Thursday, November 29, 2007

Giveaway: "Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?" by Sharon Duke Estroff

I recently received a review copy of of Sharon Duke Estroff's recently published parenting book "Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?"


In addition, Broadway Books generously sent along five additional copies of this book to give away to Juggling Frogs readers.


If you're interested in receiving a copy, please leave a comment on this post.




On the second day of Chanukah, Wednesday, December 5, 2007, I'll select five of those who have commented on this post at random to receive a copy of the book.


I'll then e-mail those selected and request a postal address. Please only enter this giveaway if you are willing to disclose both a valid e-mail address and a mailing address to me for this purpose. (I won't do anything else with it, of course.)



"Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?" is a cute and useful book, a quick read, written in a casual, breezy, reassuring tone, tailored for Jewish parents living in the United States with children enrolled in elementary school.


Ms. Estroff, mother of four, Jewish educational consultant, and author of a nationally syndicated parenting advice column, writes with wit, candor, and authority. She brings issues and wisdom from her personal parenting experiences, those of the families at her day school, and those from her readers together in gentle, measured, moderate, and reasonable, contemporary guide to raising children.


Heavily seasoned with Yiddish-isms and (perhaps one too many) references to bagels, the tone is non-denominational, observance-optional, and without dogma. The examples and approach are based on Jewish tradition, but offered on their merits as suggestions, rather than as religious imperative.


While many orthodox readers will find a couple of chapters less applicable to their lifestyles (e.g. "Santa Envy") and encounter a few bewildering assumptions, there are a number of chapters that everyone can benefit from reading. In particular the chapters that address management of homework, extracurricular activities, toys, and navigating the elementary school social scene were quite on the mark.


Home-schooling is not mentioned or considered.


This is a book targeted to a relatively affluent, American audience of Jewish parents of elementary school-aged children. For example, the cell phone in the title of the book is assumed to be affordable, the choice to give it decided on extra-financial considerations.


Here's the biography the publisher sent me:

About the Author: Sharon Duke Estroff, M.A.T. is a nationally syndicated Jewish parenting columnist whose articles address contemporary and traditional parenting issues within a Jewish context. Her columns appear in over 30 publications which reach over one million readers. She is an educational consultant with Perimeter Educational and Psychological Services in Atlanta and an award-winning Jewish educator with nearly two decades of experience in both public and private schools. As the mother-of-four and the “Best Teacher in a Jewish Day School” in
Atlanta (2001), Estroff knows something about Jewish kids (and their parents).

About the Book: CAN I HAVE A CELL PHONE FOR HANUKKAH? The Essential Scoop on Raising Modern Jewish Kids By Sharon Duke Estroff Published by Broadway Books
October 9, 2007/Trade Paperback Original/$12.95; 304 pages/ISBN: 978-0-7679-2544-0
http://www.broadwaybooks.com/

15 comments, so far. Add yours now!

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Phyllis Sommer said...

hmmm...sounds interesting. you know, i was teaching 7th/8th grade last night and i couldn't get the kids to focus on anything *other* than their cell phones. so i had them each put their phone on the table and we talked about peer pressure and the desire to have a phone, to have a "cool" phone, etc...at least it was relevant to them but i was a little sad that this is what they care most about.

Fern Chasida said...

This sounds really relevant - my daughter is pushing for an iPod video!

Anonymous said...

hey! you're back. I missed you. I'd like to enter the drawing, please. Thanks! :)

Denise Levin said...

I teach grade 10 in a high school here in Toronto- an orthodox high school. I have had 2 experiences with in class cell phones. Once, when a student began to shriek and plug her ears that the ring of someones phone was in such a high pitch/frequency that it was bothering her ears- its a new ring tone someone in the class told me. Im over 40, maybe thats why I didnt hear it. The second time was when a student pulled out a cell phone which was what I thought her receiving a phone call- well she told me she needed to know what time it was, so she checks on the phone because she cant read a clock! Well i was shocked that a kid in grade 10 cant read a clock, so i went to the principal and told him this story. All i could get out of my mouth was, Rabbi have you ever heard of a student pulling out the phone in class- and he goes- to check the time? and I say yes- so he tells me that they cant read clocks!!
I dont know what these 2 incidents mean, but we need to go back to the olden days of rotary dials, and 25 cent payphones!

Career.Nanny said...

This book sounds GREAT! From your review I can see that you aren't 100% sold, but from my seat, it looks perfect! I am on my fourth set of Jewish twins and spend my days reading your blog and researching the internet learning more about Jewish culture and traditions. My current peanuts' parents aren't from the US and insight from a Jewish perspective could be just what we need!

Enjoy giving away the books, after you decide who gets one, the tough part, sending off free presents will feel great, won't it? I love that feeling!

Shelli said...

It really sounds like a great book. As Malka reaches her 2nd birthday, it would be good reading for future "arming" oneself! ;)

chavlene said...

When will you come out with a book of your own?!

I'd be first in line!

With much thanks to Chasida for sharing this gem of a blog with me!

Anonymous said...

Shabbat shalom! I'd like to enter the drawing. I've been reading your blog for a while. It's a goldmine of information, ideas and wisdom.

I have two children (6 and 10) in public school in the Boston suburbs.

Shabbat shalom!

Jaffer said...

Great ! Something for a post-examination read over the holidays !

I'm going to check this book out tonight !

Best Regards

The Babka Nosher said...

That book sounds great! The past three weeks have been filled with "I want this, I want that." The book seems like a far more humane alternative to duct tape!

Tzipporah said...

hmm, sounds interesting. Of course, baby Chalal is far too young to ask for anything particular (he's only just mastered the sign for "more") but I like to be obsessively well prepared ahead of time. :)

Glad your household's feeling better.
Shabbat Shalom!

Orthonomics said...

Even though I don't believe in playing the lotto, I'm willing to enter this lotto since this book is really up my alley since I talk about financial issues, chinuch issues, affluence (and pretend affluence), and of course cell phones including cell phones in the classroom and the role modeling provided by or dear parents, Rabbis, and nannies, which naturally includes having your ear glued to a cell phone.

Please, please, please, oh random number generating function. . . pick me!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I too would love to read your future book. I find your posts entertaining, sometimes thought-provoking and just so interesting. You have a unique blend here that would be of great service and interest to many. The cell phone book sounds interesting to me. I just want to urge people to learn from my own mistake. I was hesitant to admit the role that technology plays in the lives of the modern teenager--even within some more right-wing circles. As an educator, I am getting it now. We need to wake up. The world changed while we weren't looking--it does that sometimes. And we no longer speak the same language as our kids--that happens sometimes too. If we don't get ourselves educated about all this technology, we aren't informed parents and teachers. We have to stop bemoaning the changes and address them head-on. Sermon over. Check out teachertube video, "Pay Attention":
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=40c570a322f1b0b65909&page=1&viewtype=&category=tf
While I don't agree with all of what is being advised here (student blogs, for example), I think the message is really important.

Anonymous said...

Kids resist peer pressure better when they have support from like-minded friends. So, I figure it's the same for parents: It's easier to resist kid pressure when you have support from like-minded friends (and sometimes books can be like friends). Sounds like an interesting read.

AidelMaidel said...

I am totally interested in this book as we are revamping our finances this month to try and become debt free in the next five years. So anything that will help me convince my kids to be less consumeristic, will be helpful...

chanuka sameach

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