Which makes me wonder. What’s the point?
Back in September, New York City played host to the illustrious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. I didn’t blink an eye. (What do I know about Jimmy Choos? I’m more of a flip-flops girl…) This week, though, the book world descends upon the Big Apple. And I’m getting very excited!
- Hey! Over here! I’m not done yet… as I was saying, in an age where your average American no longer seems willing to sit still for long enough to read an actual book, it’s good to remind people that great literature didn’t end with The Great Gatsby. Great literature and powerful works of nonfiction are still being churned out every day, folks. The National Book Awards give us a moment to recognize that.
for someone like me, who works with social media and books everyday? My only disappointment is that it took me almost three years to discover this place. So, for all of you out there who have yet to stumble upon this site and hear about it from friends, allow me to invite you into the world of 
Ellen Frankel, author of JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible
, is guest-blogging all week for MyJewishLearning and the Jewish Book Council.
For most of Jewish history, the Bible was “one size fits all.” There was simply no such thing as a children’s version.
The second-century rabbinic anthology Pirkei Avot counsels: “At five years old [one should begin the study of] Scripture” (5:24). For centuries, Jewish children were introduced to the Bible, unexpurgated and unabridged. In fact, Jewish children’s books did not emerge as a separate genre in America until the 1930s, with the publication of The Adventures of K’Ton Ton
So, do Jewish kids really need a children’s Bible? Or are we just imitating our Christian neighbors, who have been publishing and teaching children’s Bibles since the 11th century?
To read the entire post, visit the Jewish Book Council Blog!
