So we belong to this club that sends a Jewish-themed children's book to our house every month. It's a not-for-profit effort, funded by a generous grant aimed at keeping the "people of the book" in the fold.
Some of the books are great. The first one we received, Before You Were Born, has the loveliest illustrations. There are Jewish folk tales, board books about the various holidays, and even the odd music CD.
And then there is the odd clunker.
Exhibit A: God Must Really Love... Numbers!
Check out a typical page spread.
Is it my imagination, or does the caterpillar on the left seem to have... a Hitler mustache?
And what's with the "Good job, God!" Does he really need positive affirmation that badly? Is he a two-year-old?
And then there's this spread:
The weird circles on the frogs? Not a disfiguring skin condition, but rather, shiny gold foil... which for some reason, the illustrator/author/publisher, in their God-given wisdom, decided to apply there rather than to... the flashing fireflies, where it would make more sense.
Anyway, there was really nothing particularly Jewish about this book, honestly. (If there were, wouldn't it say instead, "Nu, God, good effort, but next time make the frogs a little more hoppy"?) Looking at the publisher's website, I find it suspiciously evangelical in tone ("Keep growing in faith and joy through Little Simon Inspirations books for your child!")
So, we're not so into this particular book around our household.
However, I have great hopes for this month's offering...
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