Books for Elementary School

by Rachel Raz

ABC Israel, introduces readers to Israel’s people, food, languages, and more with colorful pictures, while also teaching the alphabet.

by Galia Armeland

Aleph- Bet Israel introduces young readers to the Hebrew alphabet and popular sites around Israel using whimsical illustrations.

by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
illustrated by Rotem Teplow

An eccentric Bubbe goes grocery shopping for Shabbat at the Carmel market in Tel-Aviv and ends up bringing home some feline friends.

by Diane Levin Rauchwerger
illustrated by Jason Wolff

Dino’s adventures continue as he boards a plane for Israel.  Join him as he munches on falafel, tucks a message high up on the Western Wall, and invites a friendly camel to go snorkeling in Eilat.

by Vivian Newman
illustrated by Akemi Gutierrez

Excited Ella and her stuffed monkey, Koofi, take a family trip to Israel. Ella enjoys visiting all the famous places in Israel, but Koofi experiences Israel in his own special way!

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.
 

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.

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.

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.

by Erica Lyons
illustrated by Jen Jamieson

A young girl practices the Four Questions on her apartment balcony in Jerusalem and finds a way to bring the neighbors together for Passover even during the separation of a pandemic.

by Giora Carmi

A young girl visits Israel and envisions the history of the sites she sees.

by Michelle Edwards

Rody lives on a kibbutz, but is called “Chicken Man” because of his work with chickens. The story details how a kibbutz functions and promotes the rabbinic saying (Pirkei Avot) “Who is rich? Those who are happy with what they have.”

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.

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.”

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!

by Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod
illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

by Gili Bar-Hillel
photography by Prodeepta Das

Photographed and written in Israel, this book will introduce young readers to many aspects of Israeli society and culture, including language, animals, holidays, cities, and food.

by Devora Busheri
illustrated by Noa Kelner

Based on the poem, “The Pond,” by Hayim Nahman Bialik, who is regarded as Israel’s national poet, a child and her mother take a walk in a forest near Jerusalem.

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.

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.

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.

by Tami Lehman-Wilzig
illustrated by Elizabeth Wolf

This book introduces children to the many different ways of celebrating Passover around the world, including customs that can be adopted for use in the child’s own family seder.

by Susan Tarcov
illustrated by Fotini Tikkou

A story about the famous professor and philosopher Martin Buber and his nine cats. Buber was active in the Zionist movement and moved to Israel after the Nazis came to power in the 1930s.

by Lisa Rose
illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

A humorous story about a painter, who is hired to paint a mural ahead of Israel’s Independence Day celebration and who has a tendency for procrastination, and his talented dog.

by Sarah Sassoon
illustrated by Noa Kelner

Shoham’s Bangle tells the story of a young Jewish-Iraqi girl named Shoham and her life in Baghdad with her family. Shoham details her family’s journey to Israel and her memories of Iraq.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

by Shoshana Nambi
illustrated by Moran Yogev

Sukkot is Shoshi’s favorite Jewish holiday. She and her brothers love to decorate their sukkah, the hut where her family will celebrate. But who will win the Ugandan Abayudaya community’s annual sukkah contest? While only one sukkah can be the best, everybody wins when neighbors work together.

by Lesley Simpson
illustrated by Janice Lee Porter

This is the story of a 5-year-old Jewish Ethiopian girl on a dangerous journey with her grandmother to a Sudan refugee camp where they will be airlifted to Israel.

by Ze’ev Zion

Z is for Zionism is an educational booklet that takes readers on a historical journey of the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel, the history of antisemitism, the beginning of Zionism, and Israel’s contributions to the world.

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.  

by Anna Levine
illustrated by Chiara Pasqualotto

Alexandra Crane is terrible at following her family in their flying Vee. She can’t help it that the world is so full of interesting and distracting sights! When it’s time for the Cranes to migrate to Israel’s Hula Valley for the winter, Alexandra is excited but her family is worried. Will Alexandra stay with the group? And might Alexandra discover that a bad follower can make a great leader?

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.

by Barbara Sofer

A biography of Israel’s first astronaut starting from his upbringing in Beersheva to studying hard in school and becoming a pilot in Israel’s elite Air Force.

by Anna Levine
illustrated by Ksenia Topaz

When Jodie begs her dad to take her on an archaeological dig, he agrees to take her to Modi’in, the ancient home of the Maccabees. And when she volunteers to explore an underground cave, she learns that she and the Maccabees, the heroes of the Hanukkah story, have something in common.

by Anna Levine
illustrated by Ksenia Topaz

Young amateur archeologist Jodie invites her cousin Zach on a Passover adventure to explore Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem, the famous secret water tunnel. Sloshing through the long, creepy, dark, wet passage, they solve the riddle in the middle and find a shiny treasure!

by Anna Levine
illustrated by Ksenia Topaz

Stumbling onto an ancient wine press while walking her dog, amateur archeologist Jodie gets the best idea ever for a birthday surprise for her dad!

by Blake Hoena
illustrated by Daniele Dickmann

A graphic novel biography of human rights advocate Natan Sharansky and his life’s work to fight the Soviet government and allow Soviet Jews to immigrate to Israel.

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.

by Erica Lyons
illustrated by Yinon Ptahia

When young Saliman’s family left Yemen in 1881 to move to Jerusalem there were so many things they could not take along. Promising to remember it all, even the names of each their goats and the color of their fur, he clutched his memory stone, a piece of his house that he kept in his pocket, as a way to keep Yemen in his heart. Saliman and the Memory Stone is a fictionalization of the real emigration of hundreds of Yemeni Jews to Jerusalem.

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?

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.

by Chaya Burstein

A comprehensive and easily digestible history of the Jewish people in a graphic novel format, for younger readers. Jewish history and the Jews’ connection to the Land of Israel are explored in 26 chapters covering biblical times on. 

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.

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.

by Martin Lemelman

The Miracle Seed is the true story of how Israeli scientists brought back to life the once-extinct Judean Palm Tree by crossbreeding a 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada and a seed found at an archaeological site in Jericho.

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.

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.

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.

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.

by Leah Sokol

Yosef Mendelevich had always known he was Jewish, but in the USSR, teaching about Judaism was against the law. So Yosef applied for permission to leave the Soviet Union and move to Israel. This began Yosef’s harrowing journey through labor camps and prisons.