Wise Friends | A Jewish Children's Book Rooted in Our Natural World

Wise Friends StoryStroll©

New for this Tu Bishvat - an interactive, outdoor experience for all ages. Learn from our friends the trees while walking amongst them! The package includes:

  • The StoryStroll© of “Wise Friends” in laminated, full color, 14x20” prints for a movement and destination-based learning experience - ready to hang.

  • One copy of “Wise Friends” the book, for your bookshelf or classroom

  • 30 ‘Middot Seedlings’ with instructions for an experiential activity combining Mussar/Values Learning and Gardening.

  • Printable “Wise Friends” coloring pages for Tu Bishvat and year-round.

We have sold out for the 2022 Season!

Written by Jackson Mercer and designed by Rachel Jackson, "Wise Friends" tells the story of Raviv, a young boy who has learned to nurture and befriend the trees around him. The story aims to remind us of the wisdom of our sacred traditions, the wisdom of the natural world and their interconnectedness. Published for Tu Bishvat 5781, The Jewish Holiday referred to as "The Birthday of the Trees", "Wise Friends" is an expedition to a world of wonder and an adventure into perception, growth, and understanding.

"The intention of Wise Friends is to turn the definition of what a 'children's book' can be on its head. Why can't children's books feature softer color palettes and art found in museums around the world rather than bright, cartoonish illustrations? Why can't children's books include millennium-old Hebrew and Aramaic wisdom teachings alongside creative and useful interpretations rather than Jewish books that lack depth of content and context? Why can't children's books be complex rather than simple?" - Jackson Mercer

“The entire package is an invitation to contemplation, both visual and philosophical, that will resonate with children and adults alike, at Tu B’shvat or year-round. This unusual book of tree-appreciation fulfills the mission of Hiddur Mitzvah, the creators’ company, whose charge is to create meaningful modern objects of Judaica.”
- Heidi Rabinowitz
in the Association of Jewish Libraries May/June 2021 Edition of “News and Reviews”
which you can find in its entirety on pages 27-28 here!