It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

It's the  rare child who doesn't love animals. It's  also the rare child who doesn't love a book with a dog or cat as the hero. We all read  The Poky Little Puppy,  Where's Spot? and The Cat in the Hat. There are so many books that I would like to recommend that I'm going to write two posts about books that have dogs or cats as heroes.









מעשה בחתולים/A Tale of Two Cats is the story of two friends - a black  cat and a white cat.  The black cat is as black as tar and the white cat is as white as whitewash.  Each one thinks they are the best-looking cat. Is it worth losing their friendship over the disagreement? The author הלל עומר/ Hillel  Omer(1926-1990) was a well-known poet and children's author. He went by the pen name ע. הלל  / Ayin Hillel. Ages 3-4.






 פנדה יוצאת למרעה/ Panda Goes Herding is a  new book which was only published a few weeks ago. Panda is a sheepdog puppy.  She can't wait to go out to the pasture to herd sheep like her father, aunt, brother and sister. In the meantime, she tries to herd various animals and people on the farm.  She manages to run away to pasture and find her family and the sheep.  She also finds out that working as a sheepdog is a lot of work for a little puppy.

  It's very different from author מאיר שלו / Meir Shalev's usual format for his children's books.  The book is illustrated with wonderful black and white photos. The photographer / דן גולדפינגר Dan Goldfinger is also a sheep herder.  Ages 3-6.






Trying to get your child to fall asleep?  Here is another book by Meir Shalev קרמר החתול ישן כל הזמן / Kramer the Cat Sleeps All the Time  that should help you out.   All Kramer does is sleep all day. His owners are getting frustrated with him.  What kind of a cat doesn't run, jump, meow or play?  They are thinking of getting another cat.   How can Kramer convince his owners not to get a different  cat?  By the time the story ends, all you want to do is curl up in bed and go to sleep. Ages 4-6.









ספר הטיפול בכלבים / Caring for Dogs is for every child who wants  or has a dog.  It's  worth getting if your child just became a first-time dog owner.  קתרין סטארק / Katherine Stark explains how to take care of your dog.  You will find out how to wash your dog, what to feed your dog when to walk him and much more! There are numerous tips and illustrations.  Ages 5+















Tip no. 23

סיפור חוזר / A Recurring Story is a social service that encourages the purchase of second-hand books.   Their second-hand books are sold in hundreds of places around the country.  You can find their books in coffee shops, gyms, offices, hairdressers and many other places.   Their books are also sold online.  Check out the  .website  to see what books are available, where their books are being sold , and where to go to donate books. .   Every book cost 20 shekels. 

 ספור חוזר employs  people who have employment difficulties.  Working for סיפור חוזר gives them a job and work experience. Please check out this worthwhile organization.