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PJ Library
The Brodsky Library in partnership with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis is pleased to be sponsoring the PJ Library. This is an exciting reading program for families with children ages 6 months through 7 years. Created by the Harold Ginspoon Foundation in Massacusetts and subsidized locally through a generous gift from Leslie and Michael Litwack, participating children will receive a Jewish book or cd free every month for the first year. Every year after that the cost will be $18 per child.

The books are fantastic and come with reading guides for parents. Parents and/or grandparents can register their child(ren) onling by going to www.pjlibrary.org.  Once there, click on "Your PJ Community" and then "List of Communities" and scroll through the drop-down box until you get to Missouri. Click on St. Louis and it should bring up our site. A sign-up link is at the end of the page. Registrations are sent to the Grinspoon Foundation the 20th of every month and books will arrive in homes 6-8 weeks later.

Watch for PJ Library programming at the Brodsky Library in the coming year. For more information, contact the library at brodsky-library@jfedstl.org.

New for Kids
Winter is a great time to cozy up with a good book. The Brodsky Library has the best new books for children of all ages:

Dinosaur on Shabbat by Diane Levin Rauchwerger, pictures by Jason Wolff                It's Friday afternoon, the sun is setting and Dino is back knocking at the door. From lighting the candles to sniffing the Havdalah spices, he brings fun and mischief to a young boy's Shabbat.

My Synagogue Scrapbook by Hara E. Person and Faye Tillis Lews, illustrated by Dahlia Schoenberg-Lam                                                                                        
Help children feel at home in the synagogue. This interactive introduction to synagogue life is filled with color photographs, illustrations and activities that allow even pre-readers to participate in learning.

The Enormous Potato retold by Aubrey Davis, Illustrated by Dusan Petricic            There once was a farmer who had an eye - a potato eye. He planted the eye and it grew into an enormous potato. When the time came to pull it up, the potato as so big that it wouldn't budge. This humorous folktale shows what can be accomplished when everyone lends a hand to solve a problem. It is sure to delight even the youngest listener.

Butterflies Under Our Hats by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg                                                                                                           Once there was a town called Chelm where there was no luck. The people looked everywhere - "in beds and in basements, in pant pockets and in pickle barrels" - until they finally gave up. It took a mysterious woman, multitudes of hats and unexpected butterflies to help the people of Chelm find what they had lost.

Jewish Holiday Origami by Joel Stern                                                                    Observe Purim with a handmade megillah or hamentash. Make Chanukah dreidels, Passover pyramids, Sabbath candles or a Kiddush cup. Detailed illustrations and captions explain all the steps for an entire year's worth of Holiday projects.

Lilith's Ark - Teenage Tales of Biblical Women by Deborah Bodin Cohen               Not long after the world was created, Lilith, the first woman, was expelled from the Garden of Eden. In exile, Lilith created an ark which became a place where women of the Bible could share their jouneys from girlhood to womanhood.

To request a book click here to send an email.

Programs & Events

Summer Reading Club
Happy Birthday Israel!
June 11 - August 15
Children are invited to join the "Happy Birthday Israel" Summer Reading Club. The free program is open to all children from preschool-age to 6th grade, and will run through August 15. Parents may read to preschoolers.             

The Summer Reading Club promotes reading throughout the summer and helpsstrengthen Jewish identity by introducing children to a wide variety of Judaic literature. 

To enroll in the Summer Reading Club, visit the Brodsky Library, and complete a registration form.  Upon registering, each child will receive a special reading club booklet for recording and keeping track of books read throughout the summer.

Children will earn points for books read. The points may be used to purchase prizes including items donated by the Magic House, Pratzel’s Bakery, Strike n Spare, Cold Stone Creamery, Webkinz from Sweet Be’s and many others.

A kick-off party will be held at the library on Wednesday, June 11 at 3:30 pm. Points toward prizes will be given for stories told by Barb Raznick, Library Director.

For more information on the Reading Club or to make a reservation for the Kick-off Party email Children's Programs.

Once upon a time...at the Brodsky Library
Friday, June 6, July 11, and August 1
9:30 am
For children ages 1-5 and an adult

A lively mix of stories and songs with storyteller Barb Raznick. This program promotes learning, listening, and interaction with other children.  Includes craft and healthy snack. No charge.
Co-sponsored by the Helene Mirowitz Dept. of Jewish Life at the JCC.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Sara Winkelman at the JCC (314) 442-3288 or email swinkelman@jccstl.org.

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