PJ Library

Passover festivities for the whole family

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


This year the celebration of Passover runs from April 22 – April 30, 2024. The holiday is one 3,300 years old and honors the sacrifice and the liberation of the Jews from Egypt. Every year Jews around the world celebrate this amazing accomplishment by their ancestors, with songs, games, the lighting of the menorah, and food (mainly matzoh). 

PJ Library has created a “Passover Hub” filled with kid-friendly activities and a fun way in which to tell the story of Passover. Included in this hub are plenty of recipes (including an easy way to make matzoh), a video playlist for kids to learn more bout the Passover Seder, and a book list to get more information about history and the story of how the exit from slavery occurred. With the recipe cards families will be able to try new dishes and experience some fun together creating them for the Sedar and beyond. There are also printable activities and a Passover card game. 

The goal of PJ Library is to include all members of the family in this important holiday and to bring preschoolers and younger kids into the festivities in ways they can understand and acknowledge. They are family focused with plenty of resources for Jews and non-Jews to gain more from the celebration of Passover. 

While shopping for matzah, families will see something different this year on boxes of Streit’s Matzohs. They have added the PJ Library logo in support of the company and how it includes plenty of ways for families to enjoy the holiday together. They can also sign up for a subscription from PJ Library through the information on the Streit’s Matzoh boxes. 

From PJ Library:

For centuries, families have used a Passover guidebook called the Haggadah, to tell the story of the holiday and pass down the traditions and lessons of the story to their children, relatives, and friends (the Hebrew word haggadah literally means “telling”). One of the leading sources for family-friendly Haggadahs across the United States and beyond – nearly 50,000 families have said this was their first Haggadah, and PJ Library has shipped nearly one million Haggadahs to over 200,000 families over the past six years — PJ Library will once again offer anyone celebrating the holiday a downloadable PDF version of IN EVERY GENERATION: A PJ LIBRARY FAMILY HAGGADAH. Aside from the traditional prayers and readings, this interactive guide to the Passover seder offers up specially curated videos of songs and blessing and explanations that help make the holiday a fun, engaging and family-friendly experience. For those interested in purchasing paperback versions, both the regular PJ Library Family Haggadah ($7.99) and a Large Print Edition ($10.99) are available for sale on the PJ Library storefront on Amazon.

Finally, PJ Library curates age specific books for its subscribers from birth through age 8. Last year children ages 3 to 4 received a delightful spin on a classic Yiddish folktale “In Our Teeny Tiny Matzah House”, written by Bill Wurtzel and illustrated by Claire Wurtzel (Apple & Honey Press) in which Kitzel the cat can’t hear himself meow, as his house is too noisy. But it’s about to become noisier because Passover is about to begin! And, kids ages 6 to 7 were sent “A Persian Passover” (Kalaniot Books), set in 1950’s Iran, written by Etan Basseri and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh, which finds Ezra and Roza looking forward to celebrating the holiday until they have an unfortunate mishap with the community matzah baking oven. If families don’t want to miss out on getting books each month, including for future holidays, they can sign up today at https://pjlibrary.org/.

Passover is a celebration that includes the entire family, from babies to great-grandparents, and friends of all ages as well. When everyone gathers around the table for the traditional Passover Seder, it’s a time of unity and joy. There is plenty of history in the retelling of the story through the Haggadah, but there are also some fun moments when family members get to play the parts or take turns reading from the Haggadah. Every family has their own traditions, which form a foundation for future generations to follow. 

It’s coming soon and time for everyone to begin preparing for the Passover season and festivities. 

Have a prosperous and enjoyable Passover. Shalom.

About the author

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

Celebrate Chanukah 2023 with facts and fun from PJ Library

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

PJ Library helps families celebrate and learn about Chanukah (Hanukkah) with plenty of fun activities and recipes. 

This year Chanukah runs from December 7 – 15. It is especially important to learn about the Festival of Lights, given the state of the world at the moment and the rise of antisemitism.  

For 2023, the ever-popular, resource-packed Hanukkah Hub has been updated with fun new crafts and activities, assuring there’s never a dull moment! Families will be able to embrace the Jewish values of curiosity, learning – and good food! — with new downloadable activities including building a Clay and Craft Stick Menorah, Color your own Dreidel Letters and Hanukkah Story Puppets and How to Play Dreidel, as well as 10 Easy (and Kid-Approved) Hanukkah Recipes with Hanukkah Stained Glass Cookies, kid favorite Sufganiyot Mini Donut Holes or Hidden Veggie Latkes. For those seeking a break with screentime, PJ Library also has specially curated a list of Hanukkah videos and movies to watch together, featuring the “Hanukkah Shaboom! Special”, “A Rugrats Chanukah” and more. And, as one of the largest free storybook programs in the world, we’d be remiss in not mentioning The Ultimate List of Books about Hanukkah offering up the very best in holiday page turners.

 During a time when educating people of other walks and religions is of paramount importance, PJ Library also offers families tips on how to give an elementary or preschool classroom a crash course in Hanukkah with quick guides for teachers, parents and kids, as well as age-appropriate suggestions for activities and crafts, and a discussion guide. For parents seeking a deeper dive into the holiday, PJ Library offers a video from Dasee Berkowitz, author of “Becoming a Soulful Parent: A Path to Wisdom Within” offering practical and uplifting suggestions on how to make this Hanukkah celebration special. (Photos courtesy PJ Library)

PJ Library adds more Jewish fun and interest for kids

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


PJ Library, known for sending free books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to children worldwide, will launch PJ Library Presents, a podcast network featuring two new free podcasts for kids this fall. “Afternoons with Mimi” and “Beyond the Bookcase” both bring well-known stories of all types to life in a fun new way that connects them to Jewish traditions, culture, holidays, and values. On the go or at home, families can now listen to Jewish stories everywhere with PJ Library Presents podcasts.

First up from the storytellers at PJ Library comes an afternoon with the ultimate storyteller: everyone’s favorite warm and spunky grandmother, Mimi. Kids 2 to 5 and their families are invited to listen to the “Afternoons with Mimi” podcast and join Mimi for an afternoon of snacks and stories ranging from favorite PJ Library books to Jewish folktales and new original fables that will capture the imaginations of young and old alike. “PJ Library Presents: Afternoons with Mimi” premieres on October 4, 2021 on pjlibrary.org/podcast and your favorite podcast streaming platforms.

Next, PJ Library Presents “Beyond the Bookcase.” Developed for kids ages 6 to 12, “Beyond the Bookcase” features the serialized adventures of intrepid siblings Micah and Miri and their friends as they explore the magical land of Mashal, where familiar fairy tales come to life in unexpected and hilarious ways – weaving Jewish holidays and traditions with an exciting mystery that unravels week after week, “PJ Library Presents: Beyond the Bookcase” premieres October 18, 2021 also on pjlibrary.org/podcast and your favorite podcast streaming platforms.