While you read, you can use different voices and invite the children to do the same: What does a person sound like when s/he bursts out crying? What does a hole being drilled into the wall sound like? Even if you’re not professional actors or actresses, your active participation in the story will enhance your shared experience and delight.
The judge learns from the girl how to resolve the case brought before him. Following this book, you can discuss your children’s knowledge and strengths with them: It can be a hobby, insight or shared memory from an incident in which they contributed their experience and wisdom. You, parents, should also share: What have you learned from your child?
Do oil droplets indeed float in water? You can see for yourselves by adding a few drops of oil into a bowl filled with water. You can later check what else floats: What happens to a piece of paper in water? Or a paper boat? A fork? Or a leaf? And how about a small plastic toy?
Just as they do in this book, you too can try to resolve a disagreement on some issue: Each party presents their case, everyone listens, and suggests how to resolve the dispute. You can also swap roles and explore together – is only one of you right? Or can you, perhaps, reach some other kind of understanding?
“Every loaf starts with a single grain”: You may want to ask your child how “bread is brought out of the ground”, which forces of nature helped the wheat and other ingredients grow, and what one needs in order to turn wheat into bread.
The Princess and the True Loaf of Bread
שְׁמִירָה
ask your child to think of five things they like to eat
You could ask your child to think of five things they like to eat. Do they know what they are made of, and how they are prepared? You may want to make a “true meal” together, one that you make on your own from start to finish, including serving and clearing the table. Did you also feel satisfied with your effort and the entire process?
The Princess and the True Loaf of Bread
שְׁמִירָה
The princess did not want to disappoint her father
The princess did not want to disappoint her father, but hoped she could please him without making much of an effort. She ultimately overcame the difficulties she had encountered, and completed the task well. You may want to discuss the following with your child: Why do you think the king was unhappy with the ready-made loaves of bread brought to him by the princess? What is so special about the “true” loaf of bread? Have you ever been in a situation where you achieved something that was important to you after working hard, making a tremendous effort, or repeated attempts? You may want to share this experience and subsequent feelings with your child.
King Baguette looked at his princess’ hands to determine whether she had brought him the true loaf of bread. You could also look at your child’s hands, and try to guess what they had done today. Children’s hands resemble their parents’, but are also different. You may want to compare your hands, and notice the lines “drawn” on them. Do you have the same lines?
At the end of the story, the princess learned to appreciate the farmers’ hard work, and their contribution to her life, and even learned to thank them. Together with your child, you could think of the people around you who work hard to make everyone’s lives easier. You may want to try and count all the people who have helped us throughout the day (such as the people who clean the streets, security officers, bus drivers, those in building maintenance, etc.).
You might enjoy playing the “thank you game”. A family member starts by saying “I’d like to thank…” and tells of a good thing another has done for them. It could be anything, great or small, whether ongoing or a single incident. The next begins their sentence the same way, and ends it as they wish, and so on. You could have a thank you round at the dinner table, or before bedtime.
During the journey, the princess makes a loaf of bread, as well as a new friend! You may want to discuss the friendship between Fire and the princess together with your child, and compare it to the princess’ relationships with other characters in the book. Perhaps you’d enjoy telling your child about your friends, and share experiences with each other.
Stir the yeast in the lukewarm water until it dissolves, add the sugar, and let the mixture rise.
Place the flour and fermented yeast in a bowl, add the salt and olive oil, and knead into dough.
Cover and let the dough rise for approximately two hours.
Form rolls and place on an oven tray covered with parchment paper or corn flour (to keep them from sticking). Let them rise for another thirty minutes.
Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, at 220 degrees.
A Good Name 
The Princess and the True Loaf of Bread 
קְרִיאָה
שִׂיחָה
חֵקֶר
מִשְׂחָק
הַשְׁרָאָה
הַעֲשָׁרָה
חֲגִיגָה
שִׂיחָה
מִשְׂחָק
שִׂיחָה
מִשְׂחָק
הַשְׁרָאָה
בִּשּׁוּל
