Customer Reviews

It's Tu B'shevat (Very First Board Books)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We just got this book today. My 13-month-old sat still for the initial reading, and kept getting the book and handing it to me for more readings. The book is so sweet that it was ok with me - the first 10 times! After that, with the rhyming and rhythm, I could do a sing-song or rap to the words and that made it better. But the book is sweet - there is a blessing, and the environmentalism, and the family pictured seems traditional (dresses modestly, covered heads) but contemporary. We're an interfaith family - I think this book is perfect to share with Jews and non-Jews. Again and again. Though I may have to hide the book the 16th of Shevat!

I tend to grade Jewish books, particularly those for very young children, on a curve. Gotta buy 'em, wanna love 'em. And, nu, if they're not fabulous? Adequate will have to do. But this one actually IS good; it's my favorite Jewish board book. The illustrations are painterly and folk-arty, definitely a cut above most books from Jewish publishers. The lesson that Tu B'Shevat is the "birthday of the trees" comes through clearly, and there's a nice environmental message about how trees help the planet. Plus it rhymes; my kids strongly preferred rhyming books when they were very small. I'd recommend this title for kids aged 18 months to 3.5 yrs.

I am basing this review on information from my Daughter, Lisa Borowitz Ensfield. The book was purchased and directly mailed to her for our grandson, Eli Ensfield, age 2 yr 4 months..
He loves the book. The pictures are very good and my daughter reads to him with great approval.
Sorry that we have not seen the book ourselves but it sounds like it is very appropriate for our grandson.


Grace and Irving Borowitz

This is a great book to introduce babies to Tu B'Shevat and the important of trees and nature. The story begins with a boy planting a tree and hoping for rain and sun. It describes some of the tree's benefits--provides shades, fruit, and a place to swing. It also teaches about a nice family tradition of returning to the place of the planted tree each year to admire nature's growth and beauty. The words are simple and so are the pictures, but together they make for a nice, sweet story for any baby.