Re: [ha-Safran] thoughts on "Let the celebration begin"

2022-05-04 Thread Aileen Grossberg via Hasafran 
When Let the Celebration Begin first came out there was a huge discussion about 
its appropriateness. Most Judaic children’s librarians had major problems with 
the book and the dissonance between the story and the illustrations. However, 
secular librarians and press seemed very positive about the book. I did not buy 
the book although I like Wild’s artwork and other books. The age range is also 
a problem.

At the time of the book’s publication, I was a school librarian. I did not buy 
the book for my school.

I haven’t seen the reprint but I am glad to hear that there is back matter 
explaining the rationale.

Aileen Grossberg
Lampert Library
Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Montclair, NJ

From: Hasafran  On 
Behalf Of rhaus_com--- via Hasafran
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 8:06 PM
To: Hasafran Listserv ; Karen Hering 
Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] thoughts on "Let the celebration begin"

We have that book and I have always found it weird and disturbing. Though I 
hear that it's done regularly in Israel, I'm generally uncomfortable with 
introducing Holocaust to very young children; how can you relate something so 
horrible without
ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart
This Message Is From an External Sender
This message came from outside your organization.
Report Suspicious  
<https://us-phishalarm-ewt.proofpoint.com/EWT/v1/KGKeukY!swQTnQdhIwagynmS3-7E97JW6ExlcDxWYMZGJKbXIhtkf8DuN1oPI5lVAu-RP7ySw71zV83_V7txtEFSRMecMEG2RVTYLJiMNt46$>
   ‌
ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
We have that book and I have always found it weird and disturbing. Though I 
hear that it's done regularly in Israel, I'm generally uncomfortable with 
introducing Holocaust to very young children; how can you relate something so 
horrible without either watering it down or terrifying them? The parents in our 
synagogue agree with me, so I keep those books (acquired before my time) in a 
spot away from the kids. They are listed in our online catalog, so if the 
parents want them, that's their business, but so far none have.

If you look through this Amazon listing, Publisher's Weekly found it 
distasteful (and identified it's audience as age 3-6), but School Library 
Journal liked it (suggesting an audience of grade 4 and up!)

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.amazon.com/Let-Celebrations-Begin-Margaret-Wild/dp/0531059375/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34PXUCPZYSTMR=let*the*celebration*begin=1651621738=books=let*the*celebration*begin*2Cstripbooks*2C112=1-1__;KysrKysrJSU!!KGKeukY!22NKbkUtcNxc3m0bhv8EvPAYZbl0k55GdSCWnWClY8z1Jz9Iz0uLcb1BShtfu_LQ8hqj7F9_DuXxw4HN4lITPxA$
 
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.amazon.com/Let-Celebrations-Begin-Margaret-Wild/dp/0531059375/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34PXUCPZYSTMR=let*the*celebration*begin=1651621738=books=let*the*celebration*begin*2Cstripbooks*2C112=1-1__;KysrKysrJSU!!KGKeukY!wHn3D5crvLiUDHXzNFCCW-gdwHNNxgBc8J6LTdK05RCwK-YV5iNmCk6pjcrVRs8GO0zz8NgW6VJGCYpqgTc9zw$>


Rachel Haus
Library Director
Congregation of Moses Fisher Library
Kalamazoo MI


On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 07:08:11 PM EDT, Karen Hering via Hasafran 
mailto:hasafran@lists.osu.edu>> wrote:


Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time for 
toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under the 
title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are different,
ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart
This Message Is From an External Sender
This message came from outside your organization.
<https://us-phishalarm-ewt.proofpoint.com/EWT/v1/KGKeukY!vYQd06lML4gux7OxlqIvHkUxAKme0PMOBsR508h1g3bG40Kb4M0fJaMfyswV0sluykLNGSkmhl45cQfDQHYc1Cnaz_YswMhSU26p9x10LWk1BCTfwfFMI6EeDG6ZWy4$>
Report Suspicious 
<https://us-phishalarm-ewt.proofpoint.com/EWT/v1/KGKeukY!vYQd06lML4gux7OxlqIvHkUxAKme0PMOBsR508h1g3bG40Kb4M0fJaMfyswV0sluykLNGSkmhl45cQfDQHYc1Cnaz_YswMhSU26p9x10LWk1BCTfwfFMI6EeDG6ZWy4$>


ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time for 
toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under the 
title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are different, the 
rest of the book is the same.  In view of lots of discussion about who should 
write Holocaust books, the softening of the horrors of the camps, and where the 
focusof such stories sit, I am curious to know how people feel about this book. 
 The illustrations (and narrative honestly) make me feel uncomfortable though I 
cannot explain why, and the more recent edition has a rationale and background 
in the back by the author and illustrator.  They talk about the sensitivity of 
the illustrations and storyline, but I am somewhat uncomfortable with the whole 
book.  I would appreciate others' thoughts and insights, and whether you have 
put it in your library.
Thank you
Karen Hering, MLIS
retired academic librarian
volunteer for a Jewish dayschool,
synagogue and archival libraries
__
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are th

Re: [ha-Safran] thoughts on "Let the celebration begin"

2022-05-03 Thread rhaus_com--- via Hasafran 
We have that book and I have always found it weird and disturbing. Though I 
hear that it's done regularly in Israel, I'm generally uncomfortable with 
introducing Holocaust to very young children; how can you relate something so 
horrible without either watering it down or terrifying them? The parents in our 
synagogue agree with me, so I keep those books (acquired before my time) in a 
spot away from the kids. They are listed in our online catalog, so if the 
parents want them, that's their business, but so far none have.
If you look through this Amazon listing, Publisher's Weekly found it 
distasteful (and identified it's audience as age 3-6), but School Library 
Journal liked it (suggesting an audience of grade 4 and up!)
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.amazon.com/Let-Celebrations-Begin-Margaret-Wild/dp/0531059375/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34PXUCPZYSTMR=let*the*celebration*begin=1651621738=books=let*the*celebration*begin*2Cstripbooks*2C112=1-1__;KysrKysrJSU!!KGKeukY!wHn3D5crvLiUDHXzNFCCW-gdwHNNxgBc8J6LTdK05RCwK-YV5iNmCk6pjcrVRs8GO0zz8NgW6VJGCYpqgTc9zw$
 


Rachel HausLibrary DirectorCongregation of Moses Fisher LibraryKalamazoo MI 

On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 07:08:11 PM EDT, Karen Hering via Hasafran 
 wrote:  
 
  Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time for 
toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under the 
title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are 
different,ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStartThis Message Is From an External Sender  
This message came from outside your organization.  Report Suspicious  
ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEndOur school library has just received a donation of a book 
called "A time for toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been 
published under the title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers 
are different, the rest of the book is the same.  In view of lots of discussion 
about who should write Holocaust books, the softening of the horrors of the 
camps, and where the focusof such stories sit, I am curious to know how people 
feel about this book.  The illustrations (and narrative honestly) make me feel 
uncomfortable though I cannot explain why, and the more recent edition has a 
rationale and background in the back by the author and illustrator.  They talk 
about the sensitivity of the illustrations and storyline, but I am somewhat 
uncomfortable with the whole book.  I would appreciate others' thoughts and 
insights, and whether you have put it in your library. 
Thank you
Karen Hering, MLIS
retired academic librarianvolunteer for a Jewish dayschool, 
synagogue and archival libraries
__
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
==
Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to:
hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu
To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: 
https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
Current:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!wHn3D5crvLiUDHXzNFCCW-gdwHNNxgBc8J6LTdK05RCwK-YV5iNmCk6pjcrVRs8GO0zz8NgW6VJGCYr_hvFm7g$
 
Earlier Listserver:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!wHn3D5crvLiUDHXzNFCCW-gdwHNNxgBc8J6LTdK05RCwK-YV5iNmCk6pjcrVRs8GO0zz8NgW6VJGCYqvo02PfQ$
 
AJL HomePage 
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.JewishLibraries.org__;!!KGKeukY!wHn3D5crvLiUDHXzNFCCW-gdwHNNxgBc8J6LTdK05RCwK-YV5iNmCk6pjcrVRs8GO0zz8NgW6VJGCYpqoEYYUw$
 
--
Hasafran mailing list
Hasafran@lists.osu.edu
https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
  __
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
==
Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to:
hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu
To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: 
https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
Current:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
Earlier Listserver:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
--
Hasafran mailing list
Hasafran@lists.osu.edu
https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran

Re: [ha-Safran] thoughts on "Let the celebration begin"

2022-05-03 Thread Beth Braunstein via Hasafran 
I've had a long career as a Jewish day school librarian in NYC. One of my
specialty areas is teaching  students and professionals about appropriate
children's literature about tolerance and respecting diversity. Over the
years I have led workshops at the holocaust museum and other professional
Jewish conferences. I must say that "Let the celebrations begin" was always
an example of a misguided, inappropriate book for children. The
illustrations, themes and characters are so developmentally inappropriate
for a picture genre. I kept my copy of the book in my "private office
collection" to use as  a teaching tool for a book that should not be used
with children.
Holocaust education is more important than ever , especially in light of
the aging survivor population. But educators and authors must still be
vigilant in making developmentally appropriate choices.
Best Regards,
BETH A. BRAUNSTEIN
former librarian of the Heschel School and SAR academy
New York

On Tue, May 3, 2022 at 7:08 PM Karen Hering via Hasafran <
hasafran@lists.osu.edu> wrote:

> Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time
> for toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under
> the title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are
> different,
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart
> This Message Is From an External Sender
> This message came from outside your organization.
> Report Suspicious
>
> 
>
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
> Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time
> for toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under
> the title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are
> different, the rest of the book is the same.  In view of lots of discussion
> about who should write Holocaust books, the softening of the horrors of the
> camps, and where the focusof such stories sit, I am curious to know how
> people feel about this book.  The illustrations (and narrative honestly)
> make me feel uncomfortable though I cannot explain why, and the more recent
> edition has a rationale and background in the back by the author and
> illustrator.  They talk about the sensitivity of the illustrations and
> storyline, but I am somewhat uncomfortable with the whole book.  I would
> appreciate others' thoughts and insights, and whether you have put it in
> your library.
> Thank you
> Karen Hering, MLIS
> retired academic librarian
> volunteer for a Jewish dayschool,
> synagogue and archival libraries
> __
> Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual
> author
> and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries
> (AJL)
> ==
> Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to:
> hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu
> To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here:
> https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
> Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu
> Ha-Safran Archives:
> Current:
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!zL7IrPZiaoBDtc6VjEkbOXyMzVX47kwXCTTkHeK4HwvDfSyOCyha7w1erl-cl6FWJlgFej3sHQewFfZ7bBpsxMJQU6Jj$
>  
> Earlier Listserver:
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!zL7IrPZiaoBDtc6VjEkbOXyMzVX47kwXCTTkHeK4HwvDfSyOCyha7w1erl-cl6FWJlgFej3sHQewFfZ7bBpsxF7_hhfk$
>  
> AJL HomePage 
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.JewishLibraries.org__;!!KGKeukY!zL7IrPZiaoBDtc6VjEkbOXyMzVX47kwXCTTkHeK4HwvDfSyOCyha7w1erl-cl6FWJlgFej3sHQewFfZ7bBpsxM6MBQsw$
>  
> --
> Hasafran mailing list
> Hasafran@lists.osu.edu
> https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
>
__
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
==
Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to:
hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu
To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: 
https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
Current:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
Earlier Listserver:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
--
Hasafran mailing list
Hasafran@lists.osu.edu
https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran

[ha-Safran] thoughts on "Let the celebration begin"

2022-05-03 Thread Karen Hering via Hasafran 
Our school library has just received a donation of a book called "A time
for toys" by Margaret Wild - It has been more recently been published under
the title "Let the Celebration begin". Though the front covers are
different, the rest of the book is the same.  In view of lots of discussion
about who should write Holocaust books, the softening of the horrors of the
camps, and where the focusof such stories sit, I am curious to know how
people feel about this book.  The illustrations (and narrative honestly)
make me feel uncomfortable though I cannot explain why, and the more recent
edition has a rationale and background in the back by the author and
illustrator.  They talk about the sensitivity of the illustrations and
storyline, but I am somewhat uncomfortable with the whole book.  I would
appreciate others' thoughts and insights, and whether you have put it in
your library.
Thank you
Karen Hering, MLIS
retired academic librarian
volunteer for a Jewish dayschool,
synagogue and archival libraries
__
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
==
Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to:
hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu
To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: 
https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
Current:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
Earlier Listserver:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
--
Hasafran mailing list
Hasafran@lists.osu.edu
https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran