Kindness and Connection as a Life Lesson for Little Readers in Adorable Board Book

It is never too early to teach the concepts of being kind and doing kind deeds for someone. Suzy Ultman's third book in her series of adorable board books with a Jewish theme, It's a Mitzvah! Small Deeds with Big Heart is a great choice to introduce preschoolers to the idea that being kind is important in today's society. Being kind brings connections with others in our world.

Sharing is an important concept for young children to learn. The Jewish term "tzedakah" is the mitzvah of sharing and being fair. Telling the truth is a concept to teach young children at an early age. The Jewish term "emet" is the mitzvah of being trustworthy. Each page features a Jewish term for being kind or helping others and being connected to the Jewish idea of a mitzvah. Young children have the opportunity to experience these Jewish terms. Families who are not Jewish will also find this adorable board book to be a fun read to teach these concepts. Young children always enjoy learning new vocabulary and the Jewish terms are a fun way to introduce new vocabulary to young readers. Families of all backgrounds can learn about Jewish culture with this charming board book for our youngest readers.

Ultman brings her talents as an illustrator to her third book in her series with a Jewish theme with brightly colored and engaging illustrations of kind deeds and things to do to help someone. Even an earthworm can use some help.

It's a Mitzvah! Small Deeds with Big Heart is recommended for ages 3-7. It was published by Rise and Penguin Workshop, a division of Penguin/Random House. It has an ISBN of 978-0-593-75195-4.

It's a Mitzvah! Small Deeds with Big Heart will be available in your favorite bookstore on September 2, 2025.

Teachers who teach in a preschool classroom will want to add this delightful board book to their classroom library. It is never too early to teach the concepts of being kind to everyone and doing good deeds to make our world better. Picture books are a go-too tool for teachers to use when introducing a concept. It's a Mitzvah! Small Deeds with Big Heart is a great choice to introduce ways to be kind in the world. The text is written in large print and the brightly colored illustrations depict all of the ways that kindness can be shown. The Jewish terms for each kind act are a fun way to introduce new vocabulary to young readers. Children who do not come from Jewish families can experience these words from the Jewish culture.

*Read It's a Mitzvah! Small Deeds with Big Heart in a story time session. Call attention to each Jewish term and its meaning for each page. Call attention to the illustration of the way that kindness is shown for each illustration.

*Engage children in a discussion of each way that a "mitzvah" is shown. Encourage them to share how they show kindness to someone in their classroom or family.

*Call attention to the Jewish term "kavod" which is the "mitzvah" of respecting others. The illustration depicts the idea of listening to a friend's story or ideas. Divide your class into sets of two with partners for children to talk with each other to share a story or an event in their life. Talking with each other is an important skill for young children to learn.

*Call attention to the idea of inviting someone to play with you. Encourage children to choose a new friend to play with every day at school.

*Call attention to the illustration of making a birthday card for someone. Provide art materials for children to create a birthday card for someone.

*Call attention to the illustration of giving food to someone who needs food. Organize a class activity for children to bring in food items to donate to a food bank in your community.

*Engage children in a discussion at the end of the day to tell about a "mitzvah" that they may have done during the day.