"This cheery book features joy, courtesy, and care for others in a fun and lighthearted way".--Jewish Book Council
"Delightful and perky picture book" --The Sydney Taylor Shmooze
Join this bevy of friendly, colorful monsters as they demonstrate how they, too, can be mensches(creatures of integrity and honor) by treating others well. Includes a definition of the word mensch.The friendliest monsters you ever saw inhabit the pages of this lively picture book, astory that simultaneously teaches young children how to be fine, upstanding people and offers numerous examples of the Yiddish wordmenschin the language of the book, anhonorable andkind person.
While each monster portrays acharacteristic of amensch, the author reminds children that being one isnt always easy; it can be quite achallenge on many occasions to do the right thing, but when you do it, youfeel ten feet tall. Children will identify with these thoughtful, colorful creatures who are each different, some with bright colors, each with various numbers of eyes and heads, but all working hard at being good and helpful. They share with others, respect their parents and teachers, sneeze into elbows or tissues, and help their families prepare for Shabbat.
This cheery book features joy, courtesy, and care for others in afun and lighthearted way. It can be used by parents and teachers to support social skills without presenting even ahint of didactic or heavy teaching.
---Michal Malen, THE JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL
In this delightful and perky picture book directed to young readers and families, the main character and narrator, A. Monster, gives readers direct advice for how to be a mensch. The humorous text speaks directly to the reader.
"It's hard to believe, but some people are afraid of monsters.
It's true that monsters can look scary.
But most of us are kind and helpful.
Monsters can even be mensches!"
I love funny books! Our kids deserve to laugheven as they grapple with challenges of the world.
On each spread, readers will love the monster-specific examples (like not staring, with one eye or five) as well as general concepts, like sharing and caring and preparing for Shabbat.Yoshikawas illustrations amp up the humor. Young readers are going to love checking out the menschy monsters on every page.
The book ends with a question directly for young readers: "What kind of mensch will you be?" This will certainly start conversations for families. When it comes to our world today, what could be more important than figuring out how to be a mensch? This may book may seem like a fun romp with monsters, but it speaks to the responsibilities we all share without getting didactic. Leslie Kimmelman and A. Monster are right: Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference!
How To Be A Menschis recommended for families introducing young children to the idea of social action and repairing the world. It is a cute and funny book with strong Jewish values.
--Sarah Aronson, THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE