The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago recently announced that the PJ Library is launching its free book program in the city.  Each month for three years, the PJ Library will send a new, free book to thousands of young Jewish families in the Chicago area.  Children receive the gift of a great, age-appropriate Jewish storybook, and families receive the gift of being able to enrich their children’s Jewish learning experiences, and of feeling embraced by the broader Jewish community.  Chicago, in fact, is only one of 100-plus communities throughout North America where PJ Library operates – each month, the program reaches over 50,000 children!  According to the Chicago Federation announcement,

In each community where it is available, the PJ Library receives enthusiastic praise from parents and grandparents who cite the high quality of the books, and the thoughtful accompanying guides for parents to provide background on topics, among their favorite aspects of the program.

[...]And then, there is the excitement felt by children each month when an envelope arrives in the mail addressed to them, and the joy the parents feel when they watch their children’s faces light up when they learn something new.  “The program isn’t just free—that it makes learning about Judaism fun, is priceless,” commented Deborah Cooper, PJ Library program director.

The books that PJ Library selects are age-appropriate and are meant to engage a broad spectrum of Jewish families.  Themes tend of focus on Jewish holidays, the Bible, Jewish values, and folklore.  Their list even includes a few JPS titles (!), including Mrs. Moskowitz and the Sabbath Candlesticks, and A Coat for the Moon (you can browse through the full list of books here).

Wishing all the littlest residents of the Windy City happy reading,
Naomi