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For Bar/Bat Mitzvah books for young readers, go to the Children's Life Cycle Books Page

For Bar Mitvah books geared for the Parents, go to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Parent Books Page

For Kids--Putting God on Your Guest List : How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah By Jeffrey K. Salkin	This is a kids' companion guide to the widely acclaimed guide for parents by the same author, Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. And surely this work does guide students through the details both secular (gifts, parties, dealing with parents) and ritualistic (prayers, speeches, decorum) of preparing and conducting the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, the Jewish coming of age ceremony. But, it is much more than that. It also is a workbook for a young adolescent who is trying to figure out his/her evolving role in Jewish history and Jewish life. And for the older reader, this work can serve as an informative and highly readable reminder about what being Jewish is really all about. from Children's Literature
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Memory Book By Jeffrey and Nina Salkin	A spiritual keepsake that will become a family heirloom. The perfect gift to help a bar or bat mitzvah preserve the spiritual memories of this sacred event. This hands-on album is designed to help everyone involved better participate in creating the spiritual meaning of this joyful rite of passage. Created by Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin--author of the award-winning classic Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah--and his wife, author Nina Salkin, this guided album is a wonderfully interactive way to remember important moments and details. Included are special sections to record your family's spiritual history, the hopes, wishes, and memories of influential people in the bar / bat mitzvah's life, mitzvot performed, contributions to tzedakot, and more. With ample space for writing, reflecting, and pasting in mementos, The Bar / Bat Mitzvah Memory Book gives young people a place to treasure their special experiences and encourages them to prepare for spiritual life as Jewish adults. Description from Publisher
The Art of Torah Cantillation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Chanting Torah By Cantor Marshall Portnoy and Cantor Josee Wolff (With CD)	This unique, step-by-step book and compact disc package will lead the novice through each step of learning how to chant Torah. Divided into 13 lessons and additional useful appendices and bibliography, the book allows the reader to "self-teach" the important principles of Torah cantillation. The only pre-requisite for this course of learning is a basic ability to read Hebrew and a willingness to learn! It is a perfect selection for B'nai Mitzvah students, beginning learners, and for adult education courses. Step-by-step exercises and instructions CD of recordings correspond with written exercises. Includes glossary, list of parashiyot, High Holy Day cantillation and more! Description from Publisher
About the B'Nai Bagels By E. L. Konigsburg	Mark Seltzer thought he had enough aggravation studying for his Bar Mitzvah and losing his best friend. It's the last straw when his mother becomes the new manager of his Little League baseball team and drags his older brother, Spencer, along as the coach. No one knows what to expect with a mother for a manager, but soon Mark and the other players are surprised to see how much they're improving due to coach Spencer's strategy and helpful hints from "Mother Bagel." It looks like nothing can stop them from becoming champs--until Mark hears some startling news! Description from Publisher
Pink Slippers, Bat Mitzvah Blues By Ferida Wolff	Alyssa has become an adult, according to Judaism; since she has completed her Bat Mitzvah, she is expected to make her own decisions. And, instead of joining the temple's confirmation class, concentrating on schoolwork or socializing with friends, Alyssa chooses to pursue her dance lessons. Her priorities shift, however, when her best friend Ellen becomes ill, and when Alyssa's Jewish identity becomes more important to her. Alyssa realizes that a delicate balance between avocation and responsibility can exist if she is strong enough to make difficult decisions. Readers will enjoy the universal conflicts Wolff eloquently delineates; her characters are well realized and lend additional credibility to the story Description by Publisher's Weekly With her Bat Mitzvah behind her, thirteen-year-old Alyssa is free to concentrate on her first love - ballet. When her best friend becomes seriously ill and withdrawn, Alyssa has to decide what her priorities really are. This well-plotted story with a believable and satisfying happy ending deals with the pressures that face young people who want to make a career in the performing arts. Description from Horn Book
Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age By Eric A. Kimmel	Certainly, this is a book for every pre-bar mitzvah boy to read, but it is also a book for anyone who wants to learn about the beliefs, philosophies, and history of the religion. Kimmel describes the reason for the coming-of-age ceremony; what happens before and during it; and its origins and transformations throughout Jewish history. The author, in his informal, warm, conversational style, clarifies some esoteric facts about the sacred books of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims and looks at the similarities and differences in the three religions. Folklorist that he is, he has incorporated anecdotal material (including a poignant account by his father), rabbinic stories, and folktales into the narrative. Weihs's stylized, full-and half-page black-and-white scratchboard illustrations capture individuals and many of the traditional symbols and ritual objects associated with the ceremony. This is a livelier and more comprehensive treatment than Howard Greenfeld's Bar Mitzvah, which deals thoroughly with bar mitzvah but not with the history or philosophical ramifications of Torah and prayer, nor with the ceremony's relationship to the ancient Temple service. Kimmel's title is likely to become a classic Description from School Library Journal Kimmel (Days of Awe) unites his considerable storytelling gifts with affectionate understanding of the religious and cultural aspects of the bar mitzvah to produce a little something for everyone. Children with no previous exposure to Jewish beliefs and rituals will find the explanations here both clear and enticing, respectful of different religious traditions. Speaking in friendly, measured tones, Kimmel also accommodates Jewish readers from a variety of backgrounds, from Reform to Orthodox. He emphasizes the personal signficance of the ceremony by interpolating short first-person accounts of different men's and boys' bar mitvahs-not all of these are joyous, but each is powerful and distinct (an octagenarian describes how he had a second bar mitvah 67 years after his first; another man recounts the dramatic events of his 13th birthday in 1943, spent with Jewish partisans in the forests of Poland; a third recalls that his bar mitzvah was "vulgar, crass, thoroughly unspiritual"-"and yet... something happened in spite of all that"). Plenty of quick illustrative stories and legends about wise rabbis and European Jewry contribute to the festivities. Description from Publisher's Weekly
Bat Mitzvah: A Jewish Girl's Coming of Age By Barbara Diamond Goldin	The first North American bat mitzvah, the celebration of a Jewish girl's coming-of-age at 12 or 13, was held in 1922. Although the ceremony is a relatively recent development, the strong, responsive, and responsible role of Jewish women is as old as history. Goldin cameos courageous females from biblical to modern times who wielded behind-the-scenes power to affect the fate of the Jewish people. She describes how women's roles in many congregations are still evolving as are the ways in which a young woman fulfills her responsibilities as a bat mitzvah. The variety of ways some girls have chosen to celebrate their bat mitzvah are sampled as are several young women's reflections on the highlights of their preparation and ceremony. Explaining the ancient Jewish rituals and describing traditional synagogue furnishings, Goldin also briefs readers on the etiquette of attending the service. This relevant, informative, and highly readable companion to Kimmel's Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age will enrich school and public library collections. Description from Booklist The book to read on the subject. Many of today's Jewish girls are unaware that their right to have a bat-mitzvah ceremony is of comparatively recent origin. In Part I, Goldin relates this bit of lore as well as stories of women in Jewish history from the biblical period to the 1700s. Part II consists of explanations of the preparation, the ceremony, the celebrations (some quite unique), and the aftermath. This is also a book of religious introspection, philosophy, psychology, and sociology regarding the meaning and accomplishment of bat mitzvah. Attractive black-and-white scratchboard drawings depicting various appropriate scenes adorn the text. With today's multiple expressions of being Jewish, intermingled families, divorces, and wide social circles, the book should have broad appeal, as it touches on each situation. Anecdotes from 25 girls and their families make this title, along with Eric Kimmel's Bar Mitzvah (Viking, 1995), an insightful addition to all collections. Description from School Library Journal
(No graphic available) In the Thirteenth Year By Sandra C. Satten	Twelve-year-old Isaac Segal knew that his life would be different after his bar mitzvah, when, according to Jewish tradition, he would become a man. But what he didn't count on were the changes happening to him now-one month before his bar mitzvah! Isaac first notices his unusual abilities at his best friend Todd's bar mitzvah, when he discovers that he can read the mind of the good-looking girl sitting all the way across the synagogue. Isaac's discovery over the following days that he can also levitate objects and communicate telepathically with other people leads him to confide in his parents. Isaac's parents finally reveal to him the family's long-guarded secret, unraveling a fantastic family history that involves the twelve tribes, space travel and a far away planet called AROPSAID. Isaac's life will never be the same, and he emerges from his bar mitzvah with a new and unique understanding of himself and his role in the greater Jewish community. Description from Publisher Science fiction and bar mitzvahs are an odd juxtaposition any way you slice it. Yet this book combines those two, albeit in a bizarre way that will only appeal to a select group of Jewish sci/fi fans. Isaac Segal is approaching his bar mitzvah when he starts receiving mysterious messages in his sleep. He discovers that he can read minds and will objects to move. His parents explain that HAON (read the words in all capitals backwards to understand better) took a group of Jews to the planet AROPSAID so they could live free as Jews. They returned to Earth when a terrible disease (SACHS-TAY) broke out on their planet. Isaac learns to use his powers and discovers who else is from AROPSAID as he prepares for his bar mitzvah. Description from School Library Journal
Jason's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story By Beryl Lieff Benderly	At 12, studying for his Bar Mitzvah, Jason Cohen doesn't consider himself a kid anymore. So why does he feel so mixed up about Hanukkah and not celebrating Christmas? What relevance can it possibly have to a modern kid's life? Late that night, he finds a young intruder, Aaron ben Moshe, who has been sent from Judea to find a member of the Cohen tribe. Judah, the Judean leader, needs help, and only a Cohen will do. Jason gets caught up in Aaron's excitement, and quickly packs some peanut butter, bananas, bread, a flashlight, and his new binoculars. He follows Aaron and is soon transported back to Judea. There are sentries—is Jason a spy? They aren't sure—after all, the name Jason is Greek. That's just his cover name, he tells them; he has a good Hebrew name, Joseph ben David HaKohen. Is using a different name a part of what his dad meant about people accommodating a conqueror's demands? Benderly's descriptions of Judah Maccabee as a dynamic leader are very strong. An awful lot of history has to be explained very fast, and she manages that quite well, too. Jason's modern "smarts," and the things he takes for granted (like multiplication and that flashlight), make the story move quickly. Description from Kirkus Reviews
Emma Ansky-Levine and Her Mitzvah Machine	A rather unique approach to the theme of a girl discovering and becoming fascinated with her religious heritage. Emma's 12th birthday gift from an uncle living in Jerusalem is a computerlike machine that is shaped like the tablet of the ten commandments and bears the name "Mitzvah Machine." To Emma's completely nonobservant Jewish family, it's a nonsense gift. As the girl goes about her usual routines of school, friends, and family life, however, the messages on the machine's screen challenge, guide, and teach her. Emma and her friends are very real youngsters, and the characters and story line will hold readers' interest. Emma befriends a homeless man for whom she collects food from her neighbors and is jealous when her best friend, Danny, seems to be too interested in another classmate. The climax of the story comes when Emma, because of the Mitzvah Machine's influence, becomes bat mitzvah, with Uncle Izzy traveling to America for the occasion. Entertaining and a little different. from School Library Journal
My Bar Mitzvah My Bat Mitzvah By Marlene Lobell Ruthen	Newly reissued as separate editions, these classics make perfect gifts for young men and young women. Our beautifully illustrated keepsake books have pages for celebrants and parents to record the details of the ceremony, the Torah and haftarah portions, a family tree, and special moments to remember. Description from Publisher
The Narrowest Bar Mitzvah / The Return of Morris Schumsky By Steven Schnur	Alex tells the story of his bar mitzvah, which almost did not take place because a water main break on the night before has made the synagogue unusable and ruined the food for the 100 invited guests. His parents, grandparents, and older sister make some fast decisions, and the bar mitzvah service and reception are held in Grandpa's six-foot-wide house. The resourceful family manages, with the help of friends, to ready the house and replace the reception refreshments. Grandpa's house is shown in full detail, with pen-and-ink drawings, including a cut-away view of the house. A glossary explains the Hebrew words used in the text. This is a family story in which the grandparents have a starring role and a very special relationship with their grandchildren. Description from School Library Journal
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Survival Guide By Randi Reisfeld	Randi Reisfeld is an editor, and a Jewish mother who has produced a Bar and a Bat Mitzvah and lived to tell (and write) about it!Ms. Reisfeld is editorial director of 16 Magazine, a youth-oriented entertainment publication, and has written several books for teenagers. She is the current Bar/Bat Mitzvah chairperson at Temple Beth Or in New Jersey. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Survival Guide demystifies every aspect of this coming-of-age ritual, from Temple to Torah to thank-you notes, in a practical, informative, and humorous manner.
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Autograph Book	A bar/bat mitzvah illustrated keepsake book that provides spaces to record basic information about the special day.

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