Snow in Jerusalem (Albert Whitman Prairie Books (Paperback))

This book is a wonderful edition to my son's multicultural/religious book category...this was suggested reading By Isra Hashmi, Saturday, 11th April 2015 for the "10 Must Have Books for Muslim Children" and it is definitely worth to buy...I love how the author makes a parallel with each boy...they both say the same thing to their cat and has the same feelings that this is their cat and she is a miracle from God. to Avi, his mom states, " my love, are you feeding that cat again?"his mother teased from the kitchen window. "We'll never get rid of it now!"Butf Avi loved this fluffy white cat. "there is no other cat like you in all of Jerusalem, " Avi whispered. "you are a miracle-a gift from Hashem, the Holy One." later Hamudi's Mom says, (the Muslim boy's mom)" Hamudi, my darling, are you feeding the cat again? his mother teased from the open doorway. "It will never leave us now!" But Hamudi loved the silky white cat. "There is no other cat like you in all of Jerusalem," he whispered. "I know you must be a miracle-a gift from Allah!"so the story continues until one day Avi follows his cat to Hamudi and an argument errupts of who's cat it is? Finally she shows them that she has 4 kittens which they end up agreeing to share because they are not thinking about their differences anymore rather about the wellbeing of the kittens and that it is upsetting to the mama cat to see them fighting...So this is a simple and beautiful story about overcoming your differences for the wellbeing of others. Very poignant and hear warming...it is not biased towards eather religion...My 6year old son loved listening to it and guessing what is gonna happen next. It is important for me to point out that I have a BS in Special Ed. with a certificate in Eng. Literature. Thus, it is very important for me that there are no language mistakes and that it is a well written story. The only reason I am giving this book four stars is because I do wish it was a bit longer ...it seemed quite short, I believe that the way it is written it could be for 3-5th graders but because it is short and portrayed through a simple act of caring for a cat k-2nd is appropriate as well, depends on your own child... I also loved the pictures they are absolutely beautiful and detailed, and the pages are the nice thick shiny ones, even though this is paperback it is not flimsy at all and a very nice gift even as a paperback book. I bought it used in very good condition and in my opinion it is in Like new condition...If this is the kind of book you like, you would love Cinderella: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani can't say enough about it. Same premise but focus is on how she prays,is kind,works hard, and is humble. If you want to teach your children princess stories but do not like that they are based on flaky main characters than this is the one for you whatever your beliefs are.

If you've ever given your heart to a stray cat or dog, you will love this sweet story. Set in Jerusalem, the author narrates traditions of both Jewish and Muslim cultures into a children's story even adults will enjoy. In addition, I chose to add this to my collection of beautifully illustrated children's books.

One of the main characters in this book is a fluffy white cat with blue eyes. She wanders the streets of Jerusalem. By becoming engaged in the stray cat’s journey, the reader learns about the four unique sections of the Old City. The title page includes a simple map that points out the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters.The neutral cat befriends a Muslim and a Jewish child. Both boys become emotionally attached to the cat. Each feeds it whenever it comes to his respective neighborhood. Toward the end of the story, the wandering cat brings the boys together. They learn that the cat has a litter of kittens. As rare flakes of snow fall on Jerusalem, the boys cooperate. The kittens will be evenly divided. The white cat will split her time between the Jewish and Muslim Quarters of the Old City.Watercolor illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu provide a glimpse of the four sections. The artists used Uri Yaffe’s photographs to create their muted illustrations. While the pictures are intentionally subdued, readers should be able to recognize symbols, outfits, and structures associated with each group.The illustrations and the text provide a starting point for discussing the multicultural aspects of the Old City. Modern pictures from the Four Quarters can be used to reinforce some of the obvious differences between the ethnic groups. Learning to acknowledge and accept cultural diversity is the key to the boys’ friendship. Compromise became a possibility when the boys were able to work toward a common goal. A neutral party (the cat) was able to bridge the geographic and cultural gap. Snow in Jerusalem has multicultural messages that should be shared with children.The book also includes a glossary of Hebrew and Arabic words and an author’s note. Since I am not an authority on life in the Old City, I do not know whether everything stated in the author’s note is still true 13 years later. Even if day-to-day life in the Old City has changed, this delightful multicultural picture book should continue to be read aloud to children.Take a look at these impressive honors and awardsA Junior Library Guild SelectionA University of Wisconsin’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice for 2002An Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Children’s Book of Jewish Content for 2001A Children’s Literature Choice List of Books for 2002A Jewish Theological Seminary Notable Book for Younger ReadersHarold Grinspoon Foundation PJ Library Selection

A little white cat roams freely between the Jewish Quarter and the Arab Quarter in Jerusalem, seeking food and love from two boys unaware of each others' existance. When each boy decides to follow her, they discover that they can share this cat they both love. It is a simple, yet profound story of unity in a divided city.

I think Snow in Jerusalem is a heart warming story. It brings two young boys together who are from differnt religions, one Jewish and one Muslim. The story includes colorful illustrations that represent the old city of Jerusalem and its different sections. Another aspect of this story that I like is the glossary. Throughout the story both boys speak a few words in Arabic and Hebrew. The glossary offers definitions and a pronunciation guide.

Great book. Quick delivery.

The premise of the book is fine, but it's oh so telling that it's not written by a local. This may be a good read for children in general, but it specifically does not address the very children it tries to depict. B+ for effort, but C- overall.

I suspect that for a child who knew Jerusalem well, this book might be unsatisfying. But as a gentle (and peace-loving) introduction to the city and its four distinct quarters, this is very charming. The overlaps and interplay between the Jewish and the Muslim boy remind us of our common humanity and the ending is very fitting.

An amazing story which helps to show children that there are no major differences in us as humans regardless of our beliefs. A Jewish child is just as capable of loving and caring for a cat as a Muslim child and that two children from conflicting communities can share the same love and become friends as a result of it!It has beautiful illustrations and written in good language.