Your PJ Our Way Books for November
PJ Our Way is proud to offer four exciting books this month, including two Hanukkah stories. (The first night of Hanukkah is December 25, 2024!) Your child can read Autumn’s anonymous advice column to her 6th grade friends, cheer along as Jake and Jillian attempt to bake their way to success in the Bakerstown Bonanza, help Pinky Bloom solve the mystery of a missing – and extremely valuable - ancient Israeli coin, or learn if José’s dangerous secret will keep him from becoming a pirate and saving his father!
Be sure to have your PJ Our Way subscriber choose their book by November 10th!
Dear Student
By: Elly Swartz
Ages 10+
304 pages
Autumn is in 6th grade and she's not happy about starting middle school now that her best friend has moved away. Despite having social anxiety, Autumn makes new friends: bossy Logan and mysterious Cooper. Autumn is thrilled when applies for – and gets – the position of anonymous advice columnist in the school paper. But things get out of hand when her advice to someone to stand up for what they believe in leads to vandalism of a factory that tests makeup on animals. Autumn is outed as the writer of the column, which causes friction with her friends. In her column she reminds people to stand up for what they believe in and asks for help cleaning up the graffiti.
The $150,000 Rugelach
By: Allison & Wayne Marks
Ages 9+
231 pages
11-year-old Jillian Mermelstein’s mother taught her to bake. But ever since her mother died, Jillian’s having a hard time getting back in the kitchen. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Jack Fineman has always dreamed of becoming a world-famous baker. When the nationally televised Bakerstown Bonanza announces that kids will be allowed to compete for the first time ever, Jack signs up right away. Jillian has no interest in the contest… but her family could really use the $150,000 grand prize.
When Jack and Jillian are selected to compete together, they work hard to agree on a winning recipe. But when Phineas Farnsworth, owner of the Farnsworth baking empire and judge of the Bakerstown Bonanza, wants Jillian to share the story of her mother’s death with viewers, it looks like their chances of winning are in danger. Can Jack and Jillian stay true to their values and please Phineas Farnsworth?
Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah
By: Judy Press
Ages 9+
80 pages
When an extremely valuable ancient Israeli coin is stolen from the synagogue during the Hanukkah party, Pinky Bloom (Brooklyn’s greatest kid detective) jumps on the case. With the help of her brother Avi and friend Shira, Pinky follows the clues - including a magical menorah, a jelly donut, and a Judah Maccabee costume - to track down the culprits behind the theft.
Filled with sweet illustrations, this book will appeal to both newcomers and fans of Pinky Bloom’s other adventures!
José and the Pirate Captain Toledano
By: Arnon Z. Schorr
Ages 10+
96 pages
It’s 1547, and 14-year-old José and his father are Portuguese refugees living in the colony of Santo Domingo. José knows he’s different from everyone else, but it isn’t until the evil Captain DeGuzman arrests his father that José learns they’re Jewish and hiding from the Spanish Inquisition. After his father is arrested, José escapes to a pirate ship that had just come ashore. But when José and the Pirate Captain Toledano learn they share a dangerous secret, José’s future is plunged into uncertainty.
This action-packed graphic novel is a coming-of-age story about survival, justice, figuring out who you are, and finding your tribe.
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.