Purim baskets

On Purim, we give baskets of treats to our family and friends. But what about our furry, feathered, and gilled companions? In this board book, toddler play a guessing game with rhymes as they use the clues in each basket to figure out if the gift basket is meant for a dog, a cat, a horse, a fish, or a bird. This PJ Library book is the perfect way to remind kids to care for all creatures by giving them things they need and will delight in all year long.

FROM PJ LIBRARY: MAKE A PURIM BASKET FOR AN ANIMAL FRIEND

Read full article here.

“When I started noodling around with an idea of writing Purim Baskets for toddlers, the first thought that came to mind was that we need to give gift baskets of shalach manot (or mishloach manot) to ALL our friends and family members, and that includes our animals.”

– Author Nancy Churnin

Learn more about why Nancy Churnin wrote Purim Baskets in a special essay from the HGF newsroom.

Inspired by Purim Baskets here are a few simple, fun, and easy toys you can create with household materials to share with animals and/or shelters in your community. Young children who can tie a knot can do most of these with supervision. Children older than eight can make most of these independently:

Following a reading of Purim Baskets at the Southern California Children’s Museum in Pasadena hosted by PJ Library and the Jewish Federation, kids made baskets of treats for animals at local shelters.

Ezra James enjoying his PJ book of the month: Purim Baskets!

What folks are saying about Purim Baskets!

"This adorable board book introduces the idea of Purim baskets to the little ones. Parents may be familiar with the idea of mishloach manot, or the Purim goodie basket that it is delivered to friends, family or neighbors. Author Nancy Churnin points out that what is in the basket may depend on the recipient. Her clever rhymes describe gift baskets for pets. The cute rhymes list fun pet toys and the page ends just short of the last word, leaving kids to finish the rhyme and guess the animal, pictured on the following page. The colorful illustrations by Amy Schimler-Safford are absolutely adorable. The book does a great job of explaining the concept of Purim baskets to little ones, but the concept of gift baskets is universal and anyone can enjoy the book.”

—Julie Ditton, Jewish Book Garden

“Babies and toddlers will be treated to gentle rhyme that conveys the unexpected contents of Purim baskets for animals. Also known as “shalach manot” in Yiddish or “mishloach manot” in Hebrew, these baskets are usually filled with food items and given to loved ones, friends, and neighbors, as well as for charity. However, the bevy of baskets described here are not intended for humans! Many baskets no longer just contain food. In fact, adding these books to a Purim basket would be a thoughtful idea!

Always keeping youngsters guessing, Churnin’s page turns promise a chance to guess what will come next. For example, can readers figure out what animal will be rewarded with this basket?:

Soft, bright yarn and tinkling bells
piled on a cozy mat.
That’s because these Purim treats
are for a cuddly …

Schimler-Safford’s warm illustrations, with their collage-like cut art style that capture the playful tone of the book, pair perfectly with the upbeat rhyme. Purim Baskets is a welcome addition to any family’s Purim collection.”

Thinking Outside the Basket

“The Jewish holiday of Purim, which this year is observed on March 3 (beginning at sundown on March 2), is a joyous event. Celebrating the heroism of Queen Esther in saving the Jews from annihilation at the hands of the evil Haman, it includes several mitzvot (obligations), and other traditions. One requirement is the sending of mishloach manot/shalach manos, to friends and neighbors. These “sending of portions” are small baskets or bags containing at least two different food items. (There is a separate mitzvah requiring tzedakah, charity, to those in need) But customs evolve, and more elaborate packages often now arrive on your doorstep on this holiday. In their lovely board book for your readers or listeners, Nancy Churnin (whom I have interviewed as well as reviewed) and Amy Schimler-Safford explore some possibilities, beyond hamantaschen. What might you offer to animal friends if they were part of your holiday?

The basket on the cover is a clue to what is inside. An apple, carrot, and leafy greens are joined by a bright yellow bone and a wiffle ball. As the book begins, Churnin poses the question, about what these baskets contain. Her answer is “That depends!” If your recipient is a golden-colored dog depicted, like the other animals, on a two- page spread, then a ball might be nice. For a cat, a basket of yarn in bright hues. Even a fish shouldn’t be excluded; its dedicated basket might offer some coral and aquarium accessories.

Schimler-Safford’s pictures are painterly, with rich colors that will appeal to children. The animals’ importance is signified by how much space they occupy in the pages, regardless of if they are big, like dogs, or smaller, like fish. To an adult sharing the book with kids there is an element of humor. Animals do not actually need their own mishloach manot. To a child, it might seem natural that they deserve one. Of course, human-oriented gifts would not be what these beloved creatures want or deserve.

Churnin concludes with another question, “What’s in your Purim basket?” with the same contingent answer. As any child knows, humans like different gifts, too.”

Emily Schneider, Imaginary Elevators

—Ronna Mandel, Good Reads with Ronna

”Creating and gifting Purim baskets for friends and family, mishloach manot, is a highlight of the holiday. But what about baskets for our animal friends? Readers are introduced to an array of filled Purim baskets and utilize visual and rhyming clues to help them select which basket belongs to each animal pal. Interactive and engaging, the colorful collage-style illustrations are a perfect pairing for the lively text.”

—Barbara Dietz, Jewish Books for Kids

Jewish Chicago: https://www.juf.org/jewish-chicago/pj-library-publishes-three-new-board-books/

The Jewish Book Garden: https://jewishbookgarden.substack.com/p/review-purim-baskets

Jewish Books for Kids by Barbara Bietz: https://jewishbooksforkids.com/2026/02/12/purim-book-spotlight-3-new-books-from-pj-publishing/

Judith Magazine by Erica Lyons: https://judithmagazine.substack.com/p/purim-purim-purim

Good Reads with Ronna: https://www.goodreadswithronna.com/2026/02/23/three-new-purim-board-books-from-pj-publishing/

Seasons of Kidlit: https://www.seasonsofkidlit.com/post/celebrate-purim-with-three-amazing-authors-a-three-book-giveaway

Vivian Kirkfield: https://viviankirkfield.com/2026/02/03/happy-book-birthday-three-purim-board-books/

Ellen Leventhal: https://ellenleventhal.com/2026/01/celebrats-purim-with-nancy-churnin-varda-livney-and-barbara-kimmel/

Melissa Stoller: https://www.melissastoller.com/3-question-interview-purim-board-books-from-nancy-churnin-barbara-kimmel-and-varda-livney/

Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb: https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/q-with-nancy-churnin.html

Thinking Outside the Basket, Imaginary Elevators by Emily Schneider: https://imaginaryelevators.blog/2026/02/11/thinking-outside-the-basket/