The Jewish Holiday Craft Book - Softcover

Ross, Kathy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761301755 ISBN 13: 9780761301752

Publisher: Millbrook Pr, 1997

Synopsis

Enables young readers to add personal creative touches to Jewish holiday celebrations with a variety of craft projects that provide for any Jewish special occasion or observance, including Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukot, Purim, and others. Original.

About this title

Review:

It would be a pity if the title of this well-designed, useful book restricted its sale to Jewish families. Aside from the value of using fun activities to impart to non-Jewish kids a little knowledge about Jewish culture, these fun, easy-to-assemble crafts would be engaging for any child in the 3-to-12 range. The text, though addressed to children, has the supervising hand of an adult in mind. Over 50 projects are grouped under the different Jewish holidays, and they range in difficulty from a Challah cover (basically, two pieces of colored paper with some slits cut in them) to a Moses and the Ten Commandments figurine for Shavuot (Feast of the Weeks, celebrating the harvest season in Israel) that requires over a dozen items for assembly. Other possibilities include a fearsome paper-bag Haman Shaker ("Give Haman a good shaking this Purim--he deserves it!") and an amusing Jonah and the Whale bath toy made from nothing but a plastic soda bottle and a piece of plastic grocery bag. Artful, colorful illustrations by Melinda Levine enliven this creative, accessible guide to Jewish holiday crafts. (Ages 3 and older) --Richard Farr

From Booklist:

Ages 4^-6. Many Jewish children have brought home a challah cover they've made in religious school. But Ross presents an unusual design for that tried-and-true Shabbat craft, along with other imaginative art projects for each Jewish holiday. Stemming from her 20 years of teaching experience, Ross' crafts require readily obtained items, receive step-by-step explanations, and can be accomplished within a manageable amount of time at home or school. Some of her ideas seem less promising than others, but most offer novel ways of incorporating holiday themes into hands-on treasures. An excellent means of introducing the meaning of Yom Kippur is the "Outside Me and Inside Me Doll," and the Rosh Hashonah "Wheel of Months" presents a way to learn the Hebrew months of the year. The "Parsley Tree Planter" encourages children to observe the ecological spirit of Tu B'Shevat and then provides parsley for the soon-to-follow Passover seder. Melinda Levine's bright cut-paper artwork clearly illustrates each craft. Ellen Mandel

About this edition

• Publisher: Millbrook Pr
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0761301755
• ISBN 13: 9780761301752
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Levine Melinda