PJ Library: Opening the Book on a New Generation of Jewish Literacy
by Melinda Green
The New Standard
June 10, 2007
Every month, 3-year-old Alysia Swinehart runs through the house, joyously shouting, "I got my book! I got my book!"
Alysia and hundreds of other central Ohio children receive age-appropriate, Jewish-themed books and CDs — free — every month courtesy of the PJ Library.
The program, funded locally by the Columbus Jewish Federation and Abigail and Leslie Wexner, provides a way for families across the nation to share Jewish bedtime stories, music and learning with their young children.
It also provides a foundation for families to start, or add to, their own Jewish libraries.
In Columbus, children age 6 months through 6 years can be enrolled in the PJ Library. After the first year, the program charges a nominal fee.
The PJ (which stands for "pajamas") Library is being supported in at least 30 American metropolitan areas by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. In central Ohio, the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center serves as a programming partner, assisting with outreach and marketing.
The materials are selected each year by a national committee of early childhood experts, Jewish educators, librarians and others, said Janna Chapdelaine, director of operations for the PJ Library.
The committee works to ensure that the books and CDs are developmentally appropriate for each age group, and reading/listening guides for parents are included.
Columbus’ PJ Library started in January.
"The view was that this was really going to take off," said Matt Youngner, young leadership director at the Columbus Jewish Federation. "And now, the synagogues, preschools and so on are very, very excited."
For two months, the word was spread through the Federation’s Web site and by word of mouth. In March, posters, brochures and flyers were distributed to preschools, synagogues and the JCC.
Within the program’s first few months, the list of participating families grew to about 192, representing 270 children, Youngner said. The distribution of children’s ages is fairly even across the range, he said.
Gahanna resident Melanie Butter has enrolled her son, Ryan, 5, and daughter Nora, 3. She works for the JCC and heard about the program through the preschool newsletter.
Her children just received their second set of books.
"I was surprised that each child received their own book," she said. "Each one gets a book geared toward their attention span. I was very happily surprised.
"I’ve referred others, too. My sister-in-law just had a baby, and I signed up the baby and her 2 1/2-year-old (sister)."
Butter said she is particularly impressed with the reading guides that accompany each book.
"It’s not just what the book’s about, but other things, other activities, you can do. It’s a way of learning about culture."
For example, after reading "Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel" by Sylvia A. Rouss, parents are encouraged to reinforce learning about Israeli geography through print materials, at-home activities and Internet links.
Marlene Tewner, director of educational services for the Columbus Jewish Federation, said: "(People are living) farther away from Jewish educational centers. This is a way for families to connect Jewishly."
Dublin parent Vicki Kushnir said she and her son Anthony, 4, enjoyed reading the "Matzo Ball Boy."
"It’s similar to the ‘Gingerbread Man,’ but it’s nice because it’s a Jewish retelling," she explained. "The quality of the books is very high."
Tiffany Goldstein of Blacklick is the mother of 3-year-old Alysia and 7-year-old Arielle Swinehart.
"It’s neat to start to build our Jewish library," Goldstein said. "I’ve gone out of my way to get some (books), but it’s nice to have these coming."
Although Arielle is too old to enroll in the program, Goldstein said she is not left out of the fun. "She enjoys reading the books to Alysia. We’ll read them five, 10 times — I think we’re still reading the Passover book," she said.
Local funding is limited to families in central Ohio. But, Youngner said, "central Ohio is a big place." Children are signed up from as far away as Granville and Chillicothe.
Youngner hopes that by next year, the Columbus program will include children through age 7. He said the organization plans to begin marketing again in September when the new school year starts. The JCC will help through outreach to families not reached by traditional methods.
The partners also hope to expand their programming.
Youngner said the specifics are not yet clear, but he envisions school programs that promote Jewish learning based on the books, as well as author visits for children and parents. Butter, who coordinates the JCC’s book fair, is looking into ways to incorporate the PJ Library.
"The goal is to keep expanding as long as there is funding," Youngner said. "If the numbers keep growing, that would be a great problem for us to have."All the feedback we’ve gotten from everybody has just been tremendous."
As for Alysia Swinehart, Goldstein says, "She doesn’t get much mail — most 3-year-olds don’t — so the books really make her day."
Parents can sign up for the PJ Library through the Columbus Jewish Federation’s Web site: www.jewishcolumbus.org