It's Tot Shabbat!

by Naomi Danis, Tod Cohen (Photographer)

Overview

Join a class of preschoolers as they learn about celebrating Shabbat. Engaging photos of children show them taking plush Torahs out of the pretend ark and reading a Bible story. They learn to say the blessings over challah and pretend wine before happily joining their parents in the sanctuary.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512490091
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	24
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	2 - 6 Years

About the Author

Naomi Danis was born in New York City. She studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Stony Brook University, the Hebrew University in Israel, and the Bank Street College of Education. She has lived in Israel, working as a preschool teacher, and is the managing editor at Lilith magazine, the Jewish feminist quarterly.

Editorial Reviews

Joining the It's Time! series, this photographic picture book centers on a preschool class at a synagogue: "while the grown-ups pray, in another room the children play." Cohen's photographs—some candid, some posed—show the children reading about Noah's Ark (then pretending to be the animals in the story), building a Tower of Babel out of cardboard blocks (it tumbles down soon after), enjoying a snack, and eventually rejoining the congregation. A straightforward and reassuring account of ways children celebrate Shabbat. Ages 1–4. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"While their parents are in services on Saturday mornings, preschoolers enjoy having fun at 'Shabbat Club.' They play with toys, listen to stories, hold stuffed-toy Torahs, and say the blessings over a Shabbat snack. Clear photographs of adorable children accompany the text. The book's joyful portrayal of Judaism makes it a good choice for inclusion in a synagogue or home library." --The Horn Book Guide

From the Publisher

The only word suitable to describe this book is "delightful!" Preschool children come with their parents to the temple on Friday evening. While the parents attend services, the children play in a separate room. They build with blocks, play with dolls, run trucks around the room, and then they have a snack. They say the blessings over the juice and bread, and they take stuffed Torahs from a special Ark. It all seems to be great fun, and is a lovely introduction to the Temple and to Shabbat services. The children are not all the same age; in fact some of them look six or seven, and capable of helping the youngest ones. It's altogether very refreshing. A glossary is helpful, too. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Children's Literature - Judy Silverman

PreS—This entry depicts a synagogue Shabbat Club where young children play while their parents attend services. Mixed in with blocks and games like ring-around-the-rosy are listening to a story from the Torah, prayers, and a Shabbat snack of challah and grape juice. Finally, the children join their parents in the sanctuary for the concluding prayers. The title of the book is somewhat misleading since many synagogues define Tot Shabbat as a family-friendly worship service-see Paula Feldstein's The Tot Shabbat Handbook (Urj Press, 2009)—as opposed to a separate baby-sitting scenario. This "what to expect" photo-essay will be most useful in congregations using the model depicted. The text is simple, and despite the inclusion of a basic glossary, the story is clearly meant for readers familiar with Shabbat. Hebrew, English, and transliterated blessings for wine and bread are included at the back. The color photos are realistic and sweet, if a bit cluttered. The style of dress implies non-Orthodox Judaism, and the boys are inconsistent in keeping their heads covered. Several photos near the end of the book may disturb some readers, as they show children holding toy and miniature Torahs upside down or sideways. This may make the book unacceptable in some Jewish settings.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

School Library Journal