Please meet Amy, Andrew, Nora (10), and Seth (7) as our new December Family of the Month! The Becker/Goldberg family lives in Columbia and both children attend Swansfield Elementary School (where they love the teachers!). Nora is in 4th grade and Seth is in 2nd grade. Both children also attend Kulanu at Temple Isaiah for religious school. Seth and Nora attended Temple Isaiah Preschool and have been connected with Temple Isaiah ever since. Andrew is the Chief Scientist at INKY Technology, a cybersecurity company based in College Park, MD, and Amy is an Associate Professor of Communication at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. We're excited to feature the Becker/Goldberg family this month as they are part of both PJ Library and PJ Our Way! Read more about them below.
How did you hear about PJ Library?
We've been a part of PJ Library since Nora was a baby (now 10 years ago). I think we heard about it from friends who lived in the DC area at the time who had enrolled their newborn son. Nora is now a PJ Our Way subscriber and an applicant for the PJ Library One Happy Camper grant as she's headed to Capital Camps for three weeks this summer. Seth, age 7, still receives PJ Library books as well and will be trying Rookie Camp at Capital Camps.
What are your favorite PJ Library books?
We really love Bagels from Benny and The Bagel King. Both stories are memorable and deal with bagels (and The Bagel King even mentions pickles). What is better than pairing Jewish food with a good life lesson?
Why is PJ Library important in your home?
It's nice to have a collection of newer Jewish books for the kids that we can revisit as different holidays approach. Nora is now in PJ Our Way and there are a really nice range of contemporary books that feature Jewish themes and characters.
How has PJ Library influenced your family's Jewish living and decisions?
It's fun to use some of the PJ Library resources to enhance the holiday experience. When Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed, we re-read I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark which we had separately, but also knew was a PJ Library pick.
What was your favorite PJ Library program?
We really enjoyed a PJ library program a few years ago where we got to meet the author of A Very Crowded Sukkah.
What is your bedtime routine with your little ones?
Our little ones aren't so little anymore, which makes bedtime a bit easier and more independent. After watching some family TV together, the kids often read to themselves or to us. They then settle in for a Peloton meditation which helps them fall asleep.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know the Becker/Goldberg Family this month! If you'd like to be featured as an upcoming Family of the Month, please email Allison.