Jewish Children's Literature: Report From America

Abstract

What a year 1990 was for Jewish content in children's books in America! Eric Kim­ mel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, a tale of things that go bump in the night, wonderfully illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, was named a Caldecott Honor Book. And Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, received the Newbery Award [as well as the AJL Sydney Taylor Award-see Judaica Librarianship vol. 6, pp. 111–112—Ed.]. Of course, there were those who complained that Hershel is not really a Jewish book because goblins and ghosties are not suitable Jewish themes. Tell that to I. B. Singer! And Lowry's book, an excel­ lent work of great appeal, does return us to an earlier convention in children's books about the Holocaust, that of helpless Jews rescued by the courage of others. Still, what a year for Jewish content! Who could complain?