k-1st Grade

Banner Image: "Bookmobile" by Sylvia Hyman, Smithsonian American Art Museum

These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent recently published books that celebrate Jewish-American heritage, affirm identity, and promote cultural awareness. Sharing these books is one part of our effort to develop a diverse consciousness with and for our youth and ensure they know they are not alone, and that they can speak out to help stop the spread of bigotry.

Big Dreams, Small Fishby Paula Cohen

Can Sophie Change the World?by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Gitty and Kvetchby Caroline Kusin Pritchard

The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel

A Scarf for Keikoby Ann Malaspina

Thank You, Dr. Salk!: The Scientist Who Beat Polio and Healed the Worldby Dean Robbins

Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journeyby Ruth Behar

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

3-12 graders can find hundreds of great options on Sora. For Sora ebooks, you will be prompted to log in through Clever. More information on how to access Sora is available here.
TK-2 graders can find great ebooks and read-alouds through Tumblebooks or the Berkeley Public Library.
You will need a Berkeley Public Library card to order books through the Berkeley Public Library catalog. If you need a Berkeley Public Library card, click here.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores:

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.