‘Counting on SHabbat’ is a toddler-friendly rhyming story about Counting and shabbat, but mostly about kindness
Midwest Book Review’s “Children’s Bookwatch”!
Synopsis: The Jewish holiday of Shabbat brings 1 table, 2 candles, and 3 braids in the challah, kittens waiting to be fed, friends knocking at the door, smiles all around, and more. Count from 1 to 10 as you get ready for Shabbat!
Critique: An ideal pick for family, daycare center, preschool, and community library board book collections for children ages 1-4, "Counting on Shabbat" by author Nancy Churnin and illustrator Petronela Dostalova will prove a welcome and prized addition. It should be noted that "Counting on Shabbat" from Kar-Ben Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Counting on Shabbat is my very first (but not last, more on the way) PJ LIBRARY book. A dream come true — this board book will be in the hands of thousands of children who sign up for PJ Library, which mails books to children for free. PJ Library subscribers, look for this one October 1, 2024: https://pjlibrary.org/books/counting-on-shabbat/if01845
Thank you, Michal Hoschander Malen and Jewish Book Council for including COUNTING ON SHABBAT in your lovely round-up of 10 board books featuring #JewishJoy! Read the full article here: https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/joyful-jewish-board-books
A wonderful article about the power of Jewish Board Books in Kveller magazine, written by Sarah Aroeste! Read the full article here: https://www.kveller.com/the-small-but-mighty-power-of-jewish-board-books/
So much fun presenting COUNTING ON SHABBAT at Temple Agudas Achim in Austin on the Dell Jewish Community campus!
Thank you, Annie Lynn, for the love for Counting on Shabbat!
Looking forward to sharing COUNTING ON SHABBAT at the New York Jewish Book Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage alongside Sarah Aroeste and MAZAL BUENO! and Ann Koffsky and SHEEP SAYS SHALOM.
Logan and Carter were among the kids and adults that helped tell the story of COUNTING ON SHABBAT at the New York Jewish Book Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
Leave a comment on my Counting on Shabbat journey on Kathy Temean’s blog for a chance to win a copy of the book! Read it here: https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2023/12/07/book-giveaway-counting-on-shabbat-by-nancy-chrunin/
I spy FOUR Kittens to be fed and a chance to count from ONE to TEN at Jewish Preschool on Sardis! Thank you, Kidding Around Yoga with Synthia Gerson for bringing #CountingOnShabbat on your wonderful journey to help kids be happy & healthy!
Susie Avnery writes that Counting on Shabbat is her grandchild’s favorite book!
Proud to see Counting on Shabbat picked as one of nine holiday highlight books by the Association of Jewish Libraries! You’ll find the full list here: https://jewishlibraries.org/ajl-announces-holiday-highlights-titles-for-fall-2023/
Thank you to the Lavender Library and Heidi Rabinowitz for supporting Counting on Shabbat and the diverse Association of Jewish Libraries Holiday Highlights list in this post for Storytime Solidarity. Read about it here: https://storytimesolidarity.com/jewishholidays2023/
"The story, told in gentle rhyme, also introduces the youngest reader to the concept of counting. In fact, counting does double duty in this delightful board book. A toddler can practice counting from one to ten, but will also learn that we count on each other for kindness." Thank you Belinda Michelson Brock and The Sydney Taylor Shmooze Read the full review here: https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2023/09/review-counting-on-shabbat.html
"Help your toddler learn to count and prepare for Shabbat with this adorable board book." Thank you, Liza Wiemer for this lovely review of COUNTING ON SHABBAT in The Wisconsin Chronicle! Read Liza’s review online here: https://www.jewishchronicle.org/2023/08/11/lizas-book-corner-your-toddler-learns-to-count/
Thank you, Maria Marshall, for this wonderful Q & A and lovely review of Counting on Shabbat! Thank you for helping me welcome this board book to the world Nov. 7. I hope it encourages kids to care for our seniors. #CountingOnKindness Read Maria’s interview and review here: https://www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/the-picture-book-buzz-interview-with-nancy-churnin-and-review-of-counting-shabbat
Thank you, Wendy Hinote Lanier for featuring Counting on Shabbat in your fabulous column, Countdown to Fall: Counting Books You and Your Kiddos Will Love. Read the full post here and here: https://christianchildrensauthors.com/2023/08/10/countdown-to-fall-counting-books-you-and-your-kiddos-will-love/
A Q & A with Deborah Kalb about Counting on Shabbat and my other 2023 books. Read the interview here: https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2023/10/q-with-nancy-churnin.html
Thank you, Baby Librarians for including COUNTING ON SHABBAT, illustrated by Petronela Dostalová, in this delicious array! Thank you for lifting up #jewishkidlit including my book baby.
"Board books are so important for very young readers," writes Barbara Foster Bietz in her wonderful column, Jewish Books for Kids. "They are sturdy enough for little hands to hold and explore with an adult or independently. This year, there are several terrific titles available that celebrate Jewish life. I am so pleased to share this roundup of Jewish board books published in 2023." Thank you, Barbara, for spreading word about new #JewishBoardBooks like Counting on Shabbat! Read Barbara’s article here: https://jewishbooksforkids.com/2023/08/27/jewish-board-book-roundup-2023/
Thank you , Ellen Leventhal. So glad you enjoyed COUNTING ON SHABBAT!
A book for all ages! Sharing Counting on Shabbat with my Mom, Flora Churnin, 97, and Mom’s great grandson, Benjy Nash, 3!
An elderly man is alone on Shabbat — except for his four kittens. Then there are five knocks on the door that transform what could have been a lonely celebration into a joyful one. I hope you will use this story as inspiration to bring seniors and children together on Shabbat, on all holidays, at every opportunity. Launching November 7 from Kar-Ben Publishing, Lerner Books
Getting ready for my first Counting on Shabbat presentation in Edgar, Wisconsin in March 2023, with felt, braidable challah and toy kugels custom-made by Tatyana of miniworldfood at Etsy!
Also along for the presentation: cat ears for the kids playing the four kittens and matzah balls for the matzah ball soup!
In Edgar, Wisconsin!
“Nine pictures bringing cheer” for our seniors, created by the great kids of Boggess Elementary in Murphy, a Plano ISD school!
Check out the Jewish Kidlit Author Showcase to learn more about Counting on Shabbat and other wonderful Jewish kidlit of 2022 and 2023.
Loved taking time on my Jewish Book Council Author Tour for Dear Mr. Dickens at Temple Israel in Minneapolis to have lunch with the wonderful Joni Sussman, editor of Counting on Shabbat, at the Walker Art Center!
#JewishBoardBooks, including COUNTING ON SHABBAT, featured on Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm Jan. 12, 2023. Read the post here.
Talking abouth #JewishBoardBooks on Erin Dealey’s wonderful #kidlit blog on Jan. 17, 2023. Read the interviews here.
Thank you to The Jewish Link for helping to spread the word about Jewish Board Books! Read the article online here.
Sign up to learn about board books and how to create them at this SCBWI-Israel presentation, free to SCBWI members, available for a modest fee for non-members.
Had so much fun talking Board Books with these great attendees!
Coming November 7 from Kar-Ben Publishing, illustrated by Petronela Dostaleva. Check out the teacher guide with resources and a project, COUNTING ON KINDNESS, where kids share kind things they do for and with seniors.