Review: My Israel and Me
My Israel and Me
by Alice Blumenthal McGinty, illustrated by Rotem Teplow
Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains)
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Sandy Wasserman
This is the perfect book for introducing the diversity that exists in
Israel. In gentle rhymes and careful detailed illustrations, the young
picture book reader is introduced to Israel’s bustling city life,
kibbutz life, Bedouin life, Arab/Muslim life, Christian life, and Jewish
life, all coexisting. Even the cats in Israel play a part in this book, along with the history of how there came to be so many cats. Theres’s the
varied geography of this nation (the size of New Jersey), the Negev’s
geography, and the story of Israel’s farms and fields, and animals. A double
page spread for the tourist enhances the reader’s inclusion in
Israel’s story. Some books have back matter for the parent or teacher;
this book offers additional information in a small paragraph
accompanying each double page spread, which greatly enhances each section in an
immediate way.
While not a Jewish book per se, Jewish life is one of the topics covered
in this picture book. It’s not a religious book; there’s no mention of
the Kotel, but as each ethnicity living in Israel is mentioned, there’s a Jewish
family life scene that’s very informative. Inclusive books about Israel are much-needed within the children's literature.
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