Recommended
Books are listed alphabetically within reading levels.
Books organized by grade level can also be found in Recommended Books sub-menu.
Books that link directly to teacher’s guide are indicated by an asterisk.
If you are looking for resources about American Jewish history, please see this website.
*Everybody Says Shalom
Pre-K+
by Leslie Kimmelman
illustrated by Talitha Shipman
A spirited picture-book tour of Israel takes readers to the Old City of Jerusalem and modern Tel Aviv, the desert and the sea, Roman ruins, the Biblical Zoo, a kibbutz, and much more. Lively, rhyming text and vibrant, colorful illustrations offer young readers a trip through this old-new land of many contrasts, cultures, and customs.
Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel
Pre-K+
by Sylvia A. Rouss
illustrated by Katherine J. Kahn
Another adventure in the “Sammy Spider” series as Sammy travels with the Shapiro family to Israel, snorkeling in Eilat, riding camels in the desert, placing notes in the Western Wall, and eating falafel and pita.
The Colors of Israel
Pre-K+
by Rachel Raz
This book by author/photographer Rachel Raz (ABC Israel) showcases the many vibrant and beautiful colors of the land of Israel, from the red double-decker train in Akko to the white dome of the Shrine of the Book, from pink postage stamps to orange beach umbrellas in Tel Aviv.
A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night
Lower Elementary
by Allison Ofanansky
illustrated by Rotem Teplow
A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night tells the story of a young Jewish girl in Morocco who is helping her mother gather flour from her Muslim neighbors to make special pancakes that are only eaten on the last day of Passover as they celebrate the Jewish-Moroccan holiday Mimouna.
A Concert in the Sand
Lower Elementary
by Tami Shem-Tov and Rachella Sandbank
illustrated by Avi Ofer
Uri is bored hanging around his parents’ delicatessen in 1930s Tel-Aviv until his German-speaking Grandma takes him on a walk and introduces him to the famous classical musician, Mr. Huberman, a friend she knew back in Europe. A Concert in the Sand tells the story of the first performance of what was to become Israel’s Philharmonic Orchestra.
Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush
Lower Elementary
by Deborah Bodin Cohen
illustrated by Shahar Kober
The story of an engineer named Ari who is rushing to complete his final trail trip from Jaffa to Jerusalem before Passover begins. The book takes place during Ottoman-ruled Palestine and includes a picture and history of the actual first train that rolled into Jerusalem in 1892 and discusses how the father of modern Hebrew, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, came up with the Hebrew word for “train.”
Engineer Arielle and the Israel Independence Day Surprise
Lower Elementary
by Deborah Bodin Cohen
illustrated by Yael Kimhi Orrelle
Today is Israel’s Independence Day and Engineer Arielle is getting ready to go to work at Jerusalem’s new light rail train station. Engineer Arielle drives her train through Jerusalem and runs into family and friends who tell her how they are going to celebrate Israel’s birthday!
*Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin
Lower Elementary
by Tracy Newman
illustrated by Abigail Halpin
Before becoming one of the greatest violinists of all time, Itzhak Perlman was simply a boy who loved music. Raised by a poor immigrant family in a tiny Tel Aviv apartment, baby Itzhak was transformed by the sounds from his family’s kitchen radio—graceful classical symphonies, lively klezmer tunes, and soulful cantorial chants.
My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel
Lower Elementary
by Michelle Shapiro Abraham
illustrated by Ann D. Koffsky
An American Jewish child compares celebrating Jewish holidays in the Diaspora versus her cousin Tamar’s experience of living in Israel. This book will resonate with many Jewish readers who have been to Israel and for the first time, understand what it means to be in the Jewish homeland.
My Israel and Me
Lower Elementary
by Alice Blumenthal McGinty
illustrated by Rotem Teplow
Travel to Israel and learn about the diverse people who together contribute to Israel’s commerce, religions, cultures, and various industries. Although Israel is a tiny country, it is a leader in innovations that help the world with growing crops, improving communication systems, and new medical technologies.
Snow in Jerusalem
Lower Elementary
by Deborah da Costa
illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu
A beautifully illustrated story about two boys, one Jewish and one Muslim, who encounter conflict when they find out they are both caring for the same cat. Readers who are familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will appreciate the storyline’s message.
The Blue Butterfly of Cochin
Lower Elementary
by Ariana Mizrahi
illustrated by Siona Benjamin
The Blue Butterfly of Cochin follows Leah, a young girl from the Jewish community of Cochin, India, as her family emigrates to Israel in the 1950s. Struggling with the loss of her home and traditions, Leah finds comfort in a magical blue butterfly. The story beautifully captures her emotional journey of adaptation and connection to her roots.
The Golden Bell
Lower Elementary
by Tamar Sachs
illustrated by Yossi Abolafia
In biblical times, Itamar, the tailor’s son, has carefully carried the High Priest’s robe―with its little golden bells sewn onto the hem―home for his father to mend. But one day, one of the bells is missing! When nobody turns in the lost bell at the Claiming Stone, Itamar wonders if the tiny bell will ever be found. A surprise ending brings the story into modern times when an archaeologist finds a golden bell at a Jerusalem dig.
The Language of Angels: A Story About the Reinvention of Hebrew
Lower Elementary
by Richard Michelson and Karla Gudeon
The fascinating story of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the reinventor of modern day Hebrew and his son Ben-Zion, who was the first child in the early founding of the modern state of Israel to speak only Hebrew.
The Secret Tunnel
Lower Elementary
by Joy Nelkin Wieder
During the time of King Chizkiyahu, Sancheriv, the wicked King of Ashur, threatened to surround the city of Yerushalayim. It seemed that many other cities had already fallen to Sancheriv, but the Prophet, Yishayahu, told the people to trust in Hashem. The danger was: the powerful enemy could easily win by simply blocking off the water supply of the Jews. Our story follows a fictional character, 11-year-old Yonatan, and his desire to help protect his family and his people. The historical details of daily life and dramatic threat of the siege combine to create a suspenseful page-turner for children.
*The Upside-Down Boy and the Israeli Prime Minister
Lower Elementary
by Sherri Mandell
illustrated by Robert Dunn
A quirky Israeli boy who likes to do things backward and upside down tries to be on his best behavior as his class takes a school trip to visit the Israeli Prime Minister’s home. Readers will learn about the exercise regimen, including headstands, of the State of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.
*A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah
Upper Elementary
by Nancy Churnin
illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg
The life story of Hadassah founder Henrietta Szold’s upbringing in Baltimore and her social justice work to help Jewish immigrants assimilate into American society and later, when Hitler came to power, to save Jewish children by organizing their transfer to pre-Israel Palestine.
For the Love of Israel
Upper Elementary
by Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein
illustrated by Mark Anderson
This vibrant A-to-Z guide—or rather Z-to-A, Hebrew-style—examines more than 3,000 years of this postage stamp–sized land’s history. With the 26 letters of the alphabet paired with lighthearted text and colorful illustrations, this fun fact book explores the heart, the soul, and the foundation of the Jewish people—the homeland from where their ancient traditions, culture, and values have come.
Pickled Watermelon
Upper Elementary
by Esty Schachter
illustrated by Alex Orbe
In the summer of 1986, 11-year-old American, Molly, begrudgingly travels with her family to visit relatives in Israel. In Israel, she attempts to navigate using little knowledge of Hebrew while learning about her family and Israeli culture and society.
Shield of the Maccabees: A Hanukkah Graphic Novel
Upper Elementary
by Eric A. Kimmel
illustrated by Dov Smiley
Greeks and Jews are living in an uneasy peace in ancient Judea. Jonathan, a Jewish boy, sees a Greek boy attacked by bullies, and stands up to defend him. They become best friends. But when war comes to their land, Jonathan joins the Maccabees while his friend joins the Greek army. They seem destined to fight one another. How will their friendship survive?
So Young to Die: The Story of Hannah Senesh
Upper Elementary
by Candice F. Ransom
The amazing story of young Hannah Senesh, a Hungarian Jew, who at only 23-years-old was executed by the Nazis after being captured for attempting to rescue Jews out of Nazi-occupied Hungary. Hannah Senesh’s foresight at the deteriorating conditions for Jews in Europe caused her to immigrate to British-ruled Palestine where she was passionate about helping to grow the Jewish homeland.
The Boy From Over There
Upper Elementary
by Tamar Bergman
translated by Hillel Halkin
Set post-WWII and up to the 1948 War of Independence, The Boy From Over There tells the story of a young, orphaned Jewish boy who lived in hiding during the Holocaust and was then brought to Israel, where he joins a group of kibbutz children.
The Lost Spy and the Green Dress
Upper Elementary
by Alex Paz Goldman
Twelve-year-old Israeli Motti and his friend Reuven are on a mission to root out a supposed German spy that is lurking in their neighborhood. Set in 1960s Israel, “The Lost Spy and the Green Dress” delves into the complexities of being raised by Holocaust parents in the modern State of Israel.
The Time Tunnel Volume 1: Jerusalem Under Siege
Upper Elementary
by Galila Ron-Feder-Amit
translated by Nancy Wellins and illustrated by Galia Bernstein
The Time Tunnel is a popular Israeli series about ten year-old friends Dan and Sharon who travel back in time to periods in Israeli and Jewish history. In this English edition created just for PJ Our Way, Sharon and Dan end up in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City just as the Jewish inhabitants are surrendering to Jordan’s Arab Legion in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence.
The Treasure of Tel Maresha
Upper Elementary
by Tammar Stein
illustrated by Barbara Bongini
This book, inspired by an archeological dig in which the author participated in Israel, tells the story of two girls living 2000 years apart. Becca is a modern-day girl who has joined an archeological dig, and Rebeka is a girl from the past who lost something very important.
This is Israel
Upper Elementary
by Miroslav Sasek
This is Israel is one in a series on countries and cities by Miroslav Sasek first published in 1962. The book’s engaging pictures take readers through many famous sites and cities in Israel. Biblical quotes are sprinkled throughout the book, which help the readers make connections to the land of Israel.
Travel Dreams: Israel
Upper Elementary
by Sarah Janisse Brown and Alexandra Bretush
illustrated by Anna Kidalova, Dana Andreeva, and Elaina Targarina
Travel Dreams has created a series of social studies journals to be used by readers to research and learn about Israeli history and culture. Readers can take the journals with them on their trips to Israel or use research methods to find answers and fill out the informative pages.
*Brother’s Keeper: Just a Story from a War
Middle School
by Arnon Z. Shorr
illustrated by Joshua M. Edelglass
A comic book short story set during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. It tells the true story of the author’s grandfather, Jacob Shorr, a teenager from Jerusalem who was wounded in the battle of Ramat Rachel.
Duel
Middle School
by David Grossman
This translated-from-Hebrew mystery novel set in 1960s Israel tells the story of 12-year-old David and his friendship with elderly Mr. Rosenthal, who is challenged to a duel. David sets out to save his friend’s life and, in the process, learns about relationships set in the background of British-Mandate Palestine and pre-Holocaust Europe.
Flight to the Promised Land
Middle School
by Laszlo Hamori
Translated from its original Swedish, Journey to the Promised land follows Yemenite Shalom Mizrachi and his family as their Jewish village uproots itself in order to take the difficult journey to Aden where they will then take planes to fly them into Israel.
Gal Gadot: Soldier, Model, Wonder Woman
Middle School
by Jill Sherman
Learn about Israeli Gal Gadot and her life story of being born and raised in Israel, becoming a beauty pageant winner, entering the military, and eventually becoming a successful actress. Gadot serves as a positive role model for readers, especially young girls.
The Heroes of October 7th: Heroic Stories for Children
Middle School
edited by Hadassa Ben Ari
illustrated by Tehila Bar-Hama
How do we share the stories of the October 7th massacre with children? This collection of 71 stories, crafted with the guidance of psychologists, focuses on courage, quick thinking, and self-sacrifice rather than on horror. Its clearly-narrated accounts, with their focus on the heroism of a wide range of Israelis, answer children’s questions with honesty and sensitivity, and will be useful to parents and teachers.
Keeping Israel Safe: Serving in the Israel Defense Forces
Middle School
by Barbara Sofer
The author, Barbara Sofer, has written an engaging and informative short book that weaves the fictional story of four friends who represent the various backgrounds of many young Israelis who are about to join the army and the decision-making process for deciding which unit they will serve.
One More River
Middle School
by Lynne Reid Banks
A coming-of-age novel about a Jewish-Canadian girl named Lesley whose family decides to leave their comfortable life behind to make aliyah to a kibbutz right before the Six-Day War. The story discusses issues to which many readers growing up Jewish in the Diaspora can relate, including assimilation and intermarriage.
*The Bat-Chen Diaries
Middle School
by Bat-Chen Shahak
The life of aspiring writer, 15-year-old Bat-Chen, was cut short when she was murdered in a suicide bombing in Tel-Aviv in 1996. Bat-Chen’s family and friends submitted letters, journal entries, pictures, and notes in order for readers to see the observations of this mature and eloquent Israeli teenager.
The Garden
Middle School
by Carol Matas
A sequel to Matas’ book, After the War, The Garden follows sixteen-year-old Holocaust survivor Ruth Mendolsohn as she settles into her new life working on a kibbutz in Palestine. Ruth and her fellow survivor friends who immigrated together to Israel have joined the Haganah and attempt to defend Jews from violence at the hands of local Arabs rioters and snipers.
The Return
Middle School
by Sonia Levitin
The Return chronicles the life of the Jewish Ethiopians who are persecuted and discriminated against in Ethiopia. Fifteen-year-old Desta and her two siblings come to the difficult decision to embark on the dangerous journey to walk to Sudan where they hope to be rescued by Israelis and immigrate to the Promised land.
*The Six-Day Hero
Middle School
by Tammar Stein
12-year-old Motti lives in Jerusalem with his parents, younger brother, Beni, and older brother Gideon, who is serving in the Israeli army as the country faces war from neighboring Arab countries. Readers learn about the Six Day War from Moti, his family, friends and neighbors — including Holocaust survivors, native-born Israelis, and non-Jewish residents.
Alex: Building a Life
High School
by Alex Singer
Alex: Building a Life is a poignant collection of writings and drawings by Alex Singer, an American-born Jew who chose to serve as an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. His life was tragically cut short by a terrorist in Southern Lebanon. The book, compiled by his parents, showcases Alex’s remarkable character through his letters, diaries, and art.
Cry of the Giraffe
High School
by Judie Oron
Twelve-year-old Wuditu is a member of the Beta-Israel tribe in Ethiopia, an ancient Jewish people that settled in Ethiopia many centuries ago. Cry of the Giraffe tells the incredible journey of a young Jewish girl as she perseveres through numerous obstacles in order to return to the Promised Land.
Passage from Aden: Stories from a Little Museum in Tel Aviv
High School
by Sarah Ansbacher
As a museum tour guide, the author educated visitors about the Jewish Adeni community and their abrupt flight from Yemen. Passage from Aden, is comprised of stories based on the author’s conversations with visitors from around the world who came to tour the Aden Jewish Heritage Museum in Tel Aviv.
Under the Domim Tree
High School
by Gila Almagor
translated by Hillel Schenker
Under the Domim Tree was written by Israeli film actress, Gila Almagor, who drew upon her childhood experiences to create a coming-of-age story centered around orphaned teenagers growing up in an Israeli agricultural youth village. The main protagonist, Aviya, is one of the few teenagers who was born in Israel, while all the others are Holocaust survivors.
Yoni’s Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976
High School
by Iddo Netanyahu
Yoni’s Last Battle chronicles the detailed planning and implementation of one of the most incredibly successful airborne rescue missions in history. The mission was carried out by Israel’s elite commando unit and led by Yoni Netanyahu (older brother of the author) to rescue 105 hostages held by German and Arab terrorists in the Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel
High School+
by Ronald Radosh and Allis Radosh
A dramatic, detailed account of the events leading up to the creation of a Jewish homeland and the true story behind President Harry S. Truman’s controversial decision to recognize the State of Israel in 1948, drawn from Truman’s long-lost diary entries and other previously unused archival materials.
Exodus: A Novel of Israel
High School+
by Leon Uris
This historical novel about the founding of the modern State of Israel begins with a retelling of the 1947 voyages of a ship bringing Jewish refugees from the Holocaust to Mandatory Palestine, recounting the epic history of Israel’s birth through the eyes of two generations of Jews as they fight to reclaim their homeland. Originally published in 1958, Exodus became an international bestseller.
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn
High School+
by Daniel Gordis
With Israel, public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on Israel’s past, so we can understand its future.
Israel: A History
High School+
by Anita Shapira
Written by one of Israel’s most notable scholars, this volume provides a breathtaking history of Israel from the origins of the Zionist movement in the late nineteenth century to the present day. Organized chronologically, the volume explores the emergence of Zionism in Europe against the backdrop of relations among Jews, Arabs, and Turks, and the earliest pioneer settlements in Palestine under Ottoman rule.
Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth
High School+
by Noa Tishby
Tackling popular misconceptions with an abundance of facts, Noa Tishby provides critical context around headline-generating controversies and offers a clear, intimate account of the richly cultured country of Israel.
Israel: An Introduction
High School+
by Barry Rubin
This comprehensive book provides a well-rounded introduction to Israel—a definitive account of the nation’s past, its often controversial present, and much more. Written by a leading historian of the Middle East, Israel is organized around six major themes: land and people, history, society, politics, economics, and culture.
Israel in the Middle East: Documents and Readings on Society, Politics, and Foreign Relations, Pre-1948 to the Present
High School+
Edited by Itamar Rabinovich and Jehuda Reinharz
This timely anthology, completely revised and updated from the original edition in 1984, provides convenient access to the most significant documents of the Zionist movement since 1882 and of Israel’s domestic and foreign policy issues between 1948 and 2006. Comprised largely of primary sources from Israeli, Arab, and American records, documents encompass not only political and diplomatic history but economic, cultural, legal and social aspects of the region as well.
Israel Matters
High School+
by Mitchell Bard
Explore the historical and political forces that created the Jewish state, influence the unrest in the Palestinian territories, shape the peace process, and affect Israel’s security today. Learn about the diversity of the land and the people, the significance of the Law of Return, and Israel’s importance to America’s interests.
Jews Make the Best Demons: ‘Palestine’ and the Jewish Question
High School+
by Eric Rozenman
What happened to the post-1945 world of Never Again! ? In Jews Make the Best Demons: Palestine and the Jewish Question, Eric Rozenman examines how we got here, the danger posed not only for the Jewish state and Jews everywhere but also for the United States and the rest of the self-doubting liberal West.
The Jews’ Secret Fleet: The Untold Story of North American Volunteers who Smashed the British Blockade
High School+
by Murray S. Greenfield and Joseph M. Hochstein
This is the dramatic story of the rescue of Jews from Europe after World War II by North American Jewish volunteers who smashed through the British blockade and brought thousands of refugees to safe haven in Palestine through the illegal Aliyah Bet.
Paths of the Righteous: Stories of Heroism, Humanity and Hope
High School+
by Ari Mittleman
In Paths of the Righteous, discover eight individuals who have gone above and beyond for Israel and the Jewish people during a difficult and turbulent period. Largely unheralded and not in the headlines, their stories can inspire us. They each demonstrate unique attributes.
Raquela: A Woman of Israel
High School+
by Ruth Gruber
Learn about the true story of a remarkable woman whose life mirrored the trials and tribulations of the beginning of the modern State of Israel. Through her eyes, readers will learn about the history of Israel and the experiences of the people within the state.
Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East
High School+
by Michael B. Oren
Writing with a novelist’s command of narrative and a historian’s grasp of fact and motive, Michael B. Oren reconstructs both the lightning-fast action on the battlefields and the political shocks that electrified the world. A towering work of history and an enthralling human narrative, Six Days of War is the most important book on the Middle East conflict to appear in a generation.
Spies of No Country: Israel’s Secret Agents at the Birth of the Mossad
High School+
by Matti Friedman
Spies of No Country is about the slippery identities of Israel’s spies, but it’s also about the complicated identity of Israel, a country that presents itself as Western but in fact has more citizens with Middle Eastern roots, just like the spies of this fascinating narrative.
Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
High School+
by Dan Senor and Saul Singer
Start-Up Nation addresses the trillion dollar question: How is it that Israel — a country of 7.1 million, only 60 years old, surrounded by enemies, in a constant state of war since its founding, with no natural resources– produces more start-up companies than large, peaceful, and stable nations like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada and the UK?
The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World
High School+
by Dan Senor and Saul Singer
Widely admired for having the world’s highest density of high-tech start-ups, Israel’s greatest innovation may not be a technology at all, but Israeli society itself. Understanding how a country facing so many challenges can be among the happiest provides surprising insights into how we can confront the crisis of community, human connectedness, and purpose in modern life.
The Glory
High School+
by Herman Wouk
Herman Wouk portrays the young nation of Israel once again pushed to the brink of annihilation — and sets the stage for today’s ongoing struggle for peace. Taking us from the Sinai to Jerusalem, from dust-choking battles to the Entebbe raid, from Camp David to the inner lives of such historical figures as Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, and Anwar Sadat, these extraordinary novels have the authenticity and authority of Wouk’s finest fiction — and together strike a resounding chord of hope for all humanity.
The Hope
High School+
by Herman Wouk
This saga spans from 1948 to 1967, the early decades of the state of Israel as it fights for its life, outmatched and surrounded by enemies—the first of the two-part epic that concludes with The Glory. The four heroes, and the women they love, weave a compelling tapestry of individual destinies through a grand recounting of one nation’s struggle against the odds.
The Story of Hebrew
High School+
by Lewis Glinert
A unique history of the Hebrew language from biblical times to the modern Jewish state, The Story of Hebrew takes readers from the opening verses of Genesis—which seemingly describe the creation of Hebrew itself—to the reincarnation of Hebrew as the everyday language of the Jewish state. A major work of scholarship, The Story of Hebrew is an unforgettable account of what one language has meant to those possessing it.
The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace
High School+
by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf
Two prominent Israelis argue that for the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to end with peace, Palestinians must come to terms with the fact that there will be no “right of return.”
The War on Error: Israel, Islam and the Middle East
High School+
by Martin Kramer
In The War on Error, historian and political analyst Martin Kramer presents a series of case studies, some based on pathfinding research and others on provocative analysis, that correct misinformation clouding the public’s understanding of the Middle East. He also offers a forensic exploration of how misinformation arises and becomes “fact.”
Will Israel Survive?
High School+
by Mitchell G. Bard
While most people view the Palestinian conflict as the greatest threat to Israel’s survival, it is in fact only one of the nation’s long-term concerns. Bard paints a realistic picture of the road ahead with a hopeful message: Israel will not only survive, but will endure long into the future.