Children of the Book by Ilana Kurshan

The title of Ilana Kurshan's latest book piqued my interest. Although I am a Christian and the author is Jewish, both of our faiths have a mutual appreciation for the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament Bible). Kurshan's book is divided into five sections that parallel the main ideas of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. I appreciated the author's intentionality of raising her children in the knowledge of her faith's sacred writing. This is a challenge that any person of faith could take to heart. And I love how she uses parallels of the Jewish people with beloved children's literature. 

While Christian and Jewish people both honor the Torah, I had not realized how different the Rabbinic interpretation is from what I have learned within my own faith teaching. And while I may not have always been in agreement, the explanations were fascinating, and did offer an opportunity to learn more about Jewish tradition. Kurshan wove many personal stories of family life and the ups and downs of childhood growth throughout her book. And those experiences are universal to parents of any faith. I really enjoyed the candor and honesty the author shared when allowing readers a peek into her family's life.

Readers will learn not only about the Jewish faith, but also about life in Israel. In spite of the miles that may separate the author from my own life in America, I was surprised at how many titles the author shared with her children that mirrored the titles I read with my own. The author included a wonderful list of recommended books at the back, which provide an excellent resource for parents wanting to begin a tradition of reading aloud to their children. 

The author's lament, "So much of the books we read at bedtime are about the fleetingness of time and the impossibility of holding on forever," reminded me of Karen Kingsbury's book, Let Me Hold You Longer. I love how the sharing of literature with our children is a gift that keeps on giving as you share a joint pool of memories and virtual experiences lived through story. My own life as a parent has been significantly marked by the books I read with my children. And by having an older set of children and a younger set, some books were read more than once. My kids are all adults now but still have fond memories of those days of being read to.

One little side note is that I loved how positively the author spoke of one of her friends who is an evangelical Christian. I loved learning about the connection these children from different faiths had formed. What a great model we can all learn from! Whether you are Jewish or not, whether you are a person of faith or not, Kurshan's book offers a beautiful glimpse into the life of her family and how reading enlightens, comforts, and draws families together. 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Children of the Book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are mine alone.