JPS Illustrated Children's Bible [Hardcover]

Dr. Ellen Frankel PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2009 | Age Range: 7 and up

Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of this book possible: Stanley and Marcia Katz; Members of the Levine and Frankel families.

Acclaimed storyteller and Jewish scholar Ellen Frankel has masterfully tailored fifty-three Bible stories that will both delight and educate today’s young readers. Using the 1985 JPS translation (NJPS) of the Hebrew Bible as her foundation, Frankel retains much of the Bible’s original wording and simple narrative style as she incorporates her own exceptional storytelling technique, free of personal interpretation or commentary. Included in the volume is an; “Author’s Notebook”; in which Frankel shares with rabbis, parents, and educators the challenges she faced in translating and adapting these stories for children, such as how she deals with adult language in the original Bible text and themes inappropriate for most young readers. With enticing, full-page color illustrations of each Bible story, award-winning artist Avi Katz ignites readers’ imaginations. His brush captures the vivid personalities and many dramatic moments in this extraordinary collection.

Avi Katz and JPS are grateful to TaL AM for granting permission to reprint three illustrations from the TaL AM Tora Breshit Notebook series.

Ages 5 and up.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An enchanting, beautiful book . . . [that is] sure to draw in young people while providing them with an accurate and dynamic understanding of the Bible. And Avi Katz’s illustrations just entice and pull in the reader again and again.”—Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of A Code of Jewish Ethics, Jewish Literacy, and many other books (Rabbi Joseph Telushkin )

“Ellen Frankel’s retelling of biblical stories is clearly a labor of love. . . . [She] has created a work that dazzles as it teaches.”—Hadassah Magazine (Hadassah Magazine 20111208)

“[The JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible] will seed many children’s memories and nourish their senses of wonder, curiosity, and history . . . This volume is a treasure for the generations!”—Peninnah Schram, professor of speech and drama at Yeshiva University’s Stern College and Azrieli Graduate School, storyteller, recording artist, and author

(Peninnah Schram )

“Ellen Frankel has succeeded in restoring the story to the most famous book of stories . . . Here, at last, the voice of storyteller rises up from the page and draws us into the mystery and beauty of the core stories of Jewish tradition . . . luminous illustrations by Avi Katz . . . bring these stories to life.”—Howard Schwartz, author of Leaves from the Garden of Eden: One Hundred Classic Jewish Tales and Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism, 2005 winner of the National Jewish Book Award (Howard Schwartz )

From the Publisher

2009 National Jewish Book Award Winner, Children's Illustrated Books; Finalist in Jewish Family Literature

2010 Sydney Taylor Awards Notable Book for Readers of All Ages

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society; 1 edition (July 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827608918
• ISBN-13: 978-0827608917
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Judaism

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adressing the bad review.... April 22, 2010

By Jessy Ko

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a review purely in response to Keri Mom of 4. I am writing this because I do not want a bad review to stop anyone from buying a great book that can ignite a child's imagination, and knowledge regarding the Torah.

I was worried about this review, the last thing I need is a sexualized rendition of the Bible for my children! But so many have endorsed this book, from the right or more conservative side, plus I have always trusted JPS in the past. I decided to get it any way. The first thing I did, before allowing my children to see it was to check out pages 50-51, Jacob's dream. I am sure that, with 100% assertiveness, their are NO female, NOR nude, figures in this section nor any suggestions of it. All that can be made of the genderless, iridescent and transparent figures, are that they are sitting, and the outlines of heads and arms. I have a degree in Art History, and one in Religious Studies, and was a Religious School Teacher, so I have a very good eye for these things. Perhaps the reviewer means to address another book. In fact, as I go through this book all depictions of angels, or messengers, or supper human beings, are completely cloaked, shown, from behind, and obscured. Also everyone is dressed fairly modestly and covered for the time period, even the Egyptians and Romans. It's most controversial image is that of Samson bare chested and in a loin cloth. I can not fully speak on written content because I have not read it all yet, but what I have read is perfect in length, style, and content to be read by or to a young person. Also of course the pictures should be fine for anyone who is interested in an Illustrated Children's Bible of the Old Testament. I have found that a child as young as three can be engaged by this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories...great illustrations! December 20, 2009

By Carol Freed

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My daughter actually begged me to buy this book for her after the author visited our synagogue. I ordered it, and was so glad I did. The stories are perfectly written for my 9 year old, and I find her reading it quite often.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great foundation November 1, 2009

By Lael Hazan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The best Bible for Children that I've seen.
The stories are the perfect length for bedtime and wonderful to read for young children.
The pictures help the younger child visualize the story.
I wish that the language had been a bit less stilted; however, that is a matter of interpretation.
A great foundation on which to start biblical discussions with your children.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sydney Taylor Notable Book for All Ages - 2010 January 17, 2010

By Book Lover 9 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Ellen Frankel introduces children and families to the Jewish story through fifty-three uniquely chosen Bible legends capturing the language and cadence of the Hebrew Bible. She succeeds in creating an age-appropriate interpretation of the most intriguing and familiar stories that allow families to gleen the essence of Jewish teachings, ethics, and history. She organizes her work into three larger categories that reflect "The Torah" with stories about Adam and Eve, the Ten Plagues, and the Rebellion of Korah; "The Prophets" with stories about Gideon, Samson, David and Elijah; and "The Writings" which include Ruth and Naomi, Esther, and Daniel. Deep, abstract and detailed full page paintings accompany each selection augmenting the action and adding a visual element to the interpretation. Aware that unlike folklore and fairytales that offer happy endings, Frankel is cognizant of leaving a more classical impression with her readers anchoring the stories in their traditional narratives of the original Bible and presenting them with good storytelling techniques of dialogue, suspense, irony, wordplay and characters. A good addition for the Jewish family bookshelf to read and discuss together. - RITA SOLTAN - WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for gift giving September 19, 2009

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

In the "JPS Illustrated Children's Bible", author Ellen Frankel engagingly retells fifty-three biblical stories specifically for the edification of young readers, through the means of a simple and effective narrative story-telling style that translates and adapts the original biblical adult language text and themes that are appropriate for children. The stories themselves are additionally enhanced for young readers with Avi Katz's colorful illustrations. Ideal for gift giving, the "JPS Illustrated Children's Bible" is highly appropriate and recommended for school and community library collections for children.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars JPS Illustrated Children's Bible December 28, 2009

By Jewish Book World Magazine

Format:Hardcover

There are many adaptations of the Bible written at a child's level. The JPS Illustrated Children's Bible is one of the best versions I've ever come across. Ellen Frankel, the CEO and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society has carefully selected fifty-three Bible classics and crafted them into exciting, easy-to-understand stories for young learners. Complementing the text are the dramatic illustrations of award-winning artist, Avi Katz. His softly brushed landscapes are the perfect backdrops for his vivid portraits of the characters in each scene. Children will be captivated by the pictures as they are drawn in by the words. Most of the stories in the JPS Illustrated Children's Bible are from the Torah, with a smattering included from Prophets and three major tales from the Writings. Each retelling, while true to the ancient version, has been masterfully adapted for the twenty-first century child. Archaic language has been replaced with more familiar vocabulary, yet some ancient terms have been retained to "give children a feel for the special diction that characterizes sacred texts." Throughout the book, care has been taken to balance these two concerns. An "Author's Notebook" at the end of the book explains the choices Frankel made as she translated the Jewish text. Her adaptations accommodate the young American reader without diminishing either the content or the meaning of the original stories. The chapters are dramatic, the illustrations powerful, creating a dynamic children's Bible that will be cherished by the entire family. Recommended for adults to share with children ages 4-8, reading level ages 9-12. Marcia Berneger