5 Minutes for Books — Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?

by Jennifer Donovan

Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? is one of the best parenting books I’ve read this year. As an evangelical Christian, I wouldn’t normally pick up “the essential scoop on raising modern Jewish kids,” but as a mom trying to navigate the ever-changing waters of my nine-year-old’s life in 2007, I have no doubt that parenting this generation requires a working knowledge of their modern culture. Author Sharon Duke Estroff dishes up the scoop with humor and a balanced perspective stemming from her expertise as a mother of four and twenty years of teaching experience.

Estroff thoroughly covers a range of topics of interest for those of us parenting school-aged kids including

  • kindergarten readiness and school enrollment (public or private)
  • teaching your children to properly handle money
  • friendship (including a funny chapter with a Q&A format answering all those questions about the post-preschool era playdate, another on “the schocan-i.jpgolyard social jungle,” and yet another on birthday parties, and yes, an exclusively Jewish concern–the Bar/Bat Mitzvah)
  • extra-curriculars: how much, how to pick them, and how to balance them with religious commitments
  • a very informative chapter on “parenting the net generation” with wonderful overviews and safety precautions about IM, social networking, cyber bullying and yes, cell phones.

You can download a discussion guide at the author’s site to enhance your study or make a perfect springboard for a book club meeting.

If you would like to win one of five copies, leave a comment here, and we’ll announce the winner in next week’s book column.

The winners of For Parents Only are #40, Jessica and #88 Amy R.



Email Author    |    Website About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Deb - Mom of 3 Girls December 10, 2007 at 1:03 am

This sounds like a great book! :)

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2 Loraine December 10, 2007 at 1:59 am

I would love to win. The book sounds great. Can it be shipped to Canada?

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3 zukppr December 10, 2007 at 6:54 am

:::snort::: how did this author know what my 10 year old dd wanted for Hanukkah? It’s been part of her ‘wish list’ for the past year…

Oh, and don’t be surprised if your children receive invitations to Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations as they get older.

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4 Bess December 10, 2007 at 8:55 am

Count me in! Thanks! :)

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5 Dawn December 10, 2007 at 9:01 am

Sounds like an interesting read.

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6 Kira December 10, 2007 at 10:53 am

Sounds great!

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7 Amy December 10, 2007 at 10:54 am

As a mom of 12 and 6 year old boys I would LOVE to read this book! Thanks!

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8 Amy R. December 10, 2007 at 10:55 am

This sounds interesting!

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9 jenna December 10, 2007 at 11:42 am

Hadn’t heard of this one before. Enter me!

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10 Beth December 10, 2007 at 11:45 am

sounds like a book with great wisdom!! Count me in please

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11 Shera December 10, 2007 at 12:34 pm

I would love to read this book!

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12 Amy December 10, 2007 at 12:34 pm

This sounds like a great book. In my house… one wants a cell phone and the other an iPod! What ever happened to the presents I got as a kid… socks, hair bands and clips, crayons and coloring books, BOOKS! Progress?

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13 pam December 10, 2007 at 12:45 pm

My 2 year old was begging to open presents even before his older cousins. He’s going to be a challenge.

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14 Diana December 10, 2007 at 2:06 pm

I would love to read this– we make the kindergarten decision next month…

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15 kelli in the mirror December 10, 2007 at 2:22 pm

This sounds like a great resource!

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16 Naomi December 10, 2007 at 3:15 pm

I am very interested in this book!

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17 Christine Saulter December 10, 2007 at 3:16 pm

Sounds like a wonderful book!

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18 Jennifer C. December 10, 2007 at 3:17 pm

Sounds like a lot of useful information. Please enter me in the give-away.

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19 Brooke December 10, 2007 at 4:01 pm

I totally need this for my halvsie daughters!

Please randomly select me!

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20 Shari December 10, 2007 at 5:25 pm

Our house is all about Christmakah! So if anyone could tell me how to raise a child in this modern day and age in a blended family, I am all over it!! Me please, me! :)

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21 Velma December 10, 2007 at 6:01 pm

May daughter is only 7, and I already need all the help I can get!

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22 Bree December 10, 2007 at 6:15 pm

This book sounds really interesting!

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23 Marilyn December 10, 2007 at 6:40 pm

As a part-time nanny for my grandchildren, I’d like to check out how to raise “modern Jewish kids.” Thanks for the opportunity.

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24 Amanda December 10, 2007 at 8:46 pm

We need this book! Thanks for sharing!!

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25 autismtymz2 December 10, 2007 at 8:56 pm

Greetings,

What a wonderful contest…definitely helpful for making informed decisions leading to a wise vision.

Have a beautiful day,
Lesley

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26 Kristine December 10, 2007 at 9:22 pm

Sounds like an excellent book for our Jewish family!

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27 Casey December 10, 2007 at 9:27 pm

Sounds great!

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28 Jason Fleming December 10, 2007 at 9:56 pm

interesting!

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29 Dodo O December 10, 2007 at 10:25 pm

I think this guide would be very helpful for me. :)

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30 Angela & Connor December 10, 2007 at 10:53 pm

Hahahhaha I still can’t get over kids even have cell phones these days…

Im blogging you :)
http://contestaddict.blogspot.com

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31 Taryn December 10, 2007 at 10:57 pm

fun title!

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32 tammy b December 10, 2007 at 11:40 pm

thanks for the info……..i probably would have never even looked at this book, but it looks like something that would be beneficial!

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33 Caryn Bailey December 11, 2007 at 4:22 am

Count me in please!

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34 Heather December 11, 2007 at 2:46 pm

what an amazing book!

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35 Katrina December 11, 2007 at 4:10 pm

Sounds good! I’m always looking to add to my “parenting bookshelf.” Please enter me!

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36 Jill (The Well-Read Child) December 11, 2007 at 6:38 pm

Sounds like a very interesting book. I’d love to win a copy.

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37 Laura K December 11, 2007 at 8:13 pm

I’d love to win a copy of this interesting book.

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38 Cathy December 11, 2007 at 11:41 pm

I would love this!

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39 Laura December 12, 2007 at 12:40 am
40 Chondra December 12, 2007 at 12:37 pm

Sounds like a wonderful book! I would love to have it! At ten, my daughter is asking for things I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking for until I was atleast 13!

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41 Kristen December 14, 2007 at 8:05 pm

Me! Me! Please!

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42 Anna December 16, 2007 at 9:05 am

I’d love to win one!

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43 jessie December 16, 2007 at 10:29 pm

sounds great- please enter me!

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