Your PJ Our Way Books for June
Check out the four selections for June! This month, a misunderstanding threatens a friendship, while a summer class brings a bunch of surprises. A thrilling fantasy story is packed with action and excitement, and Jewish folktale-inspired puzzles provide mind-bending fun. Choose one of these excellent books by June 10th!
Gottika
by Helaine Becker
Ages 10+
200 pages
Twelve-year-old Dany lives in the shantytown reserved for the Gottika residents known as Stoons. Stoons do not enjoy the same rights as other Gottikans – They must wear a red beret and obey a curfew; they can’t own pets or land. There’s anti-Stoon sentiment in Gottika, and it’s getting worse. But then Dany’s father decides it’s time for things to change. This fast-paced, futuristic adventure will engage kids while introducing them to the dangers of prejudice and inequality and the importance of standing up for what’s right.
Sydney A. Frankel’s Summer Mix-Up
by Danielle Joseph
Ages: 9+
254 pages
Sydney’s looking forward to spending the summer reading and hanging out with her BFF, Maggie – basically anything to avoid being the center of attention. But Sydney’s mom decides that she should make an effort to build her confidence and signs her up for a dance class at the JCC. Sydney and Maggie are horrified but soon come up with what seems to be an ingenious way to save their summer. In this contemporary story, Sydney’s realistic fears are treated with sympathy and plenty of humor.
Paper Chains
by Elaine Vickers
Ages: 10+
288 pages
This is the story of Ana and Katie, best friends who are going through difficult transitions in their lives. Ana’s hockey player father has abandoned his family, leaving her and her brother Mikey with a depressed mom. Meanwhile, Katie struggles with her desire to learn more about her birth history without hurting her loving adoptive parents’ feelings. She feels resentful of their protectiveness regarding her congenital heart condition and wishes she could skate like the other kids. When Babushka, Ana’s witchlike grandmother, comes all the way from Russia to take charge, both girls learn much about friendship, family, responsibility, and loyalty. Told in alternating chapters, this coming-of-age story will captivate readers with its sweet and insightful message.
While Standing on One Foot
By Nina Jaffe and Steve Zeitlin
Ages: 9+
95 pages
While Standing on One Foot comprises an entertaining selection of eighteen tales from Jewish history, folklore, and tradition, told as puzzles for the clever reader to solve. This short book is divided into even shorter stories, each no more than a few pages long. Appropriate for readers young and old, these are written in a style somewhat resonant of fairy tales and legends of long ago (and do require solid reading/vocabulary skills). Kids will enjoy challenging themselves and their friends; each story on its own is ideal as a read aloud choice before bedtime or a fun conversation starter at the Shabbat table.
Note: Quantities of each title are limited! If you see another book offered for selection this month, head over to Story Central to check it out.