The Jewish Kids Journal by ArtScroll/Shaar Press; Rohway, New Jersey (cc) 2022; ISBN 9781422-631955; 328 pages; $14.99; available on Amazon.
SAN DIEGO – Here is a journal encouraging children between the ages of 7 and 13 to read, think, and write about everyday secular and Jewish topics. Because it will encourage their children’s self-expression, parents may find this an ideal gift for one of the days of Chanukah.
The book poses a different question each day to the children, providing space for them to write their answers. Each page is divided in half, so that the children can finish the top half of the book one year, and then come back the following year to answer the questions again on the bottom half. They’ll thereby have the opportunity to see what they wrote the year before and to determine whether they still agree with their previous answers or have moved on to other ones.
Some secular questions: “If you could know one thing about your future, what would it be?” “What would it be like if no one had a phone?” “Are you a morning person or a night person?” “What’s your favorite room or spot in the house?” “What’s one thing you can do to brighten someone’s day?” “Would you rather be able to speak every language in the world or play every instrument?”
Here are some Jewish questions: “If you could pick on dairy food to enjoy this Shavuos, what would it be?” “How would you spend 24 hours in Eretz Yisrael?” “My favorite thing to put on my matzah is ____” “Which miracle in Jewish history would you most want to witness?” “Latkes or donuts?” “Would you rather visit Abraham’s tent or Yosef in the palace?”
For children who are unfamiliar with various Hebrew and Yiddish terms, there is a short glossary in the back of the book. If the meaning of the word is not there, or a Jewish reference is unfamiliar, children can always ask their parents. That might prompt an interesting conversation!
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Donald H. Harrison is editor emeritus of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com