This blog was submitted by PCPL staff member Morgan R.
In Jewish folklore, magical beings and other worlds exist all around us. These children’s books are fun and respectful dives into the lives of Jewish kids and the mystical creatures they meet. Mischief and b’nai mitzvahs abound!
Dybbuks are malevolent spirits of the dead who oftentimes possess the living. In this story, we meet young Aviva and her mother who are processing the death of their beloved father and husband. They live in an apartment above the communal mikveh (ritual bath) where a dybbuk has also taken up residence! Many silly and some scary hijinks ensue as Aviva and her mother navigate deep grief in the midst of their orthodox community, middle school frenemies, bat mitzvah preparations, and antisemitic incidents.
Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the World
Golems are creatures made from clay and brought to life, oftentimes as protectors of the Jewish people. In this story, Naomi is mysteriously gifted a golem for her bat mitzvah. As she and her friends begin to explore the capabilities of this strange being, they accidentally set it on the road to destruction! Can they fix their mistakes, all while preparing for their b'nai mitzvahs?
Are sheydim (demons) all that they're made out to be? Twins Ziva and Pesah wrestle with this as they embark on an adventure between realms to find a cure for Pesah's leprosy. Set in the Khazaria empire.
