Enduring Questions

David Bloome is emeritus professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning of The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology. Evelyn B. Freeman is professor emerita at The Ohio State University where she taught courses in children’s literature and language arts, prepared elementary teachers, and worked with graduate students. She retired as dean and director of The Ohio State University at Mansfield. Rosemary Horowitzwas a member of Appalachian State’s faculty for more than a quarter century, Dr. Horowitz was highly-committed Holocaust educator and English professor.Laurie Katz is professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning of The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology.

• DedicationAcknowledgmentsPermissionsIntroduction – Why and How to Use Jewish Children’s Literature in the Preschool and Elementary School ClassroomChapter 1: What makes Jewish Children’s Literature Jewish?Chapter 2: What Is Our Story? What Is Our History? A Brief History of Jewish Children’s LiteratureChapter 3: What Is Love? Stories of Family, Friendship, Animals, and NatureChapter 4: What is Time? Jewish Rites and Holidays Through Jewish Children's LiteratureChapter 5: What is Wisdom and What Is Foolishness? Humor in Jewish Children’s LiteratureChapter 6: What Is Evil? How Might We Respond to Evil? Jewish Children’s Literature, Antisemitism, and the HolocaustChapter 7: What is Justice? What is a Righteous Person to Do? Jewish Children’s Literature and the Pursuit of Tikkun Olam Chapter 8: How Might We Imagine A Life For Ourselves Together In The World? Using Jewish Children’s Literature in Multicultural Education GlossaryAppendicesAppendix A: Select List of Jewish Children’s Literature Organized by Topics / ThemesAppendix B: Select Resources for Using Jewish Children’s Literature in the Preschool Through Elementary ClassroomAppendix C: Select List of Professional and Scholarly Books and Articles on Jewish Children’s LiteratureIndexAbout the Authors

During a time when incidents of anti-Semitism are on the rise, a guide to Jewish children’s literature is to be celebrated. Enduring Questions is an excellent place to start. The authors chose their title to indicate the structure and themes of the text. The enduring questions they address include what makes Jewish children's literature Jewish? What is Jewish history? What are love, wisdom, humor, ritual, evil, and justice? For each chapter, authors provide summaries of suggested texts, sidebars with pedagogical suggestions from American teachers, and thoughtful responses to these enduring questions. Focused on providing classroom teachers from preschool to grade 6, librarians, and parents with books and stories they might choose, the text also includes extensive bibliographies of Jewish children’s literature, digital resources for teachers, and scholarly books and articles on Jewish children’s literature. The authors state their aim is to “provide a framework about the use of Jewish children’s literature as an opportunity for all children, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to be philosophers and engage in dialog and debate.” The book is written in a very readable, accessible manner and successfully achieves this goal. Essential. Undergraduates through faculty; professionals; general readers.