I would also like to point out that AJL Reviews often reviews children’s books from Christian publishers such as Tyndale House, Worthy Publishing, Zondervan, and Eerdmans. For example, see p.41 of the February/March 2017 issue for a (positive) review of The Hurry-Up Exit from Egypt from Tyndale Kids and p.43 for a (critical) review of The Story of Passover from Worthy Kids. Unfortunately, it doesn’t looks like AJL Reviews reviewed Noah and God's Great Promise or any of the other “I Can Read” bible story books from Zondervan in 2010.
If you come across any new 2017 or 2018 children’s titles from Christian publishers that you think would be of interest to AJL members, please let me know and I will do my best to request review copies. Shabbat Shalom, Rachel Kamin, Editor Book Reviews for Children & Teens The Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter www.jewishlibraries.org<http://www.jewishlibraries.org/> From: Hasafran [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kathleen Bloomfield Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 8:04 PM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] Christian content in bible stories Hello, Sorry to be coming in to this conversation so late. I just moved across country and am coming up for air. When I ran ForWordsBooks as a book fair company, I offered many books from Christian Publishers. However, I read each and every one of them individually and looked for "hidden" Christian content. As a Jew by Choice who was raised as a Catholic, I am aware of those underlying images and words that may have a double meaning within the story, or images in "Old Testament" stories that are not appropriate for a Jewish audience - kneeling while praying comes to mind. ' There is absolutely nothing wrong with many of the biblical retellings coming from these publishers. You just have to be careful and vigilant in looking at them all. Kathy Bloomfield On Thu, Aug 3, 2017 at 7:40 AM, [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Zondervan also publishes the NIV (New International Version) Bible that is widely used throughout American Christian churches (many times non-denominational churches), and a good deal of content by modern evangelical ministers. Whether you choose to include them in your library is your choice, but I would look at each book on an individual basis. Best, Ashley Day Temple Sinai Atlanta Interim Librarian 5645 Dupree Dr NW Atlanta, GA 30327 404-252-3073 Ext. 320<tel:(404)%20252-3073> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> “My library is an archive of longings.” –Susan Sontag ----- “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” –Jorge Luis Borges From: Hasafran [mailto:hasafran-bounces+asalmenson<mailto:hasafran-bounces%2Basalmenson>[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Henry Hollander Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 12:51 AM To: Michael Kahn <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] Christian content in bible stories Without addressing the issue of children’s books by Christian publishers for use in Jewish libraries I offer a simple answer to the simple question below: No, there are not enough children’s books from Jewish sources. And certainly there are not enough good ones (and very few great ones). The many members of AJL who have worked on the Sydney Taylor Book Awards have made valiant efforts to remedy that situation, but I think they would agree that the need is still great. The low quality of many of the books distributed by PJ library is testament to what a struggle it is to serve this need (may they go from strength to strength). All the best, Henry Hollander From: Michael Kahn<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 7:30 PM To: Lisa Silverman<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] Christian content in bible stories Aren't there enough books by Jewish authors? MIchael Kahn On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 6:44 PM, Lisa Silverman <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Rachel, Sinai Temple owns the David, Noah, Daniel, and Moses titles in the “I Can Read” series of Bible stories by Dennis Jones, and when I was there we considered them ok for a conservative synagogue. I would guess that certain ones by Zondervan are also ok, because the Sperber Library owns one by him called “Jonah and the Big Fish”. They have very few words to a page and are for just beginning readers, and the pictures are quite colorful. However, there are many authors in the series, and they repeat subjects, so you have to see each one. Most of these books have a preview available to click on through Amazon to get a general view, although of course you can’t see the whole thing. The one I do know not to recommend would be on the subjects of creation, Adam and Eve, and often stories of King David. I think they fill a void though, and kids like them. Lisa ____________________________________ Lisa Silverman Library Director, Burton Sperber Jewish Community Library [https://reg139.imperisoft.com/Pages/System/Image.aspx?id2=78] Address: 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, California 90077 Phone: (310) 440-1264<tel:(310)%20440-1264> Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Website: http://library.aju.edu<http://library.aju.edu/> From: Hasafran [mailto:hasafran-bounces+lisa.silverman<mailto:hasafran-bounces%2Blisa.silverman>[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 1:36 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [ha-Safran] Christian content in bible stories Dear Hasafranim, Does anyone know if books by Dennis Jones, such as Noah and God's Great Promise: Biblical Values (I Can Read!) or by Zondervan have obvious Christian content that would make them objectionable in a Conservative synagogue library? Thanks, Rachel Haus Library Director Congregation of Moses Fisher Library Kalamazoo MI __ 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran -- Kathleen M. Bloomfield Association of Jewish Libraries, President - Schools, Synagogues & Libraries Division http://forwordsbooks.com/ kids books that matter. "The fact of knowing how to read is nothing, the whole point is knowing what to read." - Jacques Ellul
__ 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 [email protected] https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
