Welcome to Israel

I may edit this review after we finish using this resource, but so far it's been really helpful to my kids' study of Israel. We're conservative Christian homeschoolers and I stumbled upon this book recently, when I was looking for information on contemporary Israel as well as ancient, or biblical, Israel. This book is a really interesting find. First of all, it's more of a textbook. I thought it was going to be a nice 32-page picture book, but it's thick with many chapters. Each one goes into great detail about something in Israel's history, including contemporary history. IN fact, it is so detailed, I plan on skipping some of the chapters until my kids are a bit older and need to learn more modern history. For example, it covers all the modern conflicts with Egypt and the gains/losses from each war. It even has many photos. But the surprising part is that it is for little kids. Maybe not very little, but we are using it with my third grader, and I plan on using it again in a couple years when they can handle more information. It comes across as sort of a political primer, but not "political" in the polemical sense of the word. Just keeping you up to date on a very complicated and lengthy subject! Israel since 1948 is barely known by adults, let alone children. So I'm really intrigued to have this on my shelf.

I ordered this for two grandchildren; they are going to learn about Israel and follow us from home, online and with this book, as we travel there in a few weeks. They are 7 and 10. It was difficult to find a book that wasn’t written for little children, and that covered the culture and daily life, as well as the history and religious identity of the country. This book looks like a great resource.

Well-written and can be appreciated by the entire family, not just kids. Christians should know, however, that this book is written by Jewish people with one of the most extreme biases I have read in any travel books for Israel. It is sympathetic to Jewish peoples and Arabs, but not at all to Christians, in any way. As Catholic homeschoolers, we found the book helpful educationally, though not in the overwhelmingly positive light other reviewers did. It is definitely biased, in many ways, religiously and politically, so please read with caution!

This is a great book. It is written for kids, maybe 8-12 age range, but can be good for adults as well. It really breaks down everything with no agendas just facts and a clear timeline history. I have been working at a Jewish school for almost 10 years now and I learned new things while reading this book. I would really recommend it, even for adults who want an easy to read understanding of Israel

Approximately 4th grade readability.

Easily written for youth. I believe the book will be of great benefit for children going to Israel. Good pictures as well.

Great book for the kids. Both my daughters love this book.

my grandson said it was OK but he didn't finish it. I think he will enjoy it more if taken with us on our trip.