Author Description

Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of this book possible: Stanley and Marcia Katz; Members of the Levine and Frankel families. Acclaimed storyteller and Jewish scholar Ellen Frankel has masterfully tailored fifty-three Bible stories that will both delight and educate today's young readers. Using the 1985 JPS translation (NJPS) of the Hebrew Bible as her foundation, Frankel retains much of the Bible's original wording and simple narrative style as she incorporates her own exceptional storytelling technique, free of personal interpretation or commentary. Included in the volume is an; "Author's Notebook"; in which Frankel shares with rabbis, parents, and educators the challenges she faced in translating and adapting these stories for children, such as how she deals with adult language in the original Bible text and themes inappropriate for most young readers. With enticing, full-page color illustrations of each Bible story, award-winning artist Avi Katz ignites readers' imaginations. His brush captures the vivid personalities and many dramatic moments in this extraordinary collection. Avi Katz and JPS are grateful to TaL AM for granting permission to reprint three illustrations from the TaL AM Tora Breshit Notebook series. Ages 5 and up.