Most Popular Books by Jacqueline Jules

A family celebrates Hanukkah by lighting candles, opening gifts, and eating latkes.

A young child says the "Motzi," a traditional prayer of thanks.

It's almost Thanksgiving, and Tuyet is excited about the holiday and the vacation from school. There's just one problem: her Vietnamese American family is having duck for Thanksgiving dinner—not turkey! Nobody has duck for Thanksgiving. What will her teacher and the other kids think? To her surprise, Tuyet enjoys her yummy thanksgiving dinner anyhow, and an even bigger surprise is waiting for her at school on Monday. Dinners from roast beef to lamb to enchiladas adorned the Thanksgiving tables of her classmates, but they all had something in common—family! Kids from families with different traditions will enjoy this warm story about "the right way" to celebrate an American holiday.

Long ago, when the world was brand new, all birds were naked. It wasn’t fair. Foxes had fur. Turtles had shells. Birds deserved warm coats, too. Disgruntled, they approach the first full spring moon for advice. Birds of all shapes and sizes attend the meeting. Everyone except Peacock. He arrives on the scene late, to find his friends covered with warm, colorful feathers. “Look at Peacock! He’s still naked!” All the birds stare at poor Peacock trembling in the cold night air. What will Peacock and his friends do? Find out in this beautiful and charming pourquoi story about kindness. Award-winning author Jacqueline Jules blends folktale motifs from around the world to offer an original explanation for why the peacock has such beautiful feathers.An appendix provides more information about peacocks. Helen Cann’s stunning illustrations give young readers fun opportunities to identify the colors and plant life of spring. Feathers for Peacock is a gently humorous tale of generosity and friendship.

The elderly Sarah laughs in delight when she overhears three strangers tell her husband Abraham that he will soon become a father, so when a son is born to her a year later, she names him Isaac, which means "laughter." Simultaneous.

"Who made the clouds?" Abraham asks. "Who made the flowers?" Even as a child, he knows there must be something greater than idols of clay and stone. As he observes and questions the world around him, Abraham comes to the conclusion that there is one God. A creative midrash about the father of the world's religions.

At summer camp, Carlie and Sara quickly bond over a love of singing and other shared interests, but Sara mistakes Carlie excitement over her surname as teasing, not knowing that it gives them something else in common.

No one ignores the grand vizier. The most important advisor in the royal court, he was considered the wisest man in the kingdom. He was also Samuel’s father. “Make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you again,” he had ordered Samuel. What should Samuel do? He couldn’t disobey his father. But how would he make sure that Hamza never insulted him again? Perhaps train a monkey to hold Hamza’s lips closed, or give him some lemon juice to make his mouth pucker? Inspired by a powerful legend of conflict resolution in Muslim Spain, Never Say a MeanWord Again is the compelling story of a boy who is given permission to punish an enemy. What will he do?

Inspired by Jewish folklore, The Generous Fish is the story of a young boy named Reuven who takes a verse from scripture to “cast your bread upon the waters” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) quite literally. The result of his daily act is a giant talking fish with golden scales! Boy and fish spend idyllic days together until the villagers realize those scales are real gold. Every villager has good reason to ask for one. Devorah needs clothes for her children. Old Joseph needs money for a cane. The fish says he has plenty to share. But he grows weak from giving away too much, too fast. Can Reuven stand up to the village and save his friend? Through a unique friendship between a boy and a magic fish, award-winning author Jacqueline Jules has created an environmental fable sure to generate discussion in the classroom and at home. What happens when we want something that depletes another's resources? Frances Tyrrell's finely detailed illustrations delightfully capture a child's innocent love for the natural world. An author's note provides biblical sources on human interaction with the environment.

Beginning the New Year in a new city isn’t easy, and it definitely isn’t starting out very well for Dina and her family! But when they’re welcomed by warm and generous hosts in their new community it becomes a very happy New Year for all.

When a small lamb scampers away from her flock, the young shepherd Moses wonders whether he should chase after her or let her fend for herself in the wilderness. He decides to go after her, not knowing that God is watching.

When King Solomon sends the mythical Ziz, a huge and clumsy but well-meaning bird, to keep his daughter, Princess Magda, company, he changes her life with their many adventures and, ultimately, his sacrifice to her. Simultaneous.

The children of Forest Lake Elementary trod the boards in a dramatic reenactment of how the United States Constitution came to be. Full of facts about the call for a national government and the Constitutional Convention, this book presents American history with personality, good humor, and energy.

The Ziz, a huge and clumsy bird, helps the Macabees find enough oil to light the menorah and restore the temple, leading to the miracle that is celebrated every year at Hanukkah.

Akiva is just a poor shepherd living an ordinary life, until he falls in love with Rachel. Rachel thinks her husband could become a great man of learning—but Akiva can't even read! Is he too old to be a scholar or can he follow the example of the water in the nearby brook? Water is soft, yet drop by drop, it can soften the hardest stone.

As the Israelites, follow Moses through the desert, his sister Miriam comforts them. Miriam's grandson Bezalel draws pictures in the sand as he dreams of miracles in the desert and the future. When his great-uncle Moses climbs the mountain to receive God's laws, Bezalel learns he is the chosen artist who will craft the Holy Ark.

The Ziz is back! The loveable but clumsy Ziz, giant king of the birds, tries to help Noah round up the animals for the ark. Ziz fans will also enjoy The Hardest Word and The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle.