By Abby in Editorial
Have you ever heard of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library? This literacy program brings free books each month to preschool kids all across the country so that regardless of income, thousands of kids have good books to read. Dolly’s wonderful idea—plus a family Seder where the kids received Jewish-themed books—inspired Harold Grinspoon, a Massachusetts philanthropist. He founded the PJ Library to help families strengthen their Jewish identity.
Every month, the library (“PJ” as in pajamas—for cozy bedtime reading) sends a book with Jewish content to Jewish families with kids aged six months to seven years. The neat thing is that these books, too, are all free—interested families just need to sign up when PJ comes to a participating community.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation works with local funding partners to provide the books (and one CD of songs each year). The PJ Library is now in over one hundred twenty-five communities coast to coast and in Canada and serves more than sixty thousand families. In four years, the library has given away more than two million books!
We’re delighted that the PJ Library has included several Albert Whitman picture books in its offerings. These include Linda Glaser’s simple and charming Hoppy Hanukkah! and Hoppy Passover! in which two young bunnies observe the holidays with their family; Barbara Reid’s Fox Walked Alone, an unusual take on the Noah’s Ark story, with stunning plasticene art; and Frances Harber’s The Brothers’ Promise, a retelling of a Talmudic tale of brotherly love.
Take a look at some of these great stories. And you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy them!
I enjoyed this podcast :)
I like your books and your podcast and thank you for coming to Ryerson public school. I like your plasticine work. you are the best.
I love the way you create your pictures with plastice. It’s very creative.
i love your book!
Great Podcast! Your plasticine pictures are truly amazing!!!
Wow, is all I have to say!!
I LOVE YOUR BOOKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!
your book is soooooooooooooooooo incredibly awesome, i really enjoyed the subway mouse it was soooo cool i love subways and i love your books even more keep it up barbara, Jamie
i love the fact how you can be so creative in creating The Party. Thank you for coming to Ryerson
Your books are soooo great, my friend shez reads them to me every day.
Thank you to all of the students at Ryerson Public School who have stopped by — and continue to — to listen to our interview with Barbara Reid. A special thank you to those of you who have taken the time to leave your positive comments.
Mark
Just One More Book!!
Barbara, thank you for coming for a visit at Ryerson Public School. You’re books are intense. They’re creative, inspiring and fun to read.
Keep up the great work
Connor
I really enjoy looking through your books. My class is doing plasticine art work at school it is soooooo much fun. that you for coming to our school.
i dont tell people this but ur books inspire me to work hard and believe in goals im so happy you are writing please dont ever stop my life depends on it
your books are beyond cool! way to go!
Barbra,
Thanks for coming to Ryerson. I just love your books! They are awesome! My fovorite one is The Party, i love the picture that looks blury when the kids are spinning.
Keep up the good work!
BARBARA REID YOU ROCK OUR SOCKS! YOU ARE A GENIUS! I AM IN AWE AT YOUR SUPERB PLASTICINE SKILLS!!! KEEP UP THE EXCEPTIONAL MASTERPIECES