Mitzvah the Mutt

Sylvia Rouss
Illustrated by Martha Rast

Matzah balls were never meant for a game of fetch, but try telling that to Mitzvah the Mutt when he is rescued by a Jewish family. Mitzvah’s silly antics manage to charm his family and his humorous misinterpretations of the Jewish holidays will leave you laughing and begging for more.

Get ready for a howling good time as you celebrate Shabbat, Hanukkah and Passover with Mitzvah the Mutt.

Read the first chapter in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Sylvia Rouss is the award-winning author and early childhood educator who created the popular Sammy Spider and The Littlest books. Even with her success as an author, Sylvia has not given up what she loves most: teaching. She is currently a preschool teacher in Los Angeles, and says that she is "inspired by the children in my classroom." Sylvia also received awards as an educator and she conducts seminars for parents and teachers. She is a featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel. Visit her on the web at www.sylviarouss.com or at her new blog at sylviarouss.blogspot.com.

Reviews

“In Mitzvah the Mutt, Sylvia Rouss makes Jewish family life accessible to all readers, regardless of background, through the humorous tales of a dog settling into his new family.  Great read-aloud story for families with young children.”

Lauren Marcus Johnson, Director
Temple Israel Libraries & Media Center
West Bloomfield, MI

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“In a dog eat dog world, Mitzvah, a loveable dog with a floppy-ear, is the perfect guide for teaching children. If you think there is a better way to learn about Jewish holidays and traditions, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Avi  A. Lewinson
Executive Director
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades

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“Readers will laugh at Mitzvah’s zany misadventures…Rouss uses Mitzvah’s humorous interpretations of the celebrations and his reactions to the food, along with short chapters, large print, and lots of white space, to make this appropriate for the intended audience of children 6-9. However, by having Mitzvah use the terms “Mommy” and “Daddy,” she makes her reading audience younger, so that this could be read with children as young as five years of age.”

Andrea Davidson
Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter
Temple Tifereth Israel
Beachwood, Ohio

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"...the girls and I read Mitzvah the Mutt by Sylvia Rouss. Mitzvah's a cutie, for sure, and really, what’s not to love about a dog muddling his way through the Jewish calendar with his new, beloved family? I read this book to my kids because I never pass up an opportunity to read to them. My kids read it because they couldn’t get enough of Sweet Mitzvah.

Thank you Sylvia Rouss. Thank you for a book that my children can love and relate to and that inspires them to extend and streeeeetch their Judaism."

Galit Breen
Minnesota Mamaleh
TCJewfolk.com

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