I Am Israeli: The Children of Israel

This series of books is designed to offer readers from across the world insight into the culture, history and daily life of the people of Israel. The authors have roots in North America and shape their narratives with their knowledge of both sides of the globe. This is the first series of its kind to provide such insight to middle-grade readers. In "I am Israeli," five children, ages 5 to 12, share personal accounts of their favorite activities, sports and foods. Their first-person stories open the door for English-speaking children to discover far-away peers and bring home lessons about a culture, language and climate in another part of the world. The adventure begins with an introduction by Yakir, the nearly eight-year-old son of the author, who introduces himself and his friends:If you spin a globe, it won't be easy to find the country where I live. Israel is smaller than your thumbnail on most world globes. But I feel like I live in the center of the universe. Everyone's home is unique, and my city and country are special to me. I know my home is a teeny, tiny dot if you think about the earth and the whole gigantic solar system. But it really can't be that small, since we have to make room for more than 3.5 million people from all over the world who come to visit Israel during just one year.