It's Still Raining Cats and Dogs

This week's post continues the theme of dogs and cats as heroes of children's books. It's a popular theme!  Last week the Yemima Center for the Research of Children's Books ( Beit Beryl College) had a facebook post on the same theme.  They posted their staff's recommendations of children's books where dogs are the stars.  Be sure to check out the post.

 The subject is also popular with adults.  Who didn't love reading Dewey the Library Cat, Marley and Me and The Art of Racing in the Rain?

ג'ורג'י / Georgie by דקלה קידר / Dikla Keydar is a book for cat lovers and non-cat lovers alike.  One day, Aviv's brother brings home a stray cat.  Her brother and parents are in love with the cat.  But Aviv is scared and upset.  Does anyone care how she feels about this new member of the family?  אילנה זפרן / Ilana Zeffren's comic-like illustrations add so much to the story. Ages 7-9.

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Although I usually don't write about books that are translated from English, I am making an exception for קרנשו/Crenshaw by קתרין אפלגייט/ Katherine Applegate.  It's a wonderful must-read for children ages 9-12.  Jason's  parents have fallen on hard times.  The family may lose their apartment and have to move into their minivan as they did several years ago.   In addition, Jason's imaginary friend Crenshaw, the giant cat has reappeared.  Jason may think he's too old for an imaginary friend, but he needs Crenshaw to help him get through the tough times.

Sadly, there are no Israeli children's books that deal with aliyah from any English speaking country.  Most books deal with aliyah from The Soviet Union/Russia or Ethiopia. The closest book that deals with the  American aliyah experience is כשאברח לאמריקה / When I Run Away to America.The author אורנה לנדאר / Orna Landau wrote this book after being in the States with her family for several years.  She was surprised how difficult it was for her Israeli children to  adjust  to being back in Israel 

Yoash wants to go back to America.  He misses baseball, his big house, and his friends.   He needs money and lots of it to get back to the States.  He finds an afternoon job dog walking.  The job turns out to be more complicated than he thinks it will be. This is an adventure/mystery book that your children will be sure to enjoy.  And will Yoash decide he still wants to go to America at the end of the book? 

 Ages 10-13.

Which cat and dog books do you and your children/grandchildren love?

Tip no. 24

Dogs and Cats seem to be on everyone's mind lately.  The youth wing of the Israel Museum opened a new exhibit last week called  "Cats and Dogs".

Here's what the Israel Museum says about the exhibit:

"Are you a cat person or a dog person? Who is truly man's best friend? Are cats and dogs really natural enemies? This exhibition for the whole family is devoted to pets, as depicted in artworks from antiquity to the present day. Some of these works invite the visitors to play, interact, and even wag their tails. The range of artworks on display offer surprising perspectives on these animals, and portray the deep connections between cats, dogs, and humans both under a critical and humorous light."

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.

Would You Spend 179 Shekels on a Book for Your Child?

If that book was the Guinness Book of Records,  it might be worthwhile to pay so much for a book.  Why?  This book will keep your child busy for hours on end.  Do you have a child who doesn't enjoy books?  This book will change his mind.

I know that I sound like an advertisement for ספר השיאים של גינס / The Guinness Book of Records, but there is a reason for it.  Since not all children enjoy reading "traditional fiction", it's good to have non-fiction options. Most children love reading about dinosaurs, animals, planes, sports, or space.  The Guinness book of records has all that and more!

Non-fiction books can be a good choice for boys.  Many boys are "information
junkies".  Several years ago, I taught a library class to a class of first graders.  Usually, I hide the Guinness books during class but for some reason, they were out.  The boys spent all of the free reading time looking only at the Guinness books.   Later in the day, I had a class of 8th graders.  The girls were busy reading quite high-level novels and the boys were all crowded around the Guinness books! Of course, girls also enjoy reading  The Guinness Book of Records.

Non-fiction books can be an especially good choice for reluctant readers no matter what their reading language preference.  They often have colorful pictures, short texts, and subject that pique a child is interested in.  There are cookbooks, craft books, drawing books, books of riddles,  and informational books to name a few.





Here are just a very few examples of what's available.


100  עובדות/ One Hundred  Facts series has over ten large, colorful books with information about  topics such as space, weather, the human body,  and animals.  Ages 7-10.

 סודות של פלסטלינה/Secrets of  Modeling Clay by רוני אורן/ Roni Oren

Modeling clay ( know by the brand name פלסטלינה/ Plasticine)  is very popular in Israel.  Roni Oren is well known as a creator of amazing plasticine figures for books, films,  and tv programs.  In these books, he gives step by step instructions how to create sophisticated plasticine figures. It's a great book for the whole family but a child would probably need to be at least nine years old to read it by himself. Younger children will need help or might find it easier to just follow the illustrations. Ages 7+

                                                                   

סדרת פרופסר פצפונטבע/ Little Nature Professor  Series by author and illustrator מירי לשם-פלאי / Miri Leshem- Pelly are a series of small books with soft, quiet illustrations.  The little professor shows children the wonders of nature.  He introduces them to birds, wildflowers, dogs, cats and more.  My favorite book in the series is לטייל בישראל/  Travel in Israel.  We travel from the north ( Tel Dan Nature Reserve) all the way down south( to Eilat to swim with the dolphins) with many stops in between. If you are new to Israel, this book is a wonderful way for you and your young children to get to know the country. Read the book now and plan a trip for Channukah vacation! Ages 5-8.

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Tip no. 7