The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) is pleased to present Evaluating Jewish
Representation in Children’s Literature: A Guide for Libraries. This brief booklet provides advice
for selecting high-quality books that offer an authentic portrait of Judaism, free from
stereotypes and disinformation, in order to build bridges across cultures and create a healthier
society. The booklet is available at no charge on AJL’s website:
https://jewishlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Evaluating-Jewish-Kidlit-Guide.pdf
Jewish people represent approximately 0.2% of the world’s population. For some children,
books may be their first exposure to Jews and Judaism, and it is important that Jewish window
books offer an authentic portrait. This guide will assist libraries in selecting the best Jewish
books for their collections.
Evaluating Jewish Representation in Children’s Literature contains guidance on recognizing
diversity within the Jewish community; including books on a variety of Jewish holidays;
evaluating books on the Holocaust and balancing collections with non-Holocaust titles; treating
Israel fairly; avoiding antisemitism; and more. The publication contains collection development
goals, guidelines for evaluating individual titles, and links to other resources.