From the weekly Torah portion to Leon Uris' Exodus to the current golden era of Jewish romances, reading isn't just a time-honored Jewish ritual practice — it's a powerful way of keeping our stories alive. That's the good news. The even better news is that the new(-ish) genre of middle-grade books is keeping readers ages 8-12 turning pages at an age when they might otherwise stop reading. In this workshop, CDT member Carla Naumburg will share a range of Jewish middle-grade books, including those featuring Jews with disabilities, LGBTQ Jews, Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, Jews of Color, and more. Plus, we'll cover some top recommendations for YA and adult readers as well!

In addition, we'll explore tips and tricks to keep teenagers and children invested in reading, especially around the critical "drop-off" ages — often around ages 9–12 and again in the teen years. Learn what you can do to foster a lifelong love of reading!

Carla Naumburg is a clinical social worker and Content Officer at PJ Our Way, the middle-grade program of PJ Library. She is the author of five non-fiction books, including How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids and its middle-grade companion, How to Stop Freaking Out.