Dear Elizabeth,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much our family enjoys being part of the PJ Library program. So far, our daughter has received two wonderful books (Something from Nothing and When Mindy Saved Chanukah) and just last night she happily opened the Joe Black CD. She loves both books, and we enjoyed listening to the CD on the way to preschool this morning (I confess that I continued listening on my way to work rather than switching to NPR as I usually do!)

This is such a lovely program, and we are so very grateful to live in a community that values Jewish literacy and identity. Though we have been a part of the PJ library for 3 months now, I am still a little bit stunned every time a new book arrives in the mail! Thank you so much for coordinating this wonderful program and for realizing the importance of preschool Jewish literacy and identity. And please pass along my heartfelt thanks to the very generous person who has funded the New Haven PJ Library. What a beautiful gift to the children and families in our community. We are very grateful!
Many thanks and Happy Chanukah!

This is just one of the beautiful testimonials recently received by Elizabeth Edelglass, PJ Library Coordinator for the Department of Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation Greater New Haven, as parents attest to the joy and learning the PJ Library program brings to their families. If you have children under the age of six and you live in the Greater New Haven area, you too can bring FREE Jewish books to your children in your home, once a month for the next year. Sign up today!

The PJ Library (“PJ” for pajamas!) is a program that seeks to engage Jewish families with young children in Jewish life through bedtime stories and music. The books and CDs have been carefully chosen by children’s literature and music experts to convey Jewish stories, heritage and values without a particular denominational slant.

Each book and CD also comes with a guide to help families use the selection in their homes. Parents in the program will occasionally receive a parenting book, such as the highly praised The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.

The PJ Library is FREE for children from 6 months to 5˝ years living in the Greater New Haven area. PJ Library, originally founded by The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, is being funded in our community by an anonymous local donor. New Haven was one of the first communities in the country to offer the PJ Library program, and in just over one year more than 460 children have enrolled to receive books!

Harold Grinspoon summed up the purpose of the PJ Library with the following statement: “Parents and children have warm memories of that special time right before bedtime, when they snuggle together and end the day with a book. Reading stories and listening to music together are among the most powerful and nurturing early childhood experiences. The PJ Library will turn these special moments into Jewish moments.”
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, you can register for The PJ Library - and we hope you will! If your loved ones live outside of Greater New Haven, you can still sign them up at a cost of $60 for a full year of books. It’s a bargain you can't pass up - and makes a great baby gift!

For more information and / or to register for The PJ Library, please visit the website.www.pjlibrary.org, download a form from www.jewishnewhaven,org, or contact Elizabeth Edelglass, PJ Library Coordinator, at 203 387-2424 x330 or librarewishnewhaven.org