The Cat in the Hat Makes a Surprise Appearance to Help Celebrate PJ Library
by Rebecca Leibowitz
The Chronicle: North Central Florida's Jewish Community Newspaper
March 01, 2009
Fifteen families joined in on a fun and relaxing story time experience on Jan. 15 when the PJ Library and B’nai Israel Community Day School sponsored a “Pajama Party.”
The party lasted from 6 to 7 p.m. and was open to all PJ Library families and students who attend the Day School.
The children wore pajamas and drank milk, ate cookies, made art projects and listened to guest storytellers, Sharon Hershek and Todd Hasak- Lowy read stories about Tu Beshvat, a holiday that celebrates the “new year of trees.”
The PJ Party also had a surprise guest, the Cat in the Hat.
At the party, pajamas were collected for the Hadassah communitywide pajama drive that benefits Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network.
The PJ Library, a program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, sends Jewish books to families with children from ages six months old to seven years old every month for three years.
The PJ Library is available in our area due to a generous grant from the Jewish Council of North Central Florida and funding through B’nai Israel Day School and private donors.
The PJ Library of Gainesville sponsors a weekly Jewish story time on Friday mornings at B'nai Israel called “Shalom! It’s Story Time.” The Library also sends PJ families monthly newsletters and hosts programs throughout the year.
“The PJ Library is a great way to encourage and develop reading time between children and their families,” said Debby Kinman-Ford, Congregation B’nai Israel’s Community Day School Director.