That's a Mitzvah

by Diane Heiman, Liz Suneby, Laurel Molk (Illustrator)

Overview

For babies, toddlers and preschoolers—a first lesson in the everyday kindnesses that mark the beginning of a Jewish journey.

This whimsical, fun-filled board book helps you and your child explore the joys of doing good deeds and mitzvot together. Adapted from the award-winning It's a ... It’s a ... It’s a Mitzvah, the playful text spins new twists on beloved nursery rhymes. Lively illustrations introduce your child to the everyday kindnesses that mark the beginning of a Jewish journey and a lifetime commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world). Your child will delight in turning the sturdy pages and celebrating the actions we all can do to become caring souls who think about and help others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580238045
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/30/2014
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	4.80(w) x 4.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Diane Heiman is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys; The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah … and Your Life; It's a … It's a … It's a Mitzvah (all Jewish Lights) and the Children's Choice Award winner See What You Can Be: Explore Careers That Could Be for You.

Diane Heiman is also available to speak on the following topic:

• Mitzvah Projects

Liz Suneby is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys; The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitvah … and Your Life; It's a ... It's a ... It's a Mitzvah (all Jewish Lights) and coauthor of the Children's Choice Award winner See What You Can Be: Explore Careers That Could Be for You!

Liz Suneby is also available to speak on the following topic:

• Mitzvah Projects

Laurel Molk is the author and illustrator of several children's books, including Off We Go! and When You Were Just a Heartbeat.

Editorial Reviews

A charming, rhyming meerkat helpstoddlers recognize when they'vedone something kind. Fresh, engagingillustrations and a tone reminiscentof Dr. Suess avoids any hint of heavyhandedmoralizing; the story is lots offun and encourages readers to follow the goodness in their hearts. A boardbook.

The Jewish Journal - Deahn Berrini Leblang

That's a Mitzvah is a cute, pocket-sized board book that introduces young children to the concept of doing mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of going good deeds. It is geared toward pre-readers up to about the age of four. It was written by Liz Suneby and Diane Heiman, and it is an adaptation of their book It's a... It's a... It's a Mitzvah, which is geared more toward those starting to learn to read. As with its progenitor, this book is filled with adorable illustrations of cuddly animals learning about, and carrying out, mitzvot.

The text of That's a Mitzvah is written in a lively, series of rhymes that are fun to read out loud, and which will help hold the attention of youngsters as you read to them. In addition, the small size of this book (it is about five inches wide and five inches tall) is ideal for little hands to grasp, and the thick, board like pages are easy for little ones to turn. This enables most pre-readers to hold the book themselves and turn the pages as they look at the pages. It is an ideal car seat book, although it might get chewed on a bit if the 'reader' happens to be teething ;-)

The pictures are colorful, the text engaging, and the message is one that will enhance every child's life as they learn about the requirement of, and joy in, doing good deeds and in helping to make the world a better place for all.

The Jewish Eye - Anna Dogole

Well, he is back! That loveable and wise meerkat is now delivering a very special message of rhyme to our youngest pre-readers. Suneby and Heiman have smartly re-envisioned theirIt's a … It's a … It’s a Mitzvahfor the preschool set with a new twist. Using classic nursery rhymes, they have captured and extended the essence of mitzvah in memorable phrases that will bring Judaic principles into the daily lives of toddlers. The bouncy rhythm moves you from, "Monkey see, monkey do. Let’s be nice to someone new" to "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Take time to visit someone sick." Molk’s illustrations of these endearing characters speak to all ages and every child will find their favorite.

Spend time reading That’s A Mitzvahwith your children, grandchildren or class and one may find that even we adults may alter our rhyming memories for these deeply meaning­ful jewels of Judaism.

Highly recommended for infants, preschool­ers and early childhood programs, this book bears the seal of Early Childhood Spirituality (ECS) Every Child’s Soul.

Jewish Book Council - Christine Maasdam

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