PJ Library: Bedtime Stories

Book CoverMy mother in law signed my family up for the PJ Library, a free book subscription service that provides Jewish-themed bedtime stories to children based on their age. Funded by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the program sends one book per month to each registered child.

I cannot even tell you how spiffy the books this month are. Baba O’Riley received a book about Tu B’Shevat, which is the New Year of the Trees, or colloquially known as Jewish Arbor Day. He wasn’t so into the story itself but was all about the illustrations of the trees.

But Freebird’s PJ book rocked the world this month: Dave Horowitz’ Five Little Gefiltes. Oh, holy crap, this book is a riot. A parody of “Five Little Ducks” (they went out to play, and one less comes back until mama duck has to break open a can of whoopass and go after their ducky behinds) the book mixes Yiddish with pun-ful humor (my favorite!) and teaches really fun words like “plotz” and “oy vey” and “kvell.” The book won a few awards including, I kid you not, Mother Reader’s Weird Ass Picture Book Award for Best Story.

If you know a family who might benefit, you can sign up individual children on the PJ Library website, and read more about the program. Book gift programs like the PJ library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are amazing things. Are there similar programs in your area? Share!

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  1. ev says:

    I think I have to find that book for my grandson’s.

  2. ev says:

    At Penquin, they are currently testing a program with us employees, on being able to access and read childrens stories on the computer, complete with audio if you want and the illustrations. So far it has been pretty good. I play with it at work when I have a moment. I hope it works out and goes on line live.

  3. Lori says:

    I know nothing about book services for kids, but I have to say that finding out about the Weird-Ass Picture Book Awards and the existence of a book called The Five Little Gefiltes has totally made my day.  I think the fact that the gefiltes look more like the five little marshmallows makes it even better.

  4. I’d love to be a part of this, but Washington state’s not on there. Why?!?!  🙁

  5. amy lane says:

    I’m not Jewish, but I remember my older children REALLY enjoying the story of Moses when the Rugrats did it… and really… who can resist five little Gefiltes… they’re adorable!

  6. Anaquana says:

    Funded by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the program sends one book per month to each registered child.

    That’s actually very cool. I love it when I find out about local people making such a big difference. 🙂

  7. Chicklet says:

    I’m a shiksa, but I love using Yiddish words because they’re so expressive. I’m totally kvelling over this program. *g*

  8. nystacey says:

    I adore the gefiltes.  I showed it to my mom (a second grade sunday school teacher) in absolute and utter excitement last year.  Unfortunately, she didn’t order it for the collection of books she keeps for her class, but I did show her this website. 

    What book was the tu b’shevat one ?

  9. Thanks for publicizing the PJ Library—everyone I know who’d want it has already gotten spammed by me. We just got The Five Little Gefiltes in the mail too. Until the book arrived, I didn’t realize I could do a yenta voice. (Reach for the stars!)

    Add me to the list of people curious about the Tu B’Shevat book. We only have a Sammy Spider one.

  10. Linzenberg says:

    I don’t know about programs, but I do know Scholastic put out The Matzah Man – a Passover version of “The Gingerbread Man. 

    Lemony Snicket, he of the wonderful Series of Unfortunate Events series, wrote The Latke That Wouldn’t Stop Screaming.  I haven’t read it, but I can only assume that it’s awesome.

  11. Jessica says:

    Lemony Snicket, he of the wonderful Series of Unfortunate Events series, wrote The Latke That Wouldn’t Stop Screaming.  I haven’t read it, but I can only assume that it’s awesome.

    It is.

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