The Book of Life

In a normal year, Jewish American/Canadian Heritage Month in May is about celebrating Jewish life in North America: Jewish history, achievements, and experiences. In 2024, with the precipitous rise in antisemitism, it seemed more appropriate to focus on the relationship between North American Jews and our gentile neighbors. Throughout May 2024, I recommended picture books, middle grade, and young adult books that offer models for allyship between Jews and non-Jews. These are books about beautiful friendships, moving solidarity, and growth in understanding. I hope that these books will inspire readers to make life imitate art. I posted a book each day on social media, and now I am compiling all my reading recommendations here for your convenience. Titles are linked to Bookshop.org or other booksellers, and links are provided to any podcast coverage the books may have received on The Book of Life. PICTURE BOOKS May 1, 2024 JOYFUL SONG: A NAMING STORY by Lesléa Newman, illustrat...

  LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     |    BUY OR BORROW THE BOOK     🕮     Lucky Broken Girl, Letters from Cuba, Tia Fortuna's New Home , and now, Across So Many Seas . Award winning author Ruth Behar keeps finding new ways to share her Sephardic and Ashkenazi Cuban Jewish heritage with us, and it's fresh and fascinating every time. In her latest sweeping middle grade novel, Across So Many Seas , she introduces us to four generations of a Sephardic family, from the Spanish Inquisition to modern times. Like the Ladino song woven into the story of each of the 12 year old protagonists, this book is a poignant and powerful ode to sorrow and connection and joy.   LEARN MORE: Ruth Behar's website Buy Across So Many Seas Playlist of music from Across So Many Seas Educator's Guide to Across So Many Seas Ruth's tikkun olam suggestion: The American Ladino League Ruth...