Family Book of Midrash

Barbara Diamond Goldin is currently the youth librarian in a public library. She is the recipient of the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries for her significant contribution to Jewish children's literature. She is the author of many works of fiction and non-fiction.

These stories, mined from the Midrash and Talmud and retold by gifted children's book author Barbara Diamond Goldin, are full of miracles and magic, full of wisdom and wit. They are just perfect for family sharing. There are 52 of these gems, lovingly polished by Ms. Goldin and made accessible even to the youngest children. Taken one a week for a year, they can be vitamins for the entire family's soul... -- Jane Yolen Classic selections emphasize kindness and faith; miracles are celebrated, and strong plots reinforce moral and ethical values...With naturalness and warmth, Goldin offers plenty of old-time adventure, suspense, drama, and humor here. Once the stories have been shared aloud-there are enough for each week of the year-21st century childeren will want to return to reexperience them for themselves... A thoroughly professional piece of work?In this collection of 52 stories from the Talmud and other sources, [Barbara Diamond Goldin] manages to maintain the integrity of the original stories while making them accessible to children. The stories?such as 'Moses Visits Akiva,' 'Honi the Circle Maker,' 'Honi and the Carob Tree,' and 'Rachel and Akiva,' are all exquisitely told. These are tales of adventure, mystery, humor, and faith, all related in a nondidactic manner?This beautifully designed and crafted book will make a treasured addition to a child's bookshelf... The Jerusalem Post

• Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Animals in the Ark Chapter 3 How Dishonesty Entered the Ark Chapter 4 Pharaoh's Crown Chapter 5 Moses' Staff Chapter 6 Why God Chose Mount Sinai Chapter 7 The Most Precious Gift Chapter 8 Moses Visits Akiva Chapter 9 The Women's Reward Chapter 10 The Widow's Gold Chapter 11 David and the Spiderweb Chapter 12 The Wind, the Widow, and Solomon Chapter 13 The Tower in the Sea Chapter 14 Solomon and the Demon King Chapter 15 The Tower in the Sea Chapter 16 Alexander's Lesson Chapter 17 Never Too Poor to Study Torah Chapter 18 A Test of Hillel's Patience Chapter 19 Learning Torah on One Foot Chapter 20 Honi the Circle Maker Chapter 21 Honi and the Carob Tree Chapter 22 Nicanor's Doors Chapter 23 Rabbi Johanan's Escape Chapter 24 The Argument Chapter 25 A Thief in the Night Chapter 26 The Goats That Once Were Chickens Chapter 27 The Hallahs Chapter 28 A Banquet for God Chapter 29 To Look at God Chapter 30 The Emperor's Daughter and the Wine Vessels Chapter 31 The Rich Man's Son Chapter 32 Rachel and Akiva Chapter 33 The Candle, the Donkey, and the Rooster Chapter 34 Prove It Chapter 35 Like a Fish Out of Water Chapter 36 A Little Grain Chapter 37 Both Good and Evil Chapter 38 My Brother Ki Tov Chapter 39 Better a Change Than Death Chapter 40 Rabbi Shimon, the Cave, and the Carob Tree Chapter 41 A Wife's Love Chapter 42 Elisha and the Dove Chapter 43 Rabbi Hama's Son Chapter 44 Judah and Antoninus Chapter 45 The Missing Ingredient Chapter 46 Rabbi Joshua and the Messiah Chapter 47 The Pious Cow Chapter 48 One More Try Chapter 49 The Clever Thief Chapter 50 The Will Chapter 51 The Best Merchandise Chapter 52 Leviathan and Fox Chapter 53 A Man of Good Deeds Chapter 54 The Brothers of Ashkelon Chapter 55 Glossary Chapter 56 Bibliography