ציור, נגינה, שירה, ריקוד – אמנויות שממלאות את עולמנו בצבע, בטעם ובעניין. כל אלו ועוד, נמצאים בספרים קסומים ויפהפיים אשר מבליטים באופן מעורר השראה את המשמעות של האמנות והמוזיקה בחיינו, ואת גודל שכרם של העוסקים בהן.
You can ask your children to spread their fingers and look through the spaces between them and then ask them: What can you see in the space between your fingers? Can you imagine that what you see is different than what is actually there? Can you give an example? Have you ever looked at anything – such as the various shapes of clouds, holes in the ground or puddles – and turned it into something else in your mind?
You can also create lights and shadows. Look for a sun-filled spot, and place various objects there, such as leaves or small toys. You can draw the outlines of their shadows and draw something inside them, or turn their shadows into various things. The shadow of a leaf, for instance, can become a drawing of a dragon.
Encouraging creative thinking: You can pick up a few stones together, look at them, and imagine what they can become. Next, you can take turns arranging them in any way you like, and use them to create something new
This book can inspire you to look into the fundamentals that make up the things you know. Pick any object, for instance – a shirt, and research it: What is it made of? (Fabric) And what is that fabric made of? (Cotton), to discover that a cotton wad can be turned into a shirt!
Toddlers like to be part of the story: Repeating words and sounds found in the book, or dramatizing the actions taken by the different characters. It is their way of identifying with the story, enriching their emotional worlds, and acquiring vocabulary and concepts. That is why, when reading together, you could “play” the trumpet, “beat” on a drum using your hands, and pretend you’re a choir conductor.
Gilly finds a job that suits her as the conductor of the orchestra. Following her decision, you too can discuss your toddlers’ roles at home: What can they do and what do they want to do? Pick up their toys? Sweep the floor? Help set the table for dinner?
Almost any item can become a musical instrument: You could clap together to the rhythm of the song, or collect any instruments, rattles, and utensils you can find. A pot with spoons can be a drum, a used roll of paper towels can be a trumpet. You could even try to tap various materials to find out what kinds sounds tapping wood makes? And what about tapping the floor? Or metal? You may enjoy picking one of your favorite songs and playing it together.
Are your toddlers conductors? While listening to your favorite music together, you could hold a small stick and “conduct”. Perhaps you could dance to the music, acting out the various instruments, and switch roles from time to time.
Perhaps you could discuss and share with one another the experiences you recall of moments in which you had discovered a new ability: Writing your first name, a special drawing you had made, and what else? What other new abilities would you like to discover?
The illustrations in The Gift invite readers to immerse themselves in the book, and be part of Leo’s world: Which animal accompanies Leo? Which animals appear in the illustrations? Which details are taken from the world of children, and which from that of animals? Would you like to make your own drawing following Leo’s?
Which incredible things await you in your pen? You may enjoy dedicating a notebook to drawings, copying words out, or writing down your favorite ones. You could make it a family notebook, in which each member adds their own illustrations and words.
What sort of world is hiding in your pen? Grab a pen and paper to find out! You and your family can take turns adding detail to a shared drawing – a line, circle, character, or item – to create a joint work of art that has come out of a single pen!
Annabelle was a happy child. What, do you think, made her happy? How do you feel when you give to others? Can you think of something like Annabelle’s yarn – things you can give others many times over?
Yarn can be used to create a track for a single-rule game “Don’t touch the yarn!”. How do you play? Tie lots of pieces of rope, string and lace together to create long “yarn”, and wind it round the furniture and other objects in the room. Create an obstacle course that players must follow without touching the yarn: you can jump over it, crawl under it, or choose any creative way to avoid it, as long as you don’t touch it!
Annabelle knit more and more colorful clothes that made all her townspeople happy. Like her, you too could create your very own attire as a family fashion statement. Think of the kind of special piece of clothing you would like to make: Should it be a certain color shirt? An interesting brooch? A bracelet, adorned hat, special socks, or other item of clothing your entire family agrees on?
Annabelle loves knitting. Are there any kinds of arts or crafts that both you and your child enjoy doing? Perhaps o
ne of you loves to cook, while the other is a plasticine sculptor? You may enjoy asking each family member what kind of art or craft they like to engage in, and suggest joining then to gain some hands-on experience.
Suggestions for arts & crafts activities using yarn can be found on our website and the PJLibrary Pinterest page.
You may want to leaf through the book and look at the illustrations together. What can you see out of Shusha’s bedroom window? What can you see out of your child’s bedroom window?
Shusha dreams of being a famous painter. Perhaps you could discuss each of your family members’ talents and dreams.
Shusha has the best time at her grandmother’s. what does your child enjoy doing with their grandparents or uncles and aunts? You may enjoy discussing the uniqueness of their relationship with each member of your extended family, and plan the next time you all get together.
Drawing on walls, as Shusha does, is usually prohibited. You could, however, put a large sheet of paper up on a wall or door to draw on. Perhaps you could add details over time to gradually create your very own family wall painting.
Shusha waves, and the sheep follows suit. You may want to use chalk to outline your child’s shadow in your backyard or on the sidewalk, and return an hour later to the same exact spot, to see how their shadow grows longer and moves in tandem with the sun.
Shusha sees a black sheep in her shadow. Perhaps you could turn off the main lights, and turn on a small lamp to check what kind of shadows form on the walls when we put our fingers or various items between the small light and the wall.
How about visiting an art exhibition at a gallery or museum with your child? Discover which paintings you like best, and whether you and your child have similar taste. You could even pick one or two of your favorite pieces, and learn some fun facts about the artists that painted them.
You may want to read this book together, pause, and ask your child to tell you what they think is happening at that point in the story. How far along were you when you figured out where the grandmother and grandson were going, who the people in the black suits were, and what their cases contained?
The grandmother and grandson in this book are spending time together. A special connection is often forged between children and their grandparents, that is unlike the relationship between parents and children. Can you recall a special time spent with your grandma or grandpa? You may want to share your childhood memories with your child, and discuss their relationship with their grandparents, aunts, or uncles.
The authors depict the concert in the sand through a detective story, in which the grandmother does not tell her grandson where they are headed. Having read the book together, you may want to suggest playing a game in which your child will take you somewhere without disclosing your destination. Your child can prepare clues along the way, much like a treasure hunt.
During the first concert, the orchestra played pieces by Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and others. What kind of music do you like listening to? Does anyone in your family play a musical instrument, or is learning to play one? Having read this book together, you may also enjoy attending a concert together, or even holding one of your own at home. There are many roles to be played at a family concert – musicians, conductor, and audience.
Not too many people know the story of Bronislaw Huberman. Numerous men and women have been courageous and done great deeds for which they have not become famous. Perhaps you can think of another historical figure that you have heard about or known personally, whose story you would like to share with your child. You could even make a short storybook about them, and send it to us.
You may want to sit close together, read the story, and look at the illustrations. Perhaps you could look for indications of the differences between Leah and Rivka’s life stories. After reading the story for the first time, you may enjoy reading or telling the story together, each of you playing a different role: one of you can be in charge of telling Leah’s life story, the other – Rivka’s.
Leah and Rivka were fluent in many languages, among them music and drawing! Perhaps you could pick one word, an emotion or object, and think of different ways and languages in which to express them – in words, movement, art etc.
How much does your child know about your own childhood? You may want to set up a time for “getting to know one another session”. You could encourage your child to ask you questions, or prepare a scrapbook together of landmarks in yours and your child’s lives – at home, with the family, in the neighborhood with friends.
At the basis of Leah and Rivka’s friendship is their love of music and art. Do you also like to sing? Do you happen to play a musical instrument? You may enjoy making a songbook filled with all your favorite songs, and invite your friends and family to a night of song and dance.
When Leah and Rivka were unable to meet in person, they wrote letters to one another. Perhaps you could suggest that your child pick a friend or family member with whom to correspond. The letters should be handwritten and drawn, and just like old times – put them into envelopes, stick a stamp on, put them in the mailbox, and feel your excitement mount as you wait for a response.
Do you know any other works by Leah Goldberg? You may want to look for more of her stories at home or the local library: The Absent-Minded Guy from Kfar Azar (Hamefuzar Mikfar Azar), Fibber the Storyteller (Mar Guzmay HaBaday), Wonders and Miracles (Nissim VeNiflaot), or her poetry book, What Do the Does Do? (Ma Osot HaAyalot?)
Look closely at the illustrations together with your child. Did you take note of the same things? Did you discover anything surprising or humorous in the pictures? You may ask your children if they recognize all the objects in the book, and explain those things that they do not know. Take a closer look: Some of the illustrations are made from photographs; others are created with torn pieces of paper or fabric. You can flip through the pages and look for all the things that are made of wood. Did you notice how the letters are made?
Take note of the book’s cover. Did you notice the flower that is sprouting from the wooden table? Which came first, the flower or the table? As a way to emphasize nature’s cycle, try reading the book backwards, from end to beginning.
Which trees grow near your home? You can go out together for a walk and collect twigs and special leaves. Back home, you can glue your treasures onto a clean piece of paper and create a picture.
The blessing of the trees reminds us to stop and enjoy nature. You can talk about the plants and trees that you know – their names and their characteristics. Which trees do you find beautiful? Which trees produce fruit and which do not? You can discuss the many ways we benefit from different trees.
Together with your children, you can make your own What Does It Take… book. Invite your children to cut or rip pictures from old magazines. Then glue the torn pictures onto pieces of white paper, punch holes in the side of the pages and tie them together with a shoestring. Does your book have pictures of flowers and trees as well?
Do your children know the origins of the food they eat, the clothes they wear, their books and toys? It is important to encourage questions on the source and production process of everyday objects. Even when we do not have all the answers, the act of wondering about this expands the children’s knowledge base and increases everyone’s appreciation and gratitude for our world.
You can play a family game of “What is made of…?” One person thinks of an object in the home (furniture, kitchenware, toys…) and announces, “I’m thinking of something that’s made of…”, and the others try to guess the object. Be sure to take turns so everyone has a chance to ask the questions and provide the answers.
Many children like to dress up, and not just on Purim! You may enjoy making costumes using clothes, scarves, and other accessories found at home, and have a family costume party.
Do you remember any special childhood costumes? Perhaps you also got dressed up as a king or queen? You may want to share those memories with your child. You could look through old photo albums, and be reminded of costumes worn by parents, siblings and children.
There are many children nowadays who also need Purim costumes. Do you have any costumes you no longer need at home? You could donate them or have a give ‘n’ take second-hand costume fair in your school or neighborhood.
Malka discovers artists practicing various kinds of art at the Bezalel building: weaving, jewelry-making, and painting. What kind of arts does your child enjoy engaging in? In the story, each painter paints Malka a little differently. You may want to make portraits of your own family members. Do you also find it difficult not to move? Do you recognize yourselves in the portraits you painted?
You should encourage your child to dream, and dream big! You may want to ask your child what their dreams are, and share with them a dream that you have made come true, or perhaps in one you still hope to make true someday. Perhaps, like Malka and Boris, your dreams will also come true!
The streets of Israel have undergone many changes since Bezalel Art School was first opened. You may want to look at the illustrations together, and compare them to this day and age: are we still allowed to wander around outside on our own? Do you live in an area where there are still walkways without cars or traffic lights? It would be advisable to speak to your child and emphasize the fact that this story is an imaginary one. You could explain that books, as well as movies, are often unlike reality, and that in truth children must never take a walk with a stranger.
After you have read the story, you may want to visit a nearby art museum or gallery with your child. You could also go online and look at images from art exhibitions across the globe.
Bezalel Art School is well-known in Israel today, but few know the name Boris Schatz. Many people have done great things but are not remembered for them. Try to think of a person in history that you have heard of or know about, whose story you would like to share with your child. You could create a short book about this person and send it to us.
You may want to discuss Amalya’s “magical secret”, which helped her believe in her drawing ability. What made her believe in herself, and how did she help the boy she met at the exhibition believe in his own talent? What do you think happened after the boy signed his drawing? You could try to continue the story.
This story demonstrates the power of encouraging words of reassurance. You could announce the launce of a “pep talk campaign” at home: cut out notes of various colors and sizes, and have all family members write encouraging words and phrases on them. Hang the notes in various places around the house: on the fridge; on the bathroom mirror; in your schoolbag; under your pillow… When your self-esteem drops and fear takes over, all you have to do is look up and remember that a team of cheerleaders is behind each and every one of us.
Every painting starts with a dot: You may want to take a sheet of paper and crayons, and make a joint drawing – the parent starts with a dot, and the child adds another detail, followed by the parent, and so on. At the end of this exercise you will get a shared drawing that each of you made a small contribution towards, which began with a single dot.
Every work of art, be it as small as a dot, can grow and evolve into an entire exhibition. You may enjoy taking your child to an exhibition at a gallery, theater, or museum. Perhaps you could pick a piece your child especially likes, and try to think which point the artist started from, and what they were trying to express.
Amalya’s teacher tells her to “just make a mark, and see what happens”. You may want to remind one another of your child’s or your own achievements that once seemed impossible. How did you overcome the difficulties along the way? Did anyone encourage you to get there? You could tell your child about a person that encouraged you to believe in yourself.
Every mountain climb begins with a single step. What sort of capabilities and talents would you like to develop? Is there a member of your family who can help you get there? What are you able to teach others? Who can you encourage?
To learn more about The Dot and author Peter H. Reynolds, and for more activity ideas, please visit www.peterhreynolds.com/dot
Israeli author, poet, painter and illustrator, Oded Burla was born in Jerusalem to a Sephardi family who lived in Eretz Israel for more than 13 generations. His father, Yehuda Burla, wrote adult books and won many awards. Oded Burla attended the agricultural school at Mikveh Israel, followed by the Bezalel Art Academy. His first book was published when he was 45, and he since wrote and illustrated more than 70 children’s books, which, he claimed, contained 346 different animals! Burla was named the father of nonsensein Hebrew Children’s Literature. His humorous books are sophisticated and filled with surprising and amusing wordplay. Oded Burla has won awards for his work: the Zeev Award, ACUM Award and Bialik Award.
How do we portray a melody? You may want to notice how illustrator Assaf Benharroch chose to draw the melody, and how it changes throughout the story. Perhaps you’d like to suggest that your child draw your melody together with you.
Do you sing lullabies at home to your children? Do you remember a lullaby your parents sang to you when you were young? Share a lullaby you know with your child. You may want to renew this beautiful family custom, and sing together before bed.
Do you know melodies that have no words? You may want to sing some with your child. To complete the experience, you may enjoy dancing together, and even making up your own words to this tune.
Oded Burla wrote and illustrated many children’s books, among them A Smile in every Corner and Oded Burla’s Big Book. You may want to look for his works in the library or online, and enjoy reading them together.
The plot of the story is straightforward and can easily be turned into a play. You may like to act it out with your child. Your child can play the part of the melody, and other members of the household can be the different characters in the book. You may want to add some more dialog to the story, in which the melody explains to the various creatures why they should sing.
The mountain in the story has no need for the melody because “mountains don’t sing”; whereas the trees tell the melody: “We have our own songs”. According to Rabbi Nachman of Breslow, each blade of grass has its own song. By this he means that every creature in the world has a voice and melody of their own. Naomi Shemer wrote a beautiful tune to Rabbi Nachman of Breslow’s Song of the Grass. You may enjoy listening to it and singing along.
Things That Aren’t 
Music 
Le Cadeau (The Gift) 
Extra Yarn 
Shusha 
A Concert in the Sand 
Yakinton: A Story about Friendship and Song 
What Does It Take? 
Malka, a Queen in Jerusalem 
The Dot 
The Melody 
שִׂיחָה
מִשְׂחָק
יְצִירָה
חֵקֶר
הַשְׁרָאָה
כְּלָלִי
שֵׁמַע
סִרְטוֹנִים
הַעֲשָׁרָה
קְרִיאָה
לָצֵאת הַחוּצָה
– suggestions for game cards and arts & crafts can be found on the PJLibrary Pinterest page.
