מה עושים כשמתגעגעים מאד? אפשר להתגעגע לאדם אהוב, לחפץ, למקום או לחוויה נעימה. געגוע הוא רגש של כמיהה למשהו שהיה לנו ואינו עוד. לעיתים הוא מתבטא ברגשות עצבות, בתחושת ריקנות או באבדן, ולעיתים הוא נוסטלגי ומרגיש נעים ונכון. סיפורים שעוסקים בגעגוע חושפים את ביטויו השונים ומאפשרים לקוראים להזדהות עם דמויות שמתמודדות עם תחושות דומות, לשתף בתחושותיהם ולחשוב על דרכי התמודדות שונות.
Books written from the protagonist’s point of view invite us to take a closer look at the way others experience the world.
A glimpse into the world of others can make us identify with their feelings and emotions, discover that there are others who experience things the way we do, and cultivate empathy as well as sensitivity toward others.
What would you have said to Nino had you met her during her first few days in Israel? How would you have spoken to her? How would you have cheered her up? Have you ever encountered difficulties communicating with someone? Have you ever felt that no one understands you? What other ways are there to communicate when words are not enough?
Scan the code to hear the story on the “Sifriyat Pijama” podcast. Did you know this podcast helps children from immigrant families listen to books when at home.
What is the view from your window? How would you describe it to a friend who lives in another country? You can look out your window at home and describe what you see in words, movement or art.
Try listening to a children’s song in another language together. You can move to the rhythm of the music, guess what the song is about, or make up your own lyrics.
How does yearning feel? Have you ever missed someone? Who? – This book is an opportunity for a discussion during which you, parents, can share your own experiences of missing someone and waiting for their return.
Pupik misses his father, and Ohad knows exactly how he feels. They share their feelings, and think of things they could do while missing someone. You may want to scan this QR code to watch them, and get some good advice for times when you miss others.
Does it feel like time is standing still while you are missing someone who is away? – You may want to make a box filled with items that could make time go by faster, and make you forget about that person’s absence for a while. How about putting some photos of the two of you in it, materials with which to make a gift or a drawing for them, which you could give to them upon their return?
A minute can go by very quickly, or it can almost stand still. Would you like to try? – Set your timer for one minute, choose an activity, and do it for a full minute: Hopping on one leg, sitting still, finding items beginning with the letter G – Which activity helped time pass by faster? And which activity made it go by extra slowly?
Have you ever lost anything you found important? How did you feel and what did you do? Perhaps you’ve found someone else’s lost item… This book invites children as well as parents to share their childhood experiences of losing and finding lost items.
Shabi and Uzza from the Israeli children’s television show Parpar Nechmad are also returning lost items to their owners. Scan the code to watch the video.
Pick an item and take turns hiding it and having the other players look for it. You can help each other by giving clues such as “hot and cold” or a treasure map. Did you find it? Now it’s someone else’s turn – hide, search and find.
There are lost ads on the first few pages of the book. You may enjoy looking for amusing and surprising ones together to share with the rest of your family. Among them is one found ad – are you able to locate it?
Amy and Louis became friends because they were neighbors who enjoyed the same things, so when Amy moves far away, she’s faced with a big challenge. Talk with your children about how you manage to keep in touch with faraway friends and family. After you finish reading this story, your children might get in touch with people they miss: they could write or draw a letter to send them, or talk to them via phone or the Internet.
Amy and Louie don’t merely miss each other; they recall the things they used to do together. You might talk with your children about things we can do to help keep memories alive. If you have photos, letters, or other items that remind you of friends and shared experiences from your past, you could share them with your children.
Children are introduced to this book near the end of their kindergarten year. You could talk with your children about good-byes, transitions, and new beginnings. Maybe talk about the friends they’ve made in kindergarten and the things your children like to do with them. Your children could also draw pictures or write letters to give to a friend, teacher, or other staff member at the kindergarten, as a memento.
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country, “half a world away?” Do you, like Amy and Louis, have friends who live in a faraway land? Using a globe or an atlas, you could show your children the countries you’ve visited or the places where your friends and family live. You could also explain time differences, intercontinental travel, and much more. “Amy and Louis” is the final book in PJ Library’s list for the year. We hope you have enjoyed these books and send you our best wishes for a successful summer and transition to kindergarten and beyond. Please keep in touch!
This story is a fairytale, a work of fiction that comes to life through magical illustrations. The illustrator chose to place the kingdom inside a book, and have the characters be children playing “pretend” – making up the story about the imaginary kingdom. You may enjoy making a paper crown, cardboard scepter, and glamorous cape using a tablecloth or large scarf, and act out the story together.
Perhaps you’d like to invent your own imaginary kingdom: What would it contain? What would it be made of? Would it have a king or queen? Would it also be teeny-tiny? You could write a story about your kingdom, or draw it.
My own private palace: Using a simple, large cardboard box, you could create your own teeny-tiny kingdom. You could cut out doors and windows, and add (by drawing or using other accessories) towers and drawbridges to nyour heart’s content. Small toys can serve as king, advisors, and subjects. Who would you like to invite into your palace?
The king chose to “change the rules of the game”: he stepped down, and left the comfort of palace life to win a friend. You may want to discuss your child’s friends with them. What sort of effort does your child put into their friendships? What do they like to do with their friends? Have they ever given anything up in order to stay friends with someone? You could share your own friendship experiences with your child.
A kind deed for a friend: This story is full of longing. The subject misses his friend, the advisor misses the king… and the king misses his advisor… Do you also have a friend of the family or distant relative whom you miss? Perhaps you would like to send them a letter, e-mail, or picture by phone, or anything else that might make them happy. It could be a reminder of your true friendship, one that can overcome the physical distance between you.
Do you know any other tales of kings and queens, princes and princesses? Perhaps you would enjoy inviting a friend over and reading those stories together.
My Window is Here 
Bella and Zouzou 
Found 
Amy and Louis Hebrew title: “Half A World Away” 
The Teeny-Tiny Kingdom 
קְרִיאָה
שִׂיחָה
שֵׁמַע
יְצִירָה
הַשְׁרָאָה
סִרְטוֹנִים
מִשְׂחָק
הַעֲשָׁרָה
כְּלָלִי
