Program puts books in Jewish kids’ hands

By Katie Visconti

Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Around the holidays, children’s bedtime routines often are accompanied by holiday books that teach kids about the season of giving, loving and sharing.

PJ Library, a Jewish family engagement program, makes bedtime books not only easier to find but free to families that want to strengthen their children’s knowledge about the core values of Judaism and the tradition of Hanukkah.

PJ Library provides one book each month to babies as young as 6 months and children as old as 8. Books are categorized by age and arrive in the mail once a month.

The program is offered nationally and internationally. The Las Vegas branch, funded by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas and the Greenspun family, began operating in 2008 and now provides books to 1,200 children in the valley. PJ Library Coordinator David Clark said the group expects enrollment to reach 1,500 by the end of the year.

Books are carefully selected by child educators and literature experts to ensure they are suitable for a wide variety of Jewish families. Each comes with a set of discussion questions parents can use to talk to their children about moral issues and a guide to explain key concepts from the stories.

For the eight days of Hanukkah, the program will offer themed books parents can use to engage their children with the holiday.

Ronnie Levin, a father of two, has been part of the PJ Library since his 4-year-old daughter was a baby. Beyond the books, the program has provided a way for Levin to connect with other local Jewish families. His family now participates in Shalom Baby, a program through PJ Library that hosts baby play dates.