12 Jewish Children’s Books to Inspire Friendship

A grumpy duck encounters much to complain about en route to the bicycle repair shop; the dust from Cat’s speeding motorcycle, Mr. Billy Goat’s giant boulder blocking the path, and worst, the raspberry bush stripped of fruit by Mr. Fox. With each grumbling, Duck’s empathetic pal, Hedgehog suggests that “perhaps, just maybe” there’s an explanation. This funny story hammers home the importance of giving others the benefit of the doubt.

The book starts by defining “mensch,” the Yiddish (a language once commonly spoken by Jews) word for “someone who is honorable and kind - a good person” and ends with the question “What kind of mensch will you be.” In between, readers will giggle at the colorful friendly monsters doing their best to be respectful, kind, and trying not to stare (not with one eye or five) at each others’ differences.

When a strange sound wakes them up, the animals on the ark are frightened to discover a pair of goblins! But when they realize the two are searching for each other, they rally to help bring them together. This interactive story about how to find common ground is full of mystery and sounds to imitate.

This delightful story is a retelling of a folktale with both Jewish and Arab roots, about two best friends, with one difference between them: one is Jewish and one Muslim. Readers will love the girls’ silly mix-up and the sweet friendship that endures despite religious differences. You can access a free digital audio-visual version of this and other Israeli stories here.

While shopping in their Brooklyn neighborhood, two boys are mistaken for twins: Mo Hassan, named for the Muslim prophet Mohammed, and Moe Feldman, named for Moses, the Jewish biblical hero. The friends’ commonalities shine through: a mutual love of treats and playgrounds and doting moms who tell them they are the “sun, moon and stars” and “everything in between.”

Maddie misses home when she moves to Israel, especially American Thanksgiving. When a new friend invites Maddie to celebrate the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd, Maddie relies on her new neighbors to help her make a pumpkin pie. A delicious title to share around Thanksgiving.

Al Rosen volunteers to take work shifts so others can spend Christmas Eve with their families. This “mitzvah” or good deed spreads and inspires friends to do the same. When Al retires, his community comes together to celebrate his generous spirit in a cross-cultural lighting of the Chanukah menorah.

For additional crossover stories of blended families, I love Latkes for Santa Claus and Easter Eggs and Matzoh Balls by Janie Enaus (Author) and Bryan Langdo (Illustrator) and Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup by Pamela Mayer (Author) and Deborah Melmon (Illustrator).

The vibrant story brings us to Uganda, as the Jewish Abayudaya community prepares for Sukkot, the celebration honoring the fall harvest. Shoshi and her two brothers want their “sukkah,” the traditional booth or hut built for the holiday, to win the village contest. When a storm damages a competing sukkah, Shoshi learns gentle lessons from her “jajja” (grandmother) about jealousy, ambition and teamwork.

Daniel is stumped to see his parents leave home early on snowy mornings with mysterious boxes. His imagination runs wild with dreams of the contents! Ultimately, he learns about the true meaning of giving and follows with his own act of kindness.

This is the true story of a brave British woman named Eliza Davis who wrote to Charles Dickens in the 1860s to protest his use of negative and hurtful Jewish stereotypes in his stories. You’ll cheer for her polite and impassioned advocacy in this moving and suspenseful story about overcoming prejudice with words, heart and civility.

Young Ruth is irresistible in this picture book as she challenges gender norms, sings loudly and resists the insistent teacher who wants her to write with her right hand (she was a lefty). Her lifelong fight for equality begins when she sees a sign that reads “No Dogs or Jews Allowed.” Against great odds, she became a lawyer and Supreme Court Justice. Author Debbie Levy, who also wrote the phenomenal graphic novel Becoming RBG for middle-grade readers), drives home a mighty legacy, explaining: “Dis­agree­ing does not make a per­son dis­agree­able. In fact, it can change the world!”

This is the hopeful biography of Yaffa Eliach, an extraordinary woman who made it her life’s mission to recover thousands of photographs from her Polish village. By invitation from President Jimmy Carter, Yaffa’s collection became The Tower of Faces, a powerful exhibit at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.