A Treasury of Sephardic Bedtime Stories
This charming new book joins the list of very popular Artscroll collections of stories for young children - but it also offers a welcome new dimension.
One of the most colorful areas of Jewish history is the colorful role of the Sephardic communities. In medieval times, Sephardic Jewry gave us the Rambam, Ramban, Rashba, Maran Beit Yosef, Arizal and many, many others. In more modern times, it gave us the Ben Ish Hai, the Kaf HaHaim, and Hacham Ezra Attia.
This children's book brings us lively, entertaining, and inspirational stories from the Sephardic heritage. There is a beautiful flavor in these tales. They combine pure faith, Torah knowledge, practical wisdom, and Divine intervention. All together, they are a rich gift for children and everyone -- parents and teachers, aunts and uncles -- who want to bring out the best in those they love.
Three major talents came together to create this book. Rabbi David Sutton, one of the most prominent rabbis and teachers in the Sephardic-Syrian community of Flatbush, chose the stories and wrote the original version of many. Shmuel Blitz, creator of the popular Bedtime Stories series, is one of today's favorite children's authors. Tova Katz is an illustrator whose brush brings life and spice to a story.
All in all, this book is a successful collaboration that will delight its readers -- not to mention the younger children who will ask parents and siblings to "read me a story," again and again.
So welcome to the Sephardic heritage. Read and enjoy.