Tu B’Shevat may be a minor Jewish holiday, but there are plenty of great books out there to help you celebrate the holiday and also teach little ones about the importance of respecting our earth. So take a look at some of our family’s favorites, and please share what books you are enjoying this season with us through email or tag @jewishphoenix in your Facebook and Instagram photos.
A Basket Full of Figs
Retold by Ori Elon
This is a really sweet book about the importance of doing good now, not only for ourselves, but for the next generation. A king is baffled by an old man planting a young tree knowing that he may never be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor for himself. However, the wise man teaches the king that it is important to plant today the seeds for future generations to enjoy.
Thank you, Trees!
by Gail Langer Karwoski
This colorful book shares the message of Tu B’Shevat and celebrating the earth and the bounty that it gives us. I love that it introduces children to showing gratitude for nature and appreciating the beautiful, delicious fruits. It also brings up some important messages like recycling and how we must take care of the earth so that we can continue to enjoy all that it provides for us.
Is it Tu B’Shevat Yet?
by Chris Barash
Part of a series of books about different Jewish holidays, this book is a great way to talk about the anticipation of the holiday. We begin to notice more green springing up from the ground, we start collecting delicious fruits and nuts to celebrate the holiday and we work on taking care of the earth. This book is a beautiful story that makes me even more excited for the holiday each time I read it.
Sadie’s Snowy Tu B’Shevat
by Jamie Korngold
We might not have snow here in Phoenix, AZ, but this book is a fun way to see how we can celebrate the holiday and nature even when weather doesn’t permit us to do so. The story is of a little girl named Sadie who is determined to plant a tree for Tu B’Shevat. She gets frustrated when she is told it is too cold and snowy out to plant a tree, but finds a solution that makes her very happy.
My friend Earth
by Patricia MacLachlan
While this isn’t technically a book for Tu B’Shevat, we love how it shares the story of our “friend Earth.” This book is full of colorful images and fun cutouts and flaps making it incredibly engaging and interactive. The book describes the earth waking from winter and rising into spring and shares all about how the Earth takes care of all of us, which is why we need to take care of her.
Netta and Her Plant
by Ellie B. Gellman
This book is a beautiful story about a little girl and her plant. As she gets older and grows, so does her plant, so they both must find new homes and new friends. Netta is able to watch her plant grow as she takes care to nurture it. As Netta and her plant both grow, so do Netta’s experiences and responsibilities. This book is a very sweet story, that my children ask to read over and over again.
The Abba Tree
by Devora Busheri
My husband is ‘Abba’ in our family (hebrew for Dad), so when I saw this book at the library, I knew I had to get it. This book is about a little girl named Hannah and her Abba who are celebrating Tu B’Shevat by exploring nature. While her father rests, Hannah begins a quest to climb a sturdy tree coming up with obstacles along the way until her Abba comes up with the perfect solution. Warning, kids will want to climb you after reading this book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you 🙂
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