Meet the Farrant Family of Terra Linda

Parents learn about PJ Library Bay Area in many ways – through family, friends, community events, or partner organizations. Each year, PJ Library partners with Yehuda Matzos to co-brand their matzah boxes for Passover. In this way, many families are introduced to PJ Library via their local grocery stores, which is how Cassie Farrant found PJ Library three years ago. She promptly subscribed her then baby daughter Isabella, now three, to our program.

Cassie and Bill Farrant live in Terra Linda, San Rafael with their daughters Isabella, three, and Rachel, 7 months. Rachel’s birth during the pandemic has been a silver lining for the family, and Isabella shines as a loving big sister and learned to ride a bike this past summer. Prior to COVID-19, the family attended several PJ Library programs in person, enjoying Purim parties at the Osher Marin JCC and eating donuts together at a 2019 PJ Library Chanukah event at Johnny Doughnuts. While the pandemic has forced a quieter life upon all of us, the Farrants have embraced PJ Library’s virtual program offerings. Cassie and Isabella particularly love our music and Shabbat programs, including Shabbat song sessions with Camp Tawonga and Isaac Zones.

The Farrant family frequently explores nature near their home and around the Bay Area. Hiking in open spaces and along the Bay Trail are some of their favorite activities. The family are members of the San Francisco Zoo and continued visiting until this recent lockdown. And, the California Academy of Sciences will be one of the family’s first destinations once it reopens. Bill has also been a longtime fan of soccer and Manchester United has become the family team.

When asked about their favorite PJ Library books, Cassie shared that Isabella has a new favorite each week. Isabella enjoys exploring the natural world alongside the characters in Good Night, Laila Tov where there is a black and white cat that looks like the beloved Farrant family cat. In addition to reading together, the family listens to the Have I Got a Story for You podcast series. For the High Holidays this year, Cassie is sure the girls will happily return to Apples and Honey and Sadie’s Sukkah Breakfast to ignite excitement about creating new holiday traditions in their home.

For Cassie, PJ Library is more than a gift of books. It is a gift of experiences that grow with their girls. The family has learned about holidays and Jewish traditions that they did not previously celebrate, including Tu B’Shevat. Plonking coins into their PJ Library Tzedakah box has become a Shabbat ritual and cooking and crafting are always fun, especially in their PJ Library apron!

PJ Library® sends free Jewish books monthly to children through 8 years of age throughout the Bay Area. Learn More

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