This week, students from many parts of the world returned to school full of excitement and hope for a new year of meaningful education. In Hebrew, the word for school (beit sefer) literally means "the book house". The etymology indicates that school is, more than anything else, a place where one becomes familiar with the experience of learning - primarily through reading books. Schools teach children to become friends with books, as the habit of reading can open up a wide world of thought, information, and values. Works of fiction are also an essential tool for developing emotional language, imagination, and a rich inner world for readers at a young age. Marking the return to school, we have prepared a list of outstanding Hebrew literature for children, which you might like to read with your children and students! All the books on the list are illustrated children's classics which many children in Israel grew up with and love deeply.

 

1955 - "Shmulikipod" / written and illustrated by: Kush (T. Carmi and Shoshana Heyman)

 

 

An exciting story about making connections with new friends, with a hedgehog as the eponymous hero. Carmi and Heyman created a thrilling drama that has touched the hearts of generations of Israeli children. The story, which deals with the tension between friendship and loneliness, is accompanied by sophisticated and delicate illustrations. The two unforgettable heroes of "Shmulikipod" have been fondly remembered for many years thanks to the excellent text, which does not shy away from dealing with complex feelings.

 

1957 - "Hannaleh’s Shabbat Dress" / written by: Yitzhak Damiel

 

 

The book is considered a foundational modern Hebrew work for children, and the book’s cover became an iconic image in children's culture after the establishment of the State. The story's hero is Hannaleh, a little girl who is careful not to dirty her white dress. After she helps an old man carrying a sack of coal, she faces a problem that only the moon, with its magical powers, can solve.

 

1959 - "An Apartment for Rent" / written by: Leah Goldberg

This is one of the most significant books in the Israeli children's library. The book deals with many values that are especially important for Israel’s highly heterogenous society​​, such as acceptance of a variety of lifestyles and fighting racism. Leah Goldberg, one of Israel’s most famous writers, manages to deal with the issue of injustice in a way that is simultaneously thought-provoking and fun. The plot takes place in an imaginary world where animals of different types share an apartment building (or at least try to) and are looking for another animal tenant to live with them. Like many children's stories, this one is also based on a repetitive structure. After a few readings, children will recite the poetic structure of the story along with the adult reading the story (even after they know the story by heart, children will always ask to hear it one more time…).

 

1970 - "Raspberry Juice" / written by: Chaya Shenhav

 

Many generations grew up on this text, which, even years after its publication, is a great pleasure to read. The book manages to be exciting and mysterious, surprising and amusing, energetic and rich in nuances, and - above all - simply offers a good story. Beneath the entertaining plot are fascinating hidden themes of identity, self-discovery, and interpersonal relationships, thus proving the complexity inherent in children's literature.

 

1974 - "A Story of Five Balloons" / written by: Miriam Roth

 

The simplicity and precision of the esteemed writer Miriam Roth, who was also a theorist of children's literature and an accomplished educator, creates an excellent story that targets the hearts of children and also contains many complex meanings. The book owes its iconic status not only to the text but also to the excellent illustration work.

 

1975 - "The Potty" / written and illustrated by: Alona Frankel

 

The most successful Hebrew children’s book in the world. This was the first book created by Alona Frankel, the first Israeli author-illustrator for children, and it describes the weaning process of her son Naftali, who became one of the best-known characters in Hebrew children's literature. The book manages to transcend its genre and beyond being a story about weaning from diapers it is an intelligent, entertaining and very enjoyable book about the complexity of this stage for parents and the way in which it is experienced by the child.

 

1986 - "Itamar Walks on Walls" / written by: David Grossman

David Grossman is a children’s author no less than a writer for adults. He has published dozens of books for children, many of which became famous and iconic. Published in 1986, this was his first work for children. It is the first in an excellent series about a boy named Itamar and his fascinating experiences. Grossman displays his talent as a storyteller for children, bringing young readers together with a surprising, intriguing and exciting fantasy, which also addresses fascinating themes relating to family relationships, loneliness and imagination.

 

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