The Bedtime Sh'ma : A Good Night Book

The sages of Jewish tradition understood the power of bedtime and wisely put together a Jewish "good night book" in the form of the Kriat Sh'ma al haMitah, the Bedtime Sh'ma. This beautifully illustrated adaptation of the Kriat Sh'ma is a wonderful introduction to one of the oldest and most fundamental of Jewish prayers.

The beautiful artwork and simple language of this unique book for very young Jewish children provides families with a satisfying bedtime ritual with which to end the day. Sarah Gershman has adapted the collection of psalms, poems and prayers of the Kriat Sh'ma al HaMitah, into child-friendly verses that focus on themes of protection and preparing for sleep. The accompanying serene and lovely artwork by Kristina Swarner, in hues of deep purples and blues, along with the flowing typeface design, make this a truly beautiful adaptation of the Bedtime Sh'ma, invoking traditional traditional nighttime blessings of peace and protection and recalling the wonder of our waking hours. --Jewish Book World: Spring 2008

Reading picture books to a child is a beloved bedtime activity, a comforting and reassuring interlude before the lights go out and the darkness descends... The Bedtime Sh'ma: A Good Night Book, adapted by educator Sarah Gershman from the liturgy, is a beautiful and sensitive interpretation of excerpts from the traditional Jewish prayers and psalms that focus on the theme of protection and preparing for sleep. Kristina Swarner provides enchanting, dreamlike illustrations. A companion CD featuring musical selections from the Bedtime Sh'ma is also available. --Jewish Woman Magazine, Winter 2008

A quality of reverence and wonder imbues this bedtime story. Borrowing from and paraphrasing the words of the Shema prayer, the story evokes a world where children are under the loving protection of their parents and God. The softly-colored illustrations reflect this comforting message, offering calm and reassurance to the child going to bed. Four pages of text where the Shema is written in both English and Hebrew are designed to sweep across the pages in a graceful curve. An audio recording (CD) is included, featuring vocals of going-to-bed prayers in Hebrew and English with guitar accompaniment. --Linda R. Silver, Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens