Kids’ activity books offer fun for holidays

The author of "The Chocolate Chip Challah and Other Twists on the Jewish Holiday Table -- An Interactive Family Cookbook" is back with a fun, new activity book for kids. This time she goes beyond cooking and introduces children to the world of Jewish holiday activities.

Lisa Rauchwerger's latest creation, "The Chocolate Chip Challah Activity Book," comes in two parts: one for winter, spring and summer holidays and one for Shabbat and fall holidays.

Each chapter offers a short description of a holiday and a few activities that can teach kids a thing or two about the meaning behind each important day.

Most of the activities require help from an adult. This can be a great way for families to do the things together. Cooking, coloring and creating beautiful cutouts are just some of the basics that these books come with directions for.

But the books also allow children to discover what it's like to be part of a community. For Yom Kippur, kids can decorate paper bags that they will then fill with food for the homeless. They can also make "Forgive-Me-Grams" in order to "say we're sorry to those we have hurt in the past year."

In a game for Tu B'Shevat called "Meet a Tree," a blindfolded child is given a chance to feel a tree and become familiar with all aspects of it. Later, the child can go back into the park or forest where the game is being played and try to find that particular tree. The child then feels a connection with a living creature.

Both books are organized in the order that the holidays occur in the year. One of the books even includes a cutout calendar so that kids can begin to keep track of the holidays.

These books are meant to be used along with Rauchwerger's cookbook, but they can also stand on their own.

Playful, smiling fruits and vegetables guide children through each chapter. The activity books come with special stickers of the characters as well.

Although these books are intended to be for children growing up in a Reform household, any kid could find the activities enjoyable as well as educational.

Be warned though that the books are designed for readers that already know quite a bit about Judaism. In certain chapters, it is assumed that the kids are able to read Hebrew. There are also times when they are expected to already know the holiday stories.

The activities do not give a detailed history behind each holiday. But they do offer the values that are meant to be taught by each one. They are intended to allow kids to feel proud of their heritage.

The activities also promote creativity. Kids of all ages can find something fun to do in these books. Vocabulary for each holiday is included, and word games like crossword puzzles are a great way for children to learn the new words.

There are stories with blank spaces so that kids can fill in their own nouns, verbs or adjectives. There is also a board game that helps to teach all the ways that kids can help their parents prepare for Shabbat. Trivia games in each volume make learning history entertaining.

Rauchwerger explains in her introduction that the values taught in the books are meant to assist in "healing the world," so she tries to make sure that her activities are done with materials that are "edible, recyclable, or easily re-usable."

"The Chocolate Chip Challah Activity Books" are written with a great sense of humor that even kids will catch onto. They are light-hearted at times but also take on a serious tone when it is more appropriate.

Rauchwerger's books offer a good way to get children involved in the holidays and help them understand the importance in celebrating them.

The books may not be right for the youthful newcomer. But those who already know the basics will get a kick out of all the fun things they can do to observe the Jewish holy days.

"The Chocolate Chip Challah Activity Books" are full of hands-on fun that will help kids appreciate what they can do now to remember what has occurred as part of their past.

These books are a great addition to any classroom or family bookshelf. Teachers and parents will enjoy being involved in these activities just as much as the kids are. Let's hope that Lisa Rauchwerger continues doing what she does best, making books that bring families together for delightful holiday fun.