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Look What I See! Where Can I Be? AT THE SYNAGOGUE

Judy Chernak
Children's Literature, www.ChildrensLit.com: Baby, the doll, goes everywhere with her family--the author, her husband and their three children. Baby is always seeing some interesting Jewish ritual object, at first alone and then in context of its use at a holiday celebration, in a classroom, or in the synagogue. Baby and the reader observe and learn through richly colored and detailed photographs in these settings of a modern, liberal Jewish family enjoying their traditions. Sometimes Baby is hard to find, but she’s always there somewhere in the picture. A pleasant and realistic picture book for the very young, this is the fifth in the "Look What I See! Where Can I Be!" series. 2003, Platypus, $16.95. Ages 2 to 6.
Diana Brement
Books in Brief, JT News (the voice of Jewish Washington) Friday, May 27 2005 edition. www.jtnews.net: At the Synagogue by Dia L. Michels (Platypus Media, cloth, $16.95) is part of this publisher's Look What I See! Where Can I Be? series for young children. Big, colorful photos and minimal text lead us through Jewish holidays and lifecycle events through the eyes of a young toddler.
Mary Quatttlebaum
www.childrenslit.com: The fifth in the playful "Look What I See" series might be a lovely holiday gift for the whole family. Through the book's intriguing guessing-game format, local author Dia Michels takes youngsters inside a synagogue to learn about a Jewish wedding, Friday night services and holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah. Full-color photographs by Michael Bowles register both details and emotions as the author's three children participate in the ceremonies. A glossary entitled "About Jewish Life" makes this an especially noteworthy book for parents and educators hoping to acquaint youngsters with different cultures and religions.
Hadassah Magazine, December 2003: A drowsy toddler opens her eyes and sees a Kiddush cup, a shofar, a lulav, and etrog, a Torah, a menora, a havdala candle in Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue by Dia L. Michels (photographs by Michael J.N. Bowles. Platypus Media, 32 pp. $16.95). Sharp color photographs and a simple text highlight the relevance of the objects to the Jewish communal life of the child and her family.
Stephanie Zvirin
Booklist, October 2003: This bright, simple book offers a glimpse at some important symbols of Jewish life. A small, square photo on a right-hand page shows an object associated with Jewish tradition--a Torah or a braided candle, for example. Opposite are a few words that encourage children to turn the page, where they will find a bustling double-spread scene in which the object again appears: a sanctuary with people crowded around a Torah that is open for reading; a braided candle being lit to mark the weekly Havdalah service. The idea is good, and the photos are warm and winning, each one showing the curious toddler-narrator participating in the ceremony...
Midwest Book Review, November 2003, www.midwestbookreview.com: The collaborative effort of author Dia L. Michels and photographer Michael J. N. Bowles, Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At The Synagogue is part of a highly recommended series of picturebooks written with the unique twist of being told from a baby's point of view. The two-page spreads alternate between a close-up segment of a photograph, and then the whole photograph which puts the intriguing close-up into context. A visual joy to page through, Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At The Synagogue uses this unique format to celebrate Jewish life, faith, and education.
Hadassah Magazine December 2003: A drowsy toddler opens her eyes and sees a Kiddush cup, a shofar, a lulav, and etrog, a Torah, a menora, a havdala candle in Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue by Dia L. Michels (photographs by Michael J.N. Bowles. Platypus Media, 32 pp. $16.95). Sharp color photographs and a simple text highlight the relevance of the objects to the Jewish communal life of the child and her family.
Mary Quattlebaum
Washington Parent, December 2003: At the Synagogue, the fifth book in the playful Look What I See! series, might be a lovely Hanukkah gift for the whole family. Through the book's intriguing guessing-game format, local author Dia Michels takes youngsters inside a synagogue to learn about a Jewish wedding, Friday night services and holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah. Full-color photographs by Michael Bowles register both details and emotions as the author's three children participate in the ceremonies. A glossary entitled "About Jewish Life" makes this an especially noteworthy book for parents and educators hoping to acquaint youngsters with different cultures and religions.
Brett Isserow, Senior Rabbi
Temple Beth El Hebrew, Alexandria, VA: Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue is a warm and vibrant journey through the symbols and traditions that a Jewish youngster will experience. This is a perfect book for librarians, educators and parents to use as an introduction to the variety of rituals embraced by Judaism for children of all faiths.
Maryam Abdul-Tawwab, classroom teacher
Watkins Elementary School, Washington, DC: This is a perfect book for the current time. Knowledge breeds tolerance and Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue presents knowledge is a most engaging manner. It is an excellent resource for classroom teachers. This is the kind of non-fiction material that piques a child's interest. The educational notes at the end are superb allowing teachers to support the reading experience. And, like all Platypus Media children's books, the Activity Guide is teeming with add-on material. The Guide is an invaluable resource for teachers.
Debora Spivak, Instructional Specialist
New York City Public Schools, NY: The fifth book in the series, In The Synagogue continues the Look What I See! tradition of using stunning photographs and simple text to share the joys of family life. In this book, the family spends a week in autumn in and around the Synagogue, partaking in holidays, festivals, life-cycle events, education and worship services. This book belongs in every school and library interested in exposing children to different cultures, traditions and religions.
Rabbi Daniel Price
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Livingston, New Jersey: What I really appreciate about this book is that it exposes children to Jewish family life. So many books that seek to introduce kids to Judaism do so by sharing holiday traditions -- but what happens between holidays is just as important! By using the format of a baby's experiences day after day, Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue expresses the concept that you are Jewish every day of the year.


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