With A Needle and Thread: A Jewish Folktale from Cuba (Discounted Preorder)

With a Needle & Thread: A Jewish Folktale from Cuba – A Heartfelt Story of Heritage, Ingenuity, and Community

From Jennifer Stempel—award-winning storyteller, food writer, and cultural voice behind TheCubanReuben.com—comes With a Needle & Thread, a beautifully woven picture book celebrating Jewish life in Cuba. Illustrated with warmth and texture by Libi Axelrod, this heartfelt tale introduces young readers to the Jewish community of Santiago de Cuba and the power of resourcefulness, tradition, and love passed down through generations.

Romi lives with her abuelita, the town seamstress, in a small but mighty Jewish community. With imagination and lo que sea (whatever’s on hand), they transform one treasured dress into a baby blanket, a tallis (prayer shawl), a chuppah (wedding canopy), and finally, a community tablecloth—each stitch connecting their past, present, and future.

Stempel, a classically trained storyteller and screenwriter with Cuban and Jewish roots, brings her multicultural heritage to life in a story perfect for:

• Jewish holidays, especially Hanukkah, Shavuot, or Simchat Torah

• Multicultural picture book collections and Latinx Heritage Month

• Educators teaching about reuse, sustainability, and global Jewish communities

• Fans of intergenerational stories, traditions, and identity

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