Summertime Fun with Picnic at Camp Shalom!

In today's guest blog post, author Jacqueline Jules tells us a little bit about her book Picnic at Camp Shalom.

 

Summer camp is an opportunity to make new friends in a busy environment of swimming, boating, and creative activities. It’s also a place where Jewish children can leave behind the isolation they sometimes feel at home. Many Jewish children go to schools where they are a distinct minority. Summer camp can be a place of community and acceptance they do not experience elsewhere.

In Picnic at Camp Shalom, Carly meets Sara—a girl who shares her love of music and her fashion taste. On the first day of camp, they are surprised to see that they are both wearing the same blue bathing suit with white stars. “Twins!” They giggle. At night in their cabin, they talk by flashlight way past “lights out.” But trouble brews when Carly learns that they are far more alike than Sara realizes. They both have endured teasing at home for a last name that appears strange to children with short, plain names like “Jones” or “Walker.” Sara misunderstands Carly’s delight over finding out her new camp friend’s last name is “Frankfurter! Like the hotdog.” When Carly finally reveals her own last name, they discover that they are the perfect pair for Camp Shalom’s Sunday picnic.

 

Click below for a sneak preview of this story of summer camp friendship.

Buy the book here, and visit www.jacquelinejules.com to learn more about the author.

Two Unique Books Help Families Cope With the Loss of a Loved One

 

Loss is never easy, and it can be especially difficult for children to comprehend. Within Kar-Ben Publishing's large library of titles are books that can help children understand concepts on a wide variety of topics, like the loss of a loved one, by offering stories told with thoughtfulness and sensitivity.

Stones for Grandpa

A little boy and his family gather at the cemetery for the unveiling of his beloved grandpa’s gravestone, bringing stones to place on the grave, as is the Jewish tradition. They tell stories that help the boy deal with his loss, reminding him of the wonderful memories he has of his grandpa.

Where Do People Go When They Die?

In this touching narrative, young children ask, "Where do people go when they die?" Each child asks an adult that they trust--a father, a mother, a grandfather, an aunt, a teacher--and, although the reassuring answers they receive are all different, each leads back to the same simple truth: when people die, "They go to God. Who is everywhere." With an afterward and helpful suggestions about how to explain death to children, readers will find insight into one of the emotional issues we all struggle with.

To identify Kar-Ben books exemplifying Jewish values, please use the Valuesfinder tool created by the Association of Jewish Libraries.