PJ Publishing Catalog
About
PJ Publishing
PJ Publishing creates board books, picture books, chapter books, middle-grade books, and graphic novels in multiple languages that represent the diversity of Jewish families today. By sharing Jewish narratives, values, and life events, we help families explore their connections with Jewish life.
We hope you enjoy perusing this catalog and seeing all the books that PJ Publishing has created. Be sure to check out the sneak peeks of forthcoming books!
PJ Publishing is the in-house imprint of PJ Library ® , a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. PJ Library sends Jewish children’s books and activities to hundreds of thousands of families around the world. This free program is supported by a network of generous donors and partners. For more information and to sign up children ages 0-12 to receive a free Jewish storybook each month, visit pjlibrary.org
On the Cover
Yanni, a lucky little owl, celebrates Shabbat with his family in their warm, cozy nest. He and his family sing, eat, and play together until it’s time to say goodbye to Shabbat . . . and then look forward to it coming around again!
Shabbat in a Nest
Written by Chris Barash
8” x 10”, 24 pages
PJ Publishing Books on Amazon
PJ Library’s Amazon store now carries some of your favorite PJ Publishing titles, as well as our popular Haggadah and our guides to celebrating Jewish holidays at home. Check it out at amazon.com/pjlibrary
Become a PJ Library Author
Are you an author, author-illustrator, graphic novelist, agent, or publisher who has a Jewish children’s story to share? If so, we want to read it! PJ Library reviews manuscripts year-round and offers financial incentives for accepted works.
Find FAQs, submission guidelines, and more at pjlibrary.org/manuscripts Questions? Email pjlibrary@hgf.org
Illustrated by Sydney Hanson
ByMadelyn
Time for Hamantaschen
Written by Madelyn Rosenberg
Illustrated by Raaya Karas 8” x 8”, 14 pages Age 1
This fun, colorful board book celebrates Purim with children preparing, baking, and sharing hamantaschen. Time for Hamantaschen!
Written by Naomi Shulman
Illustrated by Nora Hilb 8” x 8”, 16 pages Age 1
This board book continues the series of a young girl celebrating Jewish holidays with her family. In this sweet, simple board book, they ready the house, welcome family, and sing together at a joyful seder.
Written by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh
Illustrated by Florence Weiser
8” x 8”, 10 pages Age 1
Baby animals and children explore the growing world after the biblical Flood. In gentle, rhyming verse, kittens purr and elephants trumpet as children play beneath a rainbow.
Say Shalom All Day Long
Written by Elizabeth Suneby
Illustrated by Elke Boschinger
8” x 8”, 14 pages Age 1
A young child learns the meaning of the word “shalom” by saying hello, goodbye, and peace to the world through the transitions of the day.
Written by Sarah Aroeste
Illustrated by Nathalie Belhassen
8” x 8”,
SayShalom All Day Long
Written by Elizabeth Suneby Illustrated by Elke Boschinger
Bavajadas! That’s Just Silly!
Written by Sarah Aroeste
Illustrated by Annabel Tempest
8” x 8”, 12 pages
Age 2
This laugh-out-loud rhyming board book embraces silliness with the fun of the Ladino word “bavajadas”: nonsense!
Chesed
Written by Karyn Friedman-Everham
Illustrated by Gabby Grant
8” x 8”, 12 pages Age 3
A child’s family and neighbors join her in bringing chesed, Hebrew for “kindness,” to everyone they encounter.
Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too!) Shake Up Shabbat
Written by Leslie Kimmelman
Illustrated by Mike Deas
6.5” x 8.25”, 48 pages Age 6
This book for emerging readers follows best friends Sam and Charlie (and their younger siblings, Sam Too and Leo) as they sing, dress up, draw, repair the world . . . and, of course, rest on Shabbat!
Challah from Heaven
Written and illustrated by Richard Ungar 10” x 8”, 32 pages
The wise Gaon of Minsk is in town for Shabbat, but Mama’s lighter-than-air challah has flown away! Can Hanni get it back in time for Shabbat dinner?
LIVE YOUR DREAM
Live Your Dream
Written
by
Tamir Goodman
Illustrated by Jim Madsen 8” x 10”, 40 pages Age 7
Basketball star Tamir Goodman shares his path to success as player and coach—and how his dyslexia has helped him along the way.
Next Year White House
Next Year in the White House
Written by Richard Michelson
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis 9.5” x 11”, 40 pages Age 8
This nonfiction picture book, co-published with Crown Books for Young Readers / Random House Children’s Books, recounts the historic Passover seder of former president Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign trail—and how it sparked the first official White House seder.
Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz
Written by Diana Harmon Asher
5.5” x 8.25”, 260 pages Ages 9-12
What could be more humiliating than your mom dating your assistant principal? Evie’s about to find out in this hilarious, big-hearted novel about surviving the uncertainties of middle school, sticking up for what you believe, and becoming the person you’re meant to be.
Havdalah Sky
Written by Chris Barash
Illustrated by Sarita Rich
8” x 8”, 14 pages
Age 1
Listen
Todah
Written and illustrated by Kyra Teis
8” x 8”, 28 pages
Age 1
Happy, Happy
Written by Bara Bat-Shem
Illustrated by Mary Hall 8”
Amy Schimler-Safford
8” x 8”, 22 pages
Age 2
Hanukkah with Friends
Written by Chris Barash
Illustrated by Maya Shleifer
8” x 8”, 16 pages
Age 2
Includes a fold-out tree!
My Friend, the Apple Tree
Written by Samara Q. Klein
Illustrated by
Eliana Q. Bialowas
6” x 8”, 20 pages
Age 2
Includes see-through window pages!
Planting Parsley
Written by Pamela Ehrenberg
Illustrated by Constanze v. Kitzing
8” x 8”, 12 pages
Purim Masquerade
Written by Chris Barash Illustrated by Rosie Butcher 6” x 6”, 10 pages
Age 2
Sign Language Shabbat
Written by Alisa Greenbacher & Jennifer Rosner
Photographs by Shelley Rotner
Illustrations by David Hyde Costello
8” x 8”, 18 pages Age 2
Written by Danny Paller
Illustrated by Aya Gordon-Noy
8” x 8”, 10 pages
Age 3 Multiple interactive elements!
by Samara Q. Klein
Jewish Cats All Year Round
Written and illustrated by Varda Livney
6.5” x 6.5”, 12 pages Age 0 Includes a mirror!
By Natalia Emanuel
Hanukkah at Monica’s
Written and illustrated by Varda Livney
8” x 8”, 32 pages Age 3
Antlers with Candles
Saturdays Are Special
Written by Chris Barash
Illustrated by Abigail Marble
8.5” x 9.75”, 24 pages Age 3
Fridays Are Special
Written by Chris Barash
Illustrated by Melissa Iwai
8” x 8”, 24 pages Age 2
Antlers with Candles
Written by Chris Barash
Illustrated by Melissa Iwai
8” x 8”, 24 pages Age 3
Mishpuchah!
Written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
8” x 8”, 32 pages Age 2
Laila Tov, Moon
Written by Vivian Newman
Illustrated by David Hyde Costello
8” x 8”, 32 pages Age 4
Art from My Hands Make the World by Amalia Hoffman
Until the Blueberries Grow
Written by Jennifer Wolf Kam
Illustrated by Sally Walker
8.5” x 11”, 24 pages
Age 6
ThingsShould Match
Things Should Match
Written by Sheldon Oberman*
Illustrated by Paul Meisel
9” x 11”, 24 pages
Age 6
*Originally published in Solomon and the Ant: And Other Jewish Folktales ; reproduced with permission of Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
Never Too Quiet
Written by Barbara Diamond Goldin*
Illustrated by Amanda Hall
8.5” x 11”, 24 pages
Age 6
*Originally published in One Hundred and One Read-Aloud Jewish Stories ; reproduced with permission of Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
The Mouse Who Danced the Hora
Yitzi the Trusty Tractor
Written by Naomi Shulman
Illustrated by Shelley Couvillion
8” x 10”, 24 pages
Age 6
Written by Tammar Stein
Illustrated by Sabina Hahn
6.8” x 8.3”, 32 pages
Age 7
The Candlewick
Written by Jennifer Rosner
Illustrated by Kristina Swarner 10” x 8”, 24 pages Age 6
“This is awful!” Jonah cried.
“This is unfair! My poor vine!”
“Why are you upset?” God asked.
“You didn’t make it. You didn’t plant it.
You didn’t even water it.” Jonah paused his crying.
Art from Jonah Written by Tammar Stein
Illustrated by Sabina Hahn
How Do Candles Light the Night?
Written by Tish Rabe
Illustrated by Renée Andriani
5.5” x 8.5”, 24 pages Age 7
Art from Onions and Garlic Retold by Rebecca Sheir Illustrated by Sabina Hahn
THE SABBATH LION
The Sabbath Lion
Retold by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush
Illustrated by Stephen Fieser 10” x 8”, 32 pages
Age 7
Onions and Garlic
Retold by Rebecca Sheir
Illustrated by Sabina Hahn
8” x 10”, 48 pages Age 8
Produced in partnership with Circle Round, a storytelling podcast from WBUR
Detour Ahead
Written by Pamela Ehrenberg & Tracy López
Illustrated by Laila Ekboir
5.5” x 8.25”, 352 pages Ages 9-12
Scout’s Honor and the Cave of Courage
Written by Anna Levine
5.5” x 8.25”, 140 pages Ages 9-12
Everyone on board was flung into the icy blue waters. Haskel clung to his sack of onions as the wind blew and night fell.
Haskel had been at sea for many months when, suddenly, a vicious storm blew in from the north and capsized the ship !
Art from Challah from Heaven by Richard Ungar