Why am I passionate about this?
When I was young, my father made up stories to tell me, my brother, and my sister each night. One of my favorites was an ongoing series entitled The Lady with the Big Toe. The Lady and her Toe enjoyed daring adventures but the best part was hearing my dad’s voice, being near him and my siblings. I’m not great at making up stories on the spot but because of my study of Jewish texts, languages, and traditions, I knew I wanted to share story-telling and Jewish culture with my own children and grandchildren. Picture books, which are meant to be read aloud, are a magical vehicle for culture/values.
Caryn's book list on Jewish children’s picture stories to read aloud
Why did Caryn love this book?
This book has everything I love: An adorable kitten (named Ketzel, “cat” in Yiddish); a gentle, loving human, Moshe Cotel; and tender, pitch-perfect illustrations. And, it’s based on a true story. It will capture your heart as it did mine.
A young composer living in a noisy city hears a forlorn kitten on the busy street. He scoops her up and takes her home so they can “make beautiful music together.” When the composer labors over creating a one-minute composition for a prestigious contest, he finally gives up in despair until he hears little Ketzel strolling on the keyboard. He jots down the notes, enters it in the contest; Ketzel Cotel receives a certificate of special mention for “Piece for Piano: Four Paws”!
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed is a sweet tale of friendship crafted to perfection.
1 author picked Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.
A 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award Winner
A kitten’s stroll down a keyboard leads to a celebrated one-minute composition in this charming portrait of a remarkable true friendship.
Moshe Cotel was a composer who lived in a noisy building on a noisy street in a noisy city. But Moshe didn’t mind. Everything he heard was music to his ears. One day, while out for a walk, he heard a small, sad sound that he’d never heard before. It was a tiny kitten! “Come on, little Ketzel,” Moshe said, “I will take you home and we will make…
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