids may be fascinated to learn about Regina Jonas, the German Jew who in 1935, against many odds and strict gender roles, became the first woman ordained as a rabbi.