My son will turn two at the end of the May, and I’ve been reflecting on how glad I am that his birthday falls during Jewish American Heritage Month.  Reading has continued to be one of his favorite activities, so in celebration of the month and his birthday, I’m excited to share a few of the engaging, diverse, and educational PJ Library books that have been an absolute highlight of his first two years.

While I was pregnant, I imagined how exciting it would be to look forward to checking the mail and receiving a new PJ Library book every month. PJ Library sends free high-quality Jewish children’s books to families, with kids ages 0-12, every month across the world, meeting families where they are and building Jewish life one story at a time.

I signed us up for PJ Library as soon as he was born, and the book deliveries have been as much of a bright spot as I anticipated! From his infancy, to him now being a toddler, the books have grown with us and ensured that Jewish themes and values were a consistent part of our home library. As an interracial household, having the books represent our diverse family has been wonderful to see. The diverse representation through many of the books signals to my son that Jewish families look so many different ways, and look just like our family.

Here are some of his favorite PJ Library books that are a celebration of Jewish diversity this Jewish American Heritage Month!

My Face Book by PJ Library: This was one of our first PJ Library books and it has been a hit since infancy! The book is filled with photos of babies from a variety of backgrounds, making a range of faces and expression. As a baby, just seeing other babies up close gave my son so much joy. Now that he’s older, this book has been perfect for also learning emotions, and fostering an understanding that all faces can be Jewish faces.

Say Shalom All Day Long by Elizabeth Suneby: When we got this book in the mail from PJ Library it became a regular read almost daily. At the start, we learn that “Shalom means three things: hello, goodbye, and peace.” We then go through a child’s day saying hello, goodbye, and peace to her experiences ranging from waking up, to being in the garden, to playing with her friends. There’s wonderful intergenerational and racial representation in the book. While  showcasing everyday diversity, this book has also been such a helpful tool for supporting my toddler’s vocabulary! It points out many words he uses through the day, and helped to visually reinforce these essential words. (There are also toy cars on a majority of pages, which also made this one a household favorite!)

Rosh Hashanah with Uncle Max by Varda Livney: I’ve learned that living with a toddler, you celebrate every holiday all year long with your books. Rosh Hashanah with Uncle Max is one of these PJ Library holiday books that my toddler requires we keep out year-round. The intergenerational element and inclusion of an uncle makes this book special, as well as the racial diversity of the family as well. The images are fun and engaging, and keeps my toddler excited for the new year all year long.