Programs for Pre-K to 3
“Over a year later the students and teachers are still talking about Emily’s visit. The kids were engaged throughout the presentation.”
—Stephanie Bernstein, Director of Professional Development and 3rd Grade Teacher; Temple Emunah, Lexington, MA
I love to talk to kids about my books and the process of writing and illustrating books for children. My presentations are tailored to the age and religious background of the students. I talk about the concept of Jewish time, the Yiddish and Hebrew languages, Hanukkah and Passover customs, and how books are made — from the first spark of an idea to the published book. Students get to see how wheels and sliding pieces work and how they can make a book of their own at home. I also show and tell about books I created as a child.
After one of my presentations students are excited about the Jewish calendar, find more meaning in holidays, understand that authors and illustrators are ordinary people, and are inspired to make a book.
If you would like Emily to visit your school, please contact us for more information. Compensation depends on the number of students, classes, and location. Programs in the Boston area run between $200 and $500. Please suggest one or more dates.
Programs include:
Jewish Time: Time and nature; weeks, months, years; Shabbat; reading of The Kids’ Fun Book of Jewish Time and the making of a novelty book.
Hanukkah: Why a book with Yiddish? Reading of author’s note in Hanukkah: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish; different family traditions; counting to eight, Israel and soofganyot; how the candles are cut out of the pages; how Emily draws pictures and became an author-illustrator.
Passover: Reading of The Passover Seder; different family traditions; bookmaking and the hand labor required to make book with flaps.
Jewish Author: What’s it like to be the author of books for Jewish kids and be part of the Jewish Community? Looking at and talking about the books I wrote and illustrated as a child; creating your own book.
Bookmaking: An inside look at novelty elements in The Kids’ Fun Book of Jewish Time and The Passover Seder; how the candles in Hanukkah: A Counting Book are cut out of the pages; the process of writing, illustrating, producing, and publishing a book; creating your own book at home.
Card Games: An innovative way to learn aboutJewish holidays. Cards are used to talk about one or more holidays. Groups play “Go Fish,” by the rules and original games with thesame cards. There's a lot of moving around the classroom so this works best to end a program that includes a short book presentation.
Family Pre-K Hanukkah: Count the candles in Hanukkah: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish; brief talk; everyone plays Hanukkah card games.
20–30 min. programs, usually three classes consecutively. For large groups, a slide show replaces hands-on samples. “Jewish Author” and “Bookmaking” for all ages.
