This building block refers to a variety of learning activities. Throughout their years at the Day School, there is a conscientious effort to expose students to the best in American Jewish children's literature. Story time in the media center as well as during Tefila services often include examples of outstanding books that reflect Jewish values. Students also enjoy hearing Jewish folktales, stories set in different times and places in Jewish history, Bible stories and just good "curl up and read" books about Jewish families, friends, and adventures.

In Middle School, many students develop language skills that enable them to read fine literature written in Hebrew. They encounter the works of classic authors such as: Hayim Nachman Bialik, Y.L. Peretz, and Shalom Aleichem, among others. They also study the poetry of Rachel, Leah Goldberg, and Yehuda Amichai. Their study of literature in Hebrew parallels their study of literature in English. Each work invites students to explore character development, setting, plot, tone, literary style. This reading in a second language, broadens students' exposure to world literature and affords them the opportunity to compare and contrast classics in two different languages. It is an invitation to being an avid reader in not one, but two languages!

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