Miriam Roth facts for kids

Miriam Roth (in Hebrew: מרים רות; born January 16, 1910 – died November 13, 2005) was a very important leader in early childhood education in Israel. She was also a famous writer and expert in children's literature. Miriam Roth worked for a long time as a kindergarten teacher and educator. Many of the children's books she wrote became popular classics in Israel.

Miriam Roth's Life Story

Miriam Roth was born in 1910. Her parents were Helén and Jenő Roth. She was born in a town called Érsekújvár, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. Today, this town is known as Nové Zámky in Slovakia. The main language spoken there was Hungarian.

Her father had fought in World War I. He was the principal of the Jewish elementary school in their town. Miriam studied psychology and earned a bachelor's degree in teaching methods (called pedagogy) and natural sciences at Masaryk University.

Moving to Palestine

From a young age, Roth was a key member of a youth group called Hashomer Hatzair. This group was focused on Socialism and Zionism. In 1931, she moved to Palestine by herself. There, she continued her studies at the Seminar HaKibbutzim Teachers College in Tel Aviv. She also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In 1937, Miriam Roth helped start Kibbutz Sha'ar HaGolan. A kibbutz is a special community in Israel. She worked as a kindergarten teacher there and lived in the kibbutz for many years.

Difficult Times and Family

During a very sad time called The Holocaust, Miriam's parents, two sisters, and two young nieces were in Europe. They were sent to Auschwitz, and sadly, none of them survived.

Later, during a war in Palestine (1947–1949), the Syrian army took over her kibbutz. Miriam remembered that "the Arabs burned Sha'ar Hagolan." Because of this, she lost all her personal letters and family photos.

In 1960, Roth went to New York to study more about education. She earned a master's degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also got another master's degree in teaching from City College of New York.

Miriam Roth was married to Pesach Ivry, who passed away in 1978. They had three sons. She also had 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her great-granddaughter, Amit Ivry, is a famous Israeli Olympic swimmer. She has won championships and holds national records.

Roth's great-granddaughter Amit Ivry, an Olympic swimmer.

Miriam Roth passed away from pneumonia on November 13, 2005. She was 95 years old and died at Kibbutz Sha'ar Hagolan.

Miriam Roth's Teaching Career

Miriam Roth taught about preschool education and children's literature. She taught kindergarten teachers at the Oranim Academic College until she was 70. She also trained teachers and taught children's literature at Seminar Hakibbutzim.

She wrote textbooks about kindergarten education. She also gave talks and published articles about education and children's books. Miriam Roth believed that educators should be in charge of creating and promoting children's books. Over the years, she made and shared lists of books for young children to read.

Important Books on Education

She wrote several important books about teaching:

• "The Preschool Method" (1955)
• "The Child and You" (1958)
• "Literature for the Very Young" (1969)

In 1956, Roth published "The Theory of the Kindergarten." She also helped create the "Theory of the Nursery" for Kibbutz Artzi. In 1958, she advised parents to listen to expert educators. She said that parenting is like a job that needs to be taught.

Miriam Roth's Books for Children

Miriam Roth wrote 23 books for children in Hebrew. Many of these books became best-sellers. She also wrote 6 books about education and children's literature. She started writing children's books a bit later in her life.

Popular Children's Classics

Her popular Israeli children's books include:

• "A Tale of Five Balloons" (1974) – This was her first children's book, published when she was 61.
• "Boots" (1975)
• "Yael's House" (1977)
• "Hot Corn" (1978)
• "Grandma’s Coat" (1981)
• "Miep Won’t Go to Sleep" (1993)
• "Podi the Hedgehog" (1994)
• "Confused Yuval" (2000) – This was her 22nd book.

"A Tale of Five Balloons" was inspired by her own children. She used to comfort them when their balloons would pop. Miriam Roth was special because she created a new type of children's book. These books focused on children's feelings and experiences, not just group themes.

Her Philosophy on Literature

Miriam Roth believed that "excellent literature educates." She meant that good books teach children without being preachy. She thought that deep human stories, told in a great artistic way, were truly educational. Children learn from what happens to others. They also learn new words and improve their ability to express themselves.

Awards and Recognition

Miriam Roth received many awards for her work.

In the Israeli city of Holon, there is a large sculpture of a corncob. It is next to a weathervane. This sculpture was inspired by Roth's book "Corn on the Cob."

Major Awards

• Ze`ev Prize for Lifetime Achievement (1990)
• UNICEF Smile Award (1998) – She received this for "A Tale of Five Balloons."
• Bialik Prize (2002)