A program designed to bring a special touch of Yiddishkeit to bedtime storytelling and singing is being offered to parents with young children by the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey.

The first 150 children between six months and six years registered by their parents will become members of the PJ (as in pajamas) Library and will receive a new book or CD with Jewish-themed, age-appropriate material each month for a year.

The program is free; the Central federation is covering the estimated $60 annual cost per child. The number is limited by available funding, but other options may be considered in the future if many more families want to participate. The organizers hope to have the program launched in time for Hanukka.

The federation is the first in New Jersey to adopt the idea, but according to those who initiated it, a number of other communities in the state are also getting involved.

The idea for the PJ Library came from philanthropist Harold Grinspoon, founder of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, based in western Massachusetts. According to Rosalie Eisen, who handles national marketing for the foundation, he envisioned it as a means of "Jewish engagement within the home between parent and child."

His initial inspiration came from Dolly Parton. Eisen said that Grinspoon for some time has funded a local version of the country singer's Imagination Library program, which provides reading matter to underprivileged communities. Then, at a Passover dinner a couple of years back, he saw the host give Jewish-themed books to the young guests.

There was one other "ah-ha" moment, Eisen said. "Harold was on an airplane sitting next to a child who was crying. The mother brought out a book, and he saw how it immediately calmed the child."

The program, launched 18 months ago, has already been adopted by 48 Jewish organizations around the country. Another 12, including the Central federation, are starting it this fall.

The foundation provides the materials to the participating organizations at reduced prices and has offered help in funding publicity. Information will be distributed this month through the early childhood education programs at area synagogues.

The books and CDs, chosen by a committee of educators and child development experts, are all carefully geared to specific age groups. They relate to Jewish holidays, folktales, and Jewish family life. Each one comes with a resource guide for parents, with suggested discussion points and activities.

"The material speaks to our heritage without preaching about religion," said Felicia Korman, director of the federation's Women's Campaign, who is overseeing the program. "It's intended as an opportunity for parents to share Jewish content with their kids and to start a dialogue about being Jewish, about our traditions and culture and values."

She said she hopes the program will draw in families with little or no affiliation with the organized Jewish community, including those in mixed marriages. There will be no solicitation for donations or pressure to join any group.

"This is also a way for us to bring a resource to families who might be too busy to come to programs," Korman said. "We can provide a connection that is convenient for them in their homes and that gives us a way to promote Jewish continuity."

Jill Simafonte, director of early childhood education at Temple Emanu-El, the Reform congregation in Westfield, saw information about the program at the annual conference of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, in St. Louis, Mo. "I thought it seemed like a phenomenal thing to do for our families," she said. "It's a great way to build the connection between parent and child, and between families and the temple."

Eisen said that follow-up surveys have shown an extraordinarily high approval rating from parents who have participated in the program, about 40 percent of whom are intermarried. Around 88 percent said it had sparked Jewish discussions in their family, and 86 percent said they wanted to renew their membership at the end of the year.

Perhaps most exciting of all, she said, is the fact that a large number of families who have been involved — many of whom know each other because they live in the same community and have children of the same age — have expressed an interest in getting together for related activities. The foundation staff is exploring possible programs along those lines.

For more information, call Korman at 908-889-5335, or visit their web site to register your child or children for the program.