PJ Library is a program of the

Harold Grinspoon Foundation The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) is a private foundation established in 1993 and located in Agawam, Massachusetts. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization charitable organization with the goal of "enhancing Jewish and community life in West ...

, a North American Jewish

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

organization based in

Agawam, Massachusetts Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,692 at the 2020 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from Springfield. It is considered part of the Springfie ...

. It was created in December 2005 as a Jewish engagement and literacy program for Jewish families with young children. PJ Library is modeled after Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryImagination Library official website
/ref> program. PJ Library sends out free Jewish children's books and music to families "with Judaism as part of their lives." on a monthly basis by subscription. It is a North American program that is implemented on a local level. Costs are covered by a partnership between the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, members of the PJ Library Alliance, and families who “Pay it Forward” to make sure PJ Library can reach more families. In most communities there is an agency such as a Jewish federation, Jewish Community Center, or synagogue that is a key partners in making PJ Library possible locally.

Distribution and book selection

In North America, PJ Library sends more than 220,000 books to families raising Jewish children each month. PJ Library is available in every zip code in the US as well as across Canada. The PJ Library books and music are available for children between 6 months and 8 years of age, depending on the available funding in each community. Older children, ages 8.5 - 11 may sign up for PJ Our Way, a choose-your-own book program. Children in the US and Canada are able to select a free chapter book or graphic novel each month and write reviews, take quizzes, and interact in a safe, moderated, online space just for kids. In December 2017, PJ Library, in partnership with Jewish Rock Radio, launched PJ Library Radio, a free app and online streaming radio station. PJ Library Radio plays Jewish kids' music 24 hours a day with a special, curated, lullaby playlist starting around 9pm Eastern. Globally, PJ Library programs are implemented in more than a dozen countries including Israel, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Children that have been enrolled in PJ Library receive age-appropriate books highlighting

Jewish holidays Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' (, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed by Jews throughout the Hebrew calendar.This article focuses on practices of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism. ...

, values, Bible stories, and folklore. Books are selected by the PJ Library Book Selection Committee. Working with authors, publishers and editors, the committee strives to ensure that the finest Jewish books for children find their way each month into the mailboxes of all PJ Library families. Many of the PJ Library books have won prestigious awards, including the

Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

and the

Sydney Taylor Book Award The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's literature. Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The award was established in 1968 by the Association of Jewish L ...

. Several have been named as finalists for the National Jewish Book Award from the

Jewish Book Council The Jewish Book Council (Hebrew: ), founded in 1943, is an American organization encouraging and contributing to Jewish literature. The goal of the council, as stated on its website, is "to promote the reading, writing and publishing of quali ...

Enrollment

Families with kids ages 6 months through 8 years old with Judaism as part of their lives, are welcome to sign up. PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever their background, knowledge, or family make-up, or observance may be. Through partners around North America, PJ Library also offers concerts, family outings, activities and other events as well as online Facebook groups.

National recognition

PJ Library has been regularly featured in the Slingshot Resource Guide's "50 most inspiring and innovative organizations, projects, and programs in the North American Jewish community today".Slingshot official website
/ref> In April 2009, Harold Grinspoon, president and founder of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, received the Sidney Shapiro Tzedakah Award for his work in Jewish philanthropy, including the founding of The PJ Library.Jewish Funders Network presents awards
, ''Philanthropy Journal'' April 7, 2009 In January 2010, the Jewish Education Service of North America listed The PJ Library as one of JESNA's "Picks for the Best in Jewish Education of the Decade".JESNA's Picks for the Best in Jewish Education of the Decade

Notable books

* ''Bagels from Benny'' by Aubrey Davis, Illus. by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, ''2003

'') * ''Chicken Man'' by Michelle Edwards (Junebug Books, ''1992

National Jewish Book Award The Jewish Book Council (Hebrew: ), founded in 1943, is an American organization encouraging and contributing to Jewish literature. The goal of the council, as stated on its website, is "to promote the reading, writing and publishing of qual ...

'')Jewish Book Council
, ''National Jewish Book Awards-Winners List'' * ''Hanukkah at Valley Forge'' by Stephen Krensky, Illus. by Greg Harlin (

Dutton Children's Books Dutton Children's Books is a US publisher of children's books and a division of the Penguin Group. It is associated with the Dutton adult division. It was previously an imprint of E. P. Dutton, prior to 1986. They have been publishing books si ...

, ''2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award'') * ''The Keeping Quilt'' by Patricia Polacco (

Aladdin Paperbacks Aladdin Paperbacks is one of several children's-book imprints owned by Simon & Schuster. It was established by Jean E. Karl at Atheneum Books where she was the founding director of the children's department (1961). Atheneum merged with or was ...

, ''1988 Sydney Taylor Book Award'') * '' Joseph Had a Little Overcoat'' by Simms Taback (

Viking Press Viking Press (formally Viking Penguin, also listed as Viking Books) is an American publishing company owned by Penguin Random House. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheimer and then acqu ...

, ''2000

'')American Library Association
''Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present'' * ''When Jessie Came Across the Sea'' by Amy Hest, Illus. by Patrick James Lynch (

Candlewick Press Candlewick Press, established in 1992 and located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is part of the Walker Books group. The logo depicting a bear carrying a candle is based on Walker Books's original logo. History Sebastian Walker launched Walker Boo ...

, ''1997

Kate Greenaway Medal The Carnegie Medal for Illustration (until 2022 the Kate Greenaway Medal) is a British award that annually recognises "distinguished illustration in a book for children". It is conferred upon the illustrator by the Chartered Institute of Librar ...

'')The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
, ''Full List of Winners'' * ''The Very Best Sukkah'' by Shoshana Nambi, illus by Moran Yogev (Kalaniot Books, ''2023

, 2023

'') * '' Noah's Ark'' by

Peter Spier Peter Spier (June 6, 1927 – April 27, 2017) was a Dutch-American illustrator and writer who created more than thirty children's books. Bio Spier was born in Amsterdam, North Holland, and grew up in Broek in Waterland, the son of Jo Spier, a ...

(Dragonfly Books, ''1978 Caldecott Medal, 1978

Lewis Carroll Shelf Award The Lewis Carroll Shelf Award was an American literary award conferred on several books by the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education annually from 1958 to 1979. Award-winning books were deemed to "belong on the same shelf" as ''Al ...

,Literatureplace.com Award Winning Booklists for the best in Children's Literature
''Lewis Carroll Shelf Award'' 1982

National Book Award The National Book Awards (NBA) are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. ...

,The National Book Awards
, ''Winners and Finalists, Since 1950'' 1978

Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organizatio ...

)Library Thing
''Book Awards: Christopher Award'''' * ''The Bedtime Sh'ma'' by Sarah Gershman, Illus. by Kristina Swarner (EKS Publishing, ''2008 Sydney Taylor Book Award'') *''Soosie, The Horse That Saved Shabbat'' by Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illus by Menahem Halberstadt (Kalaniot Books, 2021), 2021 Holiday Highlights Book, ''Association of Jewish Libraries'', 2021 Star Review, ''Kirkus'' * ''The Always Prayer Shawl'' by

Sheldon Oberman Sheldon Oberman (May 20, 1949 – March 26, 2004) was a Canadian children's writer who lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Oberman (known to friends as Obie) grew up in the city's North End. After graduating from St. Johns Hi ...

, Illus. by Ted Lewin (Boyds Mills Press, ''1994 Sydney Taylor Book Award, 1994

) * ''Gershon's Monster'' by Eric Kimmel, Illus. by

Jon J. Muth Jon is a shortened form of the common given name Jonathan, derived from "YHWH has given". The name is spelled Jón in Iceland and on the Faroe Islands. In the Nordic countries, it is derived from Johannes. Notable people * Jon Aaraas (born 1986 ...

(

Scholastic Press Scholastic Corporation is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, teachers, parents, children, and other educational institutions. P ...

, ''2000 Sydney Taylor Book Award'') * ''Marven of the Great North Woods'' by

Kathryn Lasky Kathryn Lasky (born June 24, 1944) is an American children's writer who also writes for adults under the names Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann. Her children's books include several Dear America books, The Royal Diaries books, ''Sugaring T ...

, Illus. by Kevin Hawkes (

Voyager Books HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the " Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster. HarperCollins is ...

, ''1997 National Jewish Book Award'') * ''Flying High'' by

Julian Edelman Julian Francis Edelman (born May 22, 1986) is an American former professional American football, football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons with the New England Patriots. He played college footba ...

, Illus. by David Leonard The PJ library edition of Edelman's children's book was revised to include quotations from

Theodor Herzl Theodor Herzl (2 May 1860 – 3 July 1904) was an Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Jewish journalist and lawyer who was the father of Types of Zionism, modern political Zionism. Herzl formed the World Zionist Organization, Zionist Organizat ...

. The PJ Library has also been the driving force behind updates and reprints of classic and favorite books.

References
/h1>

External links

PJ Library (Official Site)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pj Library American children's literature Jewish American literature Jewish music Jewish youth organizations based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Massachusetts Projects established in 2005 2005 establishments in Massachusetts