Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - Welcome Jago!

Welcome to the Sydney Taylor Book Awards Blog Tour! I have the pleasure of introducing Jago, the illustrator of silver medal winner Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swim, written by Deborah Bodin Cohen (Kar-Ben)

Nachshon was the first person to event the Red Sea before it parted. In the book, he is a brave boy who longs for freedom from slavery. His only fear is water. Jago’s beautifully textured illustrations create the perfect backdrop for the story. I was delighted to learn more about the techniques Jago used.

What were your thoughts when you first read the manuscript for Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim ?

I was excited at the thought of illustrating a book set in Egypt and the possibilities for creating landscapes filled with pyramids and trying to get a sense of the intense heat.

Did you need to do research before creating your illustrations?

Yes! I did quite a lot of research into Egyptian architecture, clothing and ceremonial costumes.

What techniques did you use for your illustrations?

I work entirely digitally using a Wacom Cintiq graphics tablet to draw my illustrations directly on my iMac. I use Photoshop to build up my illustrations in layers; I start with a "painting" at the bottom in fairly flat colours and then overlay various photographic layers (things like close up photos of concrete and hand made paper) to build up textures, it's a secret recipe known only to me so I can't divulge the exact ingredients..... Then I add lighting effects, shadows and highlights and generally try to make things seem less flat and more solid. Then at the end I'll usually adjust all the colours a bit until they're right

What was the greatest challenge in working on this book?

The challenge with all pictures I find, is to try to tell the story in the pictures as much as it is told in the words, and to try to add details and elements to the illustrations that will enhance the story.

What was the most interesting thing you learned in the process of working on Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim ?

That I quite like illustrating horses! I've always avoided them before as they're complicated to get right, but with the Pharaoh's army riding chariots there was no getting away from them. Once I'd figured them out I quite enjoyed drawing them and now I don't avoid them any more!

Jago, thanks for joining the blog tour!

To learn more about Jago, please visit his web site at http://www.jagoillustration.com/

Author Event for Librarians in Camarillo

February 26, 2010, 1-5:00 pm. Afternoon with Eve & Others
Authors Eve Bunting, Alexis O'Neill & Abigail Yasgur will speak to library staff. Other local authors will be present to sign their books and talk about their school programs. Book & publisher representatives will display their materials.
REGISTER EARLY!

http://www.vcoe.org/cici/LibraryLRDC/tabid/491/Default.aspx

The Sydney Taylor Book Awards Blog Tour is Coming!

Meet the authors and illustrators who were honored with Sydney Taylor Book Awards! For the complete schedule visit jewishlibraries.org/blog.

Video of Sydney Taylor Book Awards Gold Medal Winners

SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS - 2010

2010 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS - ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES

Congratulations to all!


The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:
New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story by April Halprin Wayland with illustrations by Stephane Jorish

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
The Importance of Wings by Robin Friedman

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle

Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers:
Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story
by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Jago
Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano
Yankee at the Seder by Elka Weber with illustrations by Adam Gustavson
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? by Jonah Winter with illustrations by Andre Carrilho

Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Older Readers:
Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures from the Archives of the Anne Frank Houseby Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol, translated by Arnold J. Pomerans
A Faraway Island by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck

Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Teen Readers:
Lost by Jacqueline Davies
Naomi’s Song by Selma Kritzer Silverberg

Notable Books for Younger Readers:
Where Is Grandpa Dennis? by Michelle Shapiro Abraham with illustrations by Janice Fried
Around the Shabbos Table by Seryl Berman with illustrations by Ari Binus
The Secret Shofar of Barcelona by Jacqueline Dembar Greene with illustrations by Douglas Chyka
Menorah Under the Sea by Esther Susan Heller
Today Is the Birthday of the World by Linda Heller with illustrations by Allison Jay
The Waiting Wall by Leah Braunstein Levy with illustrations by Avi Katz
Sukkot Treasure Hunt by Allison Ofanansky with photographs by Eliyahu Alpern
Fox Walked Alone by Barbara Reid

Notable Books for Older Readers:
The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak written and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
Guardian Angel House (A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers) by Kathy Clark
Rebecca Series (American Girl Collection)
by Jacqueline Dembar Greene with illustrations by Robert Hunt
Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman with illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin
The Mysteries of Beethoven’s Hair by Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley
The Man Who Flies with Birds by Carol Garbuny Vogel and Yossi Leshem
Clay Man: The Golem of Prague by Irene N. Watts with illustrations by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
Elvina’s Mirror by Sylvie Weil

Notable Books for Teens:
The Disappearing Dowry: an Ezra Melamed Mystery by Libi Astaire
A Family Secret/The Search by Eric Heuvel
So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow with art by David Ostow
Cursing Columbus by Eve Goldberg Tal
Puppet by Eva Wiseman
The Other Half of Life: Based on the True Story of the MS St. LouisBy Kim Ablon Whitney (Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House)

NOTABLE BOOK FOR READERS OF ALL AGES:
JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible by Ellen Frankel with illustrations by Avi Katz

Welcome Rabbi Jacobs!

One of the lovely benefits of sharing interviews on my blog is the opportunity I have to meet wonderful people from around the world. Rabbi Fishel Jacobs is the author of the Two Kings books for children. He lives with his family in Kfar Chabad, Israel, a suburb of Tel Aviv. Rabbi Jacobs has many talents. He has written seven adult non-fiction books, served in the Israeli army, and is an eight degree Black Belt!

I'm delighted that Rabbi Jacobs was able to join me for a blog interview.

Tell me about your Two Kings books.
The Two Kings book series actually evolved from a play we performed for many years in front of tens of thousands of youth in Israel. The play, as well as the books, feature a main character, David, 8. He is charged with performing some sort of daily activity, such as helping watch the baby sister, do homework, whatever. Through simple text and really marvelous brilliant colored pictures we "see" and "hear" an internal Bad King trying to influence David not to do what he's supposed to. Then we watch as the internal Good King responds with counter-arguments. Finally, we watch as David is torn and struggles to decide with which inner voice, inclination so to speak, he will go.

What inspired you to write books for children?
First, I've always loved children. I love to tell my own children stories at the Shabbat table, and before they go to bed at night. I personally have been influenced greatly by inspirational stories which I've been fortunate enough to have read or heard. Stories are an important of the human experience.

Second, I think this message of two little voices inside us is important to begin imbuing at an early age. When shall we begin, when someone is an adult?

So, I feel this series is an educational and social mission for me. When we publish a Two Kings book, I think about the little (and not so little) minds who will absorb this important lesson. By the way, the original concept was presented by King Solomon, "the wisest man who ever lived."

I think about the improvement it will make in their lives to realize they should always weigh their thoughts. That they should not always "just do what you feel." Think, even if for the moment, reconsider your actions. Am I acting out of raw impulse, or are my actions influenced at all by my thoughts.

I believe in this message for our youth, for our teens, and yes, I believe in it for ourselves as well.

How important were books to you when you were a child?
In terms of personal growth and maturity, books were extremely important to me as a child.The only problem was that I wasn't aware of it at the time. I never opened a book, never read. My dad always said, "Read a book. It will develop your mind." I was into competitive sports. Now, years later, I'm sorry I didn't take that advice more seriously. A mind is, indeed, a precious thing. The positive side is I'm repeating that advice to my own kids, and with some of them, thankfully, its sticking.

What are some fun facts about you?
Fun facts. Fun facts. Unfortunately, I'll really have to share a LOL with you on that one. I guess, you'd really need to rephrase that to get it down. Something more like, What are some non-fun facts about you? In kind of a nutshell, my whole life is fun.

The only thing I like more than to laugh, is when I get someone else to laugh. Our home is full, 24/7,with students and guests who come to meet up with the guy who wrote all those books, worked in a prison and has a black belt in karate. that;s fun.

My dear wife, of 28 very quickly passing years, Miriam, is a serious scholar who runs an entire department at the seminary here in Kfar Chabad. I even get her to laugh a lot. That's fun. Finally, our seven kids get us both to laugh a real lot -- that's the most fun of all.

Before signing off, I'd like to thank the publisher, Israel Book Shop, a great company for all their help and assistance.

Thank you, Rabbi Jacobs! To learn more about the Two Kings or other books by Rabbi Jacobs, please visit www.RabbiJacobs.com

MONSTERS DO EAT BROCCOLI - LATKES!

My friend Barbara Jean Hicks is the author of Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli, recently released by Knopf. Monsters might not eat broccoli, but they do eat latkes! In honor of Hanukkah, Barbara Jean shares this terrific latke recipe borrowed from the recipe files of April Halprin Wayland. Happy Hanukkah!

Broccoli Latkes

1 pound broccoli, chopped into small pieces
2 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and cubed into small pieces
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
3 cups water
½ teaspoon celery seed
salt and pepper to taste

Cook all the ingredients in a large covered pot over medium heat for 20 minutes. Drain mixture. Mash ingredients together.

Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Form 10 pancakes. Fry 8 minutes on one side. Flip and fry for another 5 minutes on the other side. Serve warm.

ENJOY!

HOPPY HANUKKAH!

Linda Glaser is the author of many children’s books. Her latest is Hoppy Hanukkah, a delightful holiday celebration for young readers. Her other acclaimed books include The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes, Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah, and Bridge to America. I’m so happy to welcome Linda to the blog!

Tell me about your new book, Hoppy Hanukkah?

For years, I’ve had the complete joy of introducing preschoolers to Jewish holidays and values in religious school at our temple on Saturday mornings. I love that age group! After many years of holiday fun with young children, I wrote Hoppy Hanukkah to playfully introduce even more young ones to Hanukkah traditions. As I wrote it, I fantasized about reading it to my own grandchildren someday. Almost as gratifying, my older daughter gave Hoppy Hanukkah its “world premier” by reading it to her group of temple preschoolers in Minneapolis. She reported back that the children loved it and laughed in all the right places. That warmed my heart.

Several of your books have a Jewish theme. How much has Judaism shaped your writing?

More than anything else, belonging to a small yet vibrant temple community has shaped my Jewish themed writing. My first Jewish book, The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes, was inspired by the third graders at our temple. Seeing how much they still enjoyed picture books, I wrote the story with them in mind. My next book Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah was inspired by latke making with the preschoolers. I love getting messy with kids! My middle grade historical novel Bridge to America is based on the early life of a temple elder, Phil, who grew up in a shtetl. I tried to imbue the book with his lively, life-affirming spirit. When the book finally came out, our temple held a “book mitzvah.” Phil and I both signed copies--a most memorable book signing! I have another book coming out this spring called Emma’s Poem, The Voice of the Statue of Liberty. It’s based on the life of Emma Lazarus, an outspoken and accomplished Jewish writer and humanitarian. Even as a young girl, I found it awe-inspiring that a Jewish woman writer with her visionary poem had shaped the hearts and minds of the American people by giving the Statue of Liberty a powerful voice for immigrants.

What is the best part about being a writer?

I love writing. Having my writing published gives me a way to share what I love and feel passionate about with others.

What is your favorite holiday?

Do I have to pick just one? On Sukkot, I love decorating the sukkah. On Simchat Torah, I love dancing around temple with the Torah. On Hanukkah I love lighting candles and eating latkes. On Purim… well, you get the idea. I love all the Jewish holidays.

What are some fun facts about you?

Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a children’s book writer. For my 10th birthday, I asked for a fountain pen. Back then, I wrote lots of stories and poems—mostly with a regular ballpoint pen or a pencil. But once I got my fountain pen, whenever I wanted to really feel like a writer, I wrote with that pen. Now, I bring it on school visits to encourage children to hold onto their dreams.

Thanks, Linda! To learn more about Linda's books, please visit www.LindaGlaserAuthor.com

Hoppy Hanukkah to all my readers!

Maggie Anton - Rashi's Daughters

Maggie Anton is the author of the very popular Rashi's Daughters Series. She has just released the Book III - Rachel. I am so thrilled that Maggie could take time out of her busy touring schedule to visit the blog.

Tell me about your Rachel, the subject of your third book in the Rashi's Daughter series:

Rachel is Rashi's youngest daughter, and the most beautiful. Being the only child to grow up when Rashi lived at home, she is spoiled and his favorite. She is the only one of his daughters to marry for love.

Your first book was adapted as a Young Adult novel. Will you do the same for the other books?

No. Their subject matter does not lend itself to YA readers.

How challenging was your research for your books?

It was more enjoyable than challenging; I love learning new things. Writing the novels was hard work; the research was fun.

What has been the most interesting part of your writer's journey?

That someone who was a chemist for over 30 years, who never took a writing class or wrote anything except letters to my husband in the army, could successfully write historical novels about some obscure 11th-century Jewish women.

What are some fun facts about you?

I am a Bubbi, with two grandsons - Nathan and Benjamin. I grew up in a secular socialist household & never attended High Holy Day services until after I was married. I am a total Los Angeles girl: born here, went to UCLA, married another LA native, both my children were born here, and I still live in the city. I have spoken about RASHI'S DAUGHTERS in 26 different states, plus DC.

Thanks, Maggie! For more information about Maggie Anton and her books, please visit http://www.rashisdaughters.com/

Interview with Sheyna Galyan of Yaldah Publishing

Here is the link to Writer's [Inner] Journey and a wonderful interview with Sheyna Galyan of Yaldah Publishing, home of Like a Maccabee.

http://writersinnerjourney.com/

Enjoy!

Rachel Kamin - The Tot Shabbat Handbook

The Tot Shabbat Handbook: A Practical Guide for Engaging Young Families in Congregational Life (URJ Press) edited by Paula Feldstein, is book and CD resource for helping congregations create meaningful Shabbat programs for families with young children. Rachel Kamin, my friend and fellow Syndey Taylor Book Award Committee member, is one of the talented experts who shared her knowledge about successful Tot Shabbat programs. Rachel is also a member of the editorial board for the URJ Press. I’m thrilled that Rachel was able to chat with me about this very special project.Tell me about the TOT SHABBAT HANDBOOK and your contribution to the book.

Who is the intended audience for the TOT SHABBAT HANDBOOK?

Rabbis, educators, and lay leaders responsible for conducting Shabbat services for young children and their families will find the handbook most useful. There are also several chapters that synagogue, community center, and day school librarians will find interesting. Diane Person, a children's literature professor at Long Island University, authored the chapter, "Choosing a Wonderful Story" and Eva Grayzel, a performance artist specializing in Jewish folklore, wrote a chapter on "Interactive Storytelling Techniques."

If parents have never been to a Tot Shabbat service how can they become involved?

I think many congregations have Tot Shabbat programs that are led by parents, who will also find The Tot Shabbat Handbook very helpful. The chapter, "Never to Young to Pray" by Sue Ann Wasserman explains the importance of Tot Shabbat for young children. Award-winning recording artists, Peter & Ellen Allard write about Tot Shabbat as an opportunity to build a Jewish brain and nurture a Jewish heart. And, Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik outlines the benefits of parent involvement in Tot Shabbat, how to recruit parents, and how to form and empower a parent committee.

Thanks, Rachel! To learn more about The Tot Shabbat Handbook, please visit http://www.urjbooksandmusic.com/

The Search For the Stones - Marc Lumer

I’m delighted to announce the publication of The Search For the Stones (Artscroll) by Shmuel Blitz, Zakon, and my friend Marc Lumer, Illustrator.

This exciting new middle-grade time travel novel will be released next week. Here is what the publisher has to say:

A quiet family vacation in Jerusalem turns into high adventure as Ilana and Ari Goldreich set out on an unforgettable quest through time. Sent on this mission by a mysterious man in white, and pursued by an evil man in purple, they must face danger - and learn lessons of friendship, courage, and other Jewish values - in order to save the world from deadly peril!Ari and Ilana will pan for gold in California during the Gold Rush. They will face the dreaded Spanish Inquisition, search for Nazis in Brazil, and help bring a huge stone to build the Holy Temple. An evil man in a purple cloak will use all his powers to stop them, while the man in white will teach them about true loyalty and the power of giving to others.

If your young reader is looking for a spine-tingling adventure, check out The Search For the Stones. http://www.artscroll.com/Products/SFTS.html

Attention Middle School Students - Jewish Heritage Writing Contest!

Association of Jewish Libraries Jewish Heritage writing contest for kids in grades 6-8! Check it out!

http://jewishheritagecontest.com

Welcome Zachary Shapiro

I am thrilled to welcome Zachary Shapiro to the blog. His first children’s book, We’re All in the Same Boat (Putnam), is a delightful retelling of the story of Noah’s Ark, beautifully illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Zach has inspired people of all ages through original story-telling, music and heartfelt humor. As the Rabbi of Temple Akiba in Culver City, California, Zach finds many ways to bring new life to old legends. He wrote We're All in the Same Boat to teach children and adults how we can motivate and support each other in the face of tough circumstances. A native of Massachusetts, Zach Shapiro lives in Southern California with his partner and their dog, "Daisy," who has barked her share of complaints on a rainy day!

What was the inspiration for writing We're All in the Same Boat?

A few years ago, my sister-in-law, Leora Krygier, published her novel, "First the Raven." At one of her readings, she described how the raven was the first bird to fly free from Noah's Ark. And in relating the drama of the book, she used the phrase, "We're all in the same boat." At the moment, something stirred in me. Noah had always been a favorite story, and I loved making it come to life with children. And so, I began to think about the tired, restless creatures on Noah's Ark, from the ants to the zebras. I went home that night and wrote the first draft of my manuscript.

Can you share a bit about your writer's journey?

In my work, I tell stories all the time. But writing stories was a new animal (pun intended). I had always dreamed of writing a children's picture book, but I really had no idea about the process. So I went out and bought "The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books." I read it cover to cover. In the back is an index of publishers, and I researched each of them on line. I made lists of which publishers would be appropriate for my book. And I considered whether the book should specifically target the Jewish market or not. And so, I carefully selected a handful of publishers, prepared cover letters, and send out my manuscript.

And I waited. And waited. And waited. And I was rejected. Many times. But all it takes is one. And when I got a response from Putnam, I leapt for joy!

The illustrations in We're All in the Same Boat are delightful. What was your response when you first saw them?

When Putnam first told me that it usually takes 2-3 years for the book to hit the shelves, I nearly plotzed. It seems liked forever. But they insisted that we find the right illustrator. When I learned that they had selected Jack E. Davis, I was thrilled. A full year went by before I saw Jack's first sketches. And though I adore Jack's art, I didn't know what to expect. I was a little scared. But my nervous anticipation transformed into delight. I could never have begun to imagine such amazing illustrations, and I am in awe that an artist can convey words like, "Vexed" and "Impatient."

How has your congregation reacted to your book?

To launch the book, I worked with Temple Akiba to host a premier reading along with a "blessing of the animals." We encouraged members and guests to brings their pets to synagogue after Sunday School. Our front courtyard was filled with dogs, cats, bunnies, frogs, and even a snake! After the reading, I offered a special blessing for the joy that our furry friends bring to our lives each day. Later in the year, our Nursery School embarked on a Noah's Ark project that received an award from the Bureau of Jewish Education. Young and old alike have been so enthusiastic about "We're All in the Same Boat." We have sold over 200 copies through our gift store alone.

What are some fun facts about you?

I grew up in Boston and have lived in the Los Angeles areas since my ordination from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 1997. I was the Associate Rabbi at University Synagogue in Brentwood for eight years before becoming the Senior Rabbi at Temple Akiba. My goal in life is to help bring goodness into the world, one act of purposeful kindness at a time. I am big aviation fan, and I have a vast library of books about commercial aviation and airports. I love to bike ride and I enjoy good theatre. My partner, Ron Galperin, and I have a poodle named Daisy. Who knows... someday you may be reading a book about her as well!

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us! To learn more, visit Zachary Shapiro’s web site: www.allinthesameboat.com

NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD COMMITTEE

NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD COMMITTEE
Kathe Pinchuck, Chair
Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee appointed three new members. Their four-year terms will begin in January 2010. The committee benefits from the diverse membership of AJL, and with the unique talents and experience of the incoming members, we are confident the high standards of the committee will continue.

Debbie Feder is the Director of the Library Resource Center at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago. An active member of the Chicago AJL Chapter, Debbie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and earned her MLS from Dominican University. Debbie, who also worked at the Skokie Public Library, is a lover of children’s literature, first enthralled by All-of-a-Kind-Family.

Aimee Lurie comes to the committee with experience in a variety of Jewish libraries, including the Temple-Tifereth Israel, the Fairmount Temple and the Agnon School, as well as public libraries. Amy has reviewed books for the AJL Newsletter and VOYA and feels that “reviewing books is every librarian’s professional responsibility and it has always played a critical role in my personal professional development. Not only does it play an invaluable role in collection development, I have found it is the best way to keep your finger on the pulse of publishing trends.” Aimee is active in the Cleveland chapter of AJL and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio State and an MLS from Kent State University.

Nancy Silverrod is a librarian at San Francisco Public Library. Nancy graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Michigan University and earned her MILS at the University of Michigan. Nancy states that “My reading over the years led me to a deeper connection and involvement with Judaism, and the opportunity to recommend high quality books to interested readers is one of the things I most enjoy about my work” – a great combination.

Barbara Bietz of Oak Park, California will assume the chairmanship. She is the author of Like a Maccabee (Yaldah Publishing, 2006). As a freelance writer, her work has appeared in numerous publications, and she is a frequent reviewer for Jewish Book World and the AJL Newsletter.

The 2009-2010 Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee will also include Debbie Colodny (Libertyville, Illinois), Rita Soltan (West Bloomfield, Michigan); Kathe Pinchuck (Clifton, New Jersey), past chair; and Rachel Kamin (Chicago, Illinois), compiler. Heidi Estrin (Boca Raton, Florida) will assist the committee as AJL Public Relations Liason.

Tremendous Harkaras Hatov (appreciation) to Susan Berson (Denver, Colorado and Kathy Bloomfield (Wellesley, Massachusetts) who have served their four-year terms on the committee with distinction.

Writing Classes in Oak Park and Thousand Oaks

I will be teaching two Writing Books for Children classes this Fall. Please join me on Monday nights at the Oak Park Recreation Center or Thursday nights at Conejo Valley Adult Education. Feel free to e-mail me at BarbaraBietz@aol.com for more information.

April Halprin Wayland's New Year at the Pier!

copyright © 2009 Stéphane Jorisch

April Halprin Wayland is part of the amazing community of children’s writers in Southern California. I was delighted to discover April had written a book about Tashlich, a wonderful ritual that occurs during Rosh Hashana. According to Jewish tradition, the community journeys together to a body of water and cast bead crumbs that represent regretful deeds committed during the year. Before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, apologies must be made to those we have hurt. NEW YEAR AT THE PIER is a thoughtful, tender story that beautifully represents Tashlich. The book received a starred review in Publishers Weekly.

April Halprin Wayland is a farmer turned folk musician turned author. Her novel in poems, picture books, and poetry have garnered numerous awards including the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Award for Children’s Poetry, the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, and MommyCare's Book of the Year. Her work has been called “dazzling”, “honest, heartfelt, poignant”, and “utterly fresh and winning”. She’s been an instructor in UCLA Extension’s Writers Program for over a decade and teaches workshops in schools all over the world. She lives near the beach in Southern California where she tosses bread off a pier each New Year.

I’m excited to welcome April and learn about the creation of NEW YEAR AT THE PIER.

NEW YEAR AT THE PIER is clearly inspired by your own celebration of Tashlich. Did you have an "aha" moment when you had the idea of turning the experience into a book?

One of my editors asked me if I had any Jewish stories in me. When I thought about what Jewish story I wanted to tell, Tashlich popped up because it’s my favorite Jewish celebration. I’ve dragged many friends to the pier so they could taste the poetry of this ritual. I wanted them to feel the wind, hear the gulls, experience the relief of tossing each piece of bread. How could I not share this in a picture book?

Was it a challenge to find a home for a book about a lesser known Jewish holiday?

Yes and no. The editor who originally coaxed me to write it rejected the manuscript. *Sigh*…all in the life of an author! But when I called my other editor and asked if she’d be interested, she just happened to have come out of a meeting in which they asked the editors to look for Jewish-themed picture books. It was amazing synchronicity—or luck. Or the universe really wanted this book out! I like the saying, “Coincidence is a long way of spelling God.”

What was your response when you first saw the illustrations?

From the first time I saw the cover, I was smitten. It didn’t surprise me to learn that Stéphane grew up on the water. I can feel the roll of the waves in his pictures—they’re that real. I also love the fact that some of his Jewish characters appear to be Asian. I haven’t asked him if this was intentional, but it’s a true snapshot of many congregations today.

The best thing about his illustrations is the amount of emotion with which he imbues each character. I fell in love with him for his illustrations of Pat Brisson’s I REMEMBER MISS PERRY, the story of a beloved elementary school teacher who dies mid-year. His ability to show the full range of emotions in this book is stunning.

I didn’t know that Stéphane had received the highest award for a children’s illustrator in Canada (Governor General's Literary Award winner)—four times. He also received the 2008 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for the most distinguished French-language book of the year, which includes one of the largest cash prizes for children's literature. Heavens - my book has been illustrated by royalty!

Stéphane’s a very nice guy.

What did you learn from writing NEW YEAR AT THE PEIR?

How much an illustrator can add to the emotional heft of a story.
How to sincerely apologize without expecting anything in return.
More about Tashlich…and my own spirituality.
How exciting it is to be swimming in this stream of Jewish books. It makes me want to write more!
One more thing I’ve learned:About Mazon http://www.mazon.org/ , the Jewish response to hunger, to which I’m donating a portion of the profits of this book. What a wonderful organization!

Will you be at the pier this year?

You betcha.

What are some fun facts about you?

1) We have a cat named Snot.
2) Although writing is my solace and gives me a natural high, sometimes writing terrifies me. Can anyone relate to this?
3) When I was six-years-old I learned to drive. I was so small you couldn’t see me, so it looked as if the truck was bumping down the farm road by itself.
4) One day I’m going to build a trout stream in our backyard.
5) I admire: my husband, people who take a stand, people who tell jokes well, Christopher Reeve, folk singers, songwriters, my friend “singer—songfighter” Ross Altman http://www.rossaltman.net/, anyone who can plot a story, world peacemakers, local troublemakers, and people whose hair always looks nice (can someone please teach me how?)
6) All of my favorite people are generous—they truly work to repair the world. They are also kind. And funny.
7) My best friend (besides my husband) is author Bruce Balan http://www.brucebalan.com/ who lives on a boat, sailing around the world.
8) When life really gets you down, get a kitten. Works every time. See # 1, above.

April, thank you for sharing your thought so generously. NEW YEAR AT THE PIER is destined to be a classic in Jewish communities everywhere! To learn more about April and her books, please visit http://www.aprilwayland.com/

For Your Consideration - The Truth About Sydney Taylor Book Award Submissions

I am honored to serve on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. It is a responsibility that I, and my fellow committee members do not take lightly. We are passionate about the books we read and the integrity of our evaluation process. We are fully aware that our voices will be heard and will make a difference in the books selected and purchased in homes, schools, and libraries.

Many authors and publishers may question if their books are appropriate for the Sydney Taylor Book Award and if is worthwhile to send their books for consideration. I’d like to offer some insight about our selection criteria as well as benefits authors and publishers should consider. We offer book awards for younger readers (picture books), older readers(chapter books and Middle grade), and teen readers (Young Adult).

The STBA mission statement is as follows:

The purpose of the Sydney Taylor Book Award is to encourage the publication of outstanding books of Jewish content for children and teens, books that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

This is a Jewish book award, so if a book has no Jewish content, it is not going to be a contender. That does not mean book needs to be religious. Books that reflect Jewish values or offer well-developed Jewish characters are generally considered to be Jewish books. We do receive many books that do not fit the basic criteria of our award. Some of have outstanding literary merit, but no Jewish content. Other entries may have Jewish content, but were clearly written for an adult audience and STBA is a children's book award.

If your book seems to meet the criteria of the STBA, there are numerous benefits of submitting your book beyond the potential to receive an award. Each committee has a unique perspective. While a given book may not be chosen as an award winner or placed on a notable list, it does not mean the book is without value. In many cases a committee member falls in love with a book, and will “hand sell” the title to librarians, teacher, parents, and readers. Not every good Jewish book wins an award. But it could be a terrific book that meets the needs of a particular readership. If we are not introduced to a book, we can’t share it.

In the case of the STBA, members' reviews are compiled in a CD that is available for librarians as a selection tool. Many librarians wait for the CD to make their purchases. The opinions of the committee are well respected throughout the US and Canada. Many of us contribute our reviews to Jewish Book World and The Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, both widely read professional publications. Finally, at our annual convention, the committee presents many titles to a group of 100 plus librarians. We discuss our honest opinions about the books we have read over the course of the year. The audience takes copious notes about the books they want in their collections.

Submitting a book for an award is not just about winning a prize. It’s sharing your work with professionals and allowing your book every opportunity to make its way into the hands of readers.

More information about the Sydney Taylor Book Award can be found at
www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/awards/stba/STBA_AbouttheAward.htm

Many thank to my fellow committee members who generously shared their thoughts with me so I could share them with you!

Book of Life - Why Be Social?

Thank you Heidi Estrin and Alyx Block for the shout-out and kind words about my blog on "The Book of Life" podcast! This wonderful series is called "Why Be Social?"

Check it out!
http://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-be-social-part-3-suggestions.html

Welcome Kathy Kacer

One of the highlights of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee session at the AJL Convention is the presentation of selected books we have read during the previous year. I was honored to “book talk” The Diary of Laura's Twin(Second Story Press) by Kathy Kacer. The story brings personal relevance to the history of the Holocaust by creating a connection between Laura, a Bat Mitzvah girl, and Sara, who grew up in the Warsaw Ghetto and was unable to celebrate her own Bat Mitzvah. Events in Laura’s life have new significance in light of Sara’s struggles. Through Sara’s diary, Laura learns about the events of the Warsaw Ghetto from the authentic voice of teenager whose experiences become real to her. The Diary of Laura's Twin is a contemporary story that melds history and current events in a meaningful way for young readers.

The Diary of Laura's Twin was honored with the National Jewish Book Council Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature and the Canadian Jewish Book Award for Youth Literature. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Kathy Kacer says, “Their stories of survival were an inspiration to me as I was growing up. As an adult, I was determined to write their stories and pass them on to young readers. In that way, future generations would never forget that time in history.”

I was thrilled for the opportunity to interview Kathy about The Diary of Laura's Twin.

Tell me about the "Twinning Ceremonies" in The Diary of Laura's Twin.

The idea for The Diary of Laura’s Twin actually came about because I wanted to write a book that documented for young readers the history of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. I was struggling to come up with a novel premise for that book. And then, my publisher, Margie Wolfe, told me about having attended a Bat Mitzvah here in Toronto where she witnessed a “twinning ceremony.” The practice of having young people in the free world ‘twin’ their Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah celebrations with children who were unable to celebrate for themselves originated in the 1980's when many young North American, British and Israeli celebrants were ‘twinned’ with youngsters from among the Refusenik families in the Former Soviet Union. Today, in synagogues across North America young people are encouraged to share their Bar or Bat Mitzvah with a child of the Holocaust. My publisher thought I should write a book about a twinning ceremony and I thought I would combine that wonderful premise with my desire to write about the Warsaw Ghetto. And that’s how The Diary of Laura’s Twin came about.

In the book there is a lot of information, including photos, about the Warsaw Ghetto. How much research was involved in writing the book?

Research is a huge part of what I do in my writing in general. All of previous books have a strong historical component – either focusing on a particular event during the Holocaust, or a specific place, or a particular person. It always starts with the research. For The Diary of Laura’s Twin, I interviewed several survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and their family members. I read extensively about the ghetto and the events that had taken place there. I found a fascinating history of the events of the uprising in a book called Brave and Desperate which I actually had to buy on ebay because it was out of print. I looked for photographs that would help illustrate the events of the Warsaw Ghetto for my readers. I never mind doing the research – I’m quite fascinated by it. My problem is knowing when to stop! Sometimes the research is more interesting and certainly easier than the writing.

What was the most interesting thing you learned in the process of writing The Diary of Laura's Twin?

I knew a bit about the twinning program before I began to write this book, but I did not know the amount of work that young people have to do to prepare for their own ceremonies. Here in Toronto, it is the Holocaust Centre that coordinates the program. It helps pair young people with survivors, outlines the kind of work that needs to be done between the two, and coordinates a “graduation” at the end of the year where the young people and the survivors with whom they have been twinned come together to honor one another. In The Diary of Laura’s Twin, Laura spends only a few weeks preparing for her twinning ceremony. In reality, young people can spend many months participating in this program.

Are there real people who inspired Laura and Sara?

There are no specific people who inspired Laura and Sara, though I always draw on a number of people I know and have met when I am developing my characters. Because I had interviewed a number of young people who had completed their own twinning ceremonies, I drew on aspects of each of them in creating Laura. I think she is a pretty typical young girl. She is living a normal life in present day, caught up in her many activities, and many friends, and somewhat reluctant to take on this project of having to find out about a girl who in her words, “lived a million years ago.” That’s how I tried to create her. I actually wrote Sara’s diary separate from the rest of the story and then put the two pieces together. I wrote the diary in long hand in a journal, as if I were inside Sara’s head, trying to understand how she might feel in the terrible circumstances in which she was living. I have that hand-written journal which I take with me when I speak to young people in schools and libraries.

I have struggled for years with how to make the Holocaust a meaningful event in history for young readers. Given the fact that it happened so many years ago, it is difficult for young people today to make sense of anyone from that time period. The Diary of Laura’s Twin allows readers to connect with a contemporary girl, and through her experience of finding and reading the diary of a girl in the Warsaw Ghetto, to then make the bridge to the events of the Holocaust. That is what is unique about this story. It is the co-existence of two important lives, one from today and one from the past who come together in the pages of this book.

What are some fun facts about you?

I always dreamed of being a writer. It took me a long time to get here. In fact, I started my work life as a psychologist, working with troubled teens and their families. I did that for twenty years, but always dreamed that one day I would write books for young readers. The thing that turned me on to writing was keeping a journal. I used to keep a journal when I was young. I still do today. Back then, I would fill my journals with stories about the people in my family – the interesting and amusing things they did, the adventures they got into, etc. I still have many of those journals today. Other than writing, I also love music, theatre, art, and especially painting. My walls are covered with the watercolors that I have done over the years. I love painting and wish I were better at it!

Kathy, Thank you for sharing your writer’s journey. I have no doubt that The Diary Of Laura’s Twin will inspire readers for years to come!

To learn more about Kathy and her work, please visit http://www.kathykacer.com/.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Acceptance Speeches - Richard Michelson and Raul Colon

The talented and inspirational Richard Michelson and Raul Colon accept the Sydney Taylor Book Award for their book, As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom.

Syndey Taylor Book Awards

At the Association of Jewish Libraries Convention in Chicago, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee presented Adventures in Book Reviewing which included recommended books, “hot and not” selections, and previews of new books for the coming year. The audience was enthralled with presentations by this year’s Gold Medal winners, Richard Michelson and Raul Colon, the author and illustrator of AS GOOD AS ANYBODY, and Karen Hesse, author of BROOKLYN BRIDGE.

After a delicious meal at a star-studded Authors Brunch and book signing event, I attended a session called How I learned about Amazing Jewish Books through Social Media, featuring Mark Blevis, host of Just One More Book, a podcast about children’s literature. He and Heidi Estrin, host of the Book of Life pod cast, introduced us to the various social networking options available for librarians to learn about new books and more, including blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

The Awards Banquet was the perfect event for our final evening together. The honorees including the Gold Medal winners, and the Silver Medal Winners - Richard Michelson, Arunka Siegel, and Anna Levine gave heartfelt, emotional speeches. It was an honor to share in the celebration.

Planet Esme's Reading Room

While visiting Chicago during the Association of Jewish Libraries Convention, a group of us journeyed to the magical land of Planet Esme. Esme Codell is an author and readiologist. The gingerbread building that houses Planet Esme welcomes visitors with Hansel and Gretel charm. A few flights up the and the fun begins! Esme’s walls are brimming with books, puppets, educational toys and more. One room is devoted to miniature houses that sparkle with lights. It was heavenly to be surrounded by books, authors, and librarians while chatting about reading writing, and all things inspirational. The company was terrific and the pizza was sublime. Esme utilizes this incredible space for programs to educate parents and teachers. Thanks, Esme for an unforgettable experience!

To learn more about Planet Esme visit http://www.planetesme.com/

Author's Panel - The Stories Behind the Stories

I am still basking in the glow of the wonderful Association of Jewish Libraries Convention. It was held in beautiful Chicago and the organizers did an incredible job. I had a chance to meet up with the other members of the Sydney Taylor book Award Committee. I’ll be writing about our session, Adventures in Book Reviewing, in another post.

The first session I attended featured an impressive line-up of children’s authors, including Esme Codell shared her experiences as a teacher that inspired her book, VIVE LA PARIS. Ilene Cooper presented some of the stunning illustrations from THE GOLDEN RULE, a lovely book that represents many faiths. Brenda Ferber touched us with the real-life story that inspired JULIA’S KITCHEN, a thoughtful novel about love and loss. Esther Hershenhorn charmed the group with her personal experiences that led to the creation of CHICKEN SOUP BY HEART. It’s fascinating and inspirational to learn how stories come to life.

THANK YOU, CHICAGO!

I have just returned from a most inspiring Association of Jewish Libraries Convention in beautiful Chicago. The Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee honored our winning authors and illustrators, and I was able to attend some amazing sessions about children's books, social media and more.

I will be sharing more about experiences and photos with you all soon!

The Sun's Special Blessing - Sandy Wasserman

Sandy Wasserman is a teacher, author, wife, mother, and grandma, and lives on Long Island, NY. She has taught for more than 30 years in both Public and Day Schools, working for the most part with Gifted children, who inspire many of her stories. She is delighted to be able to have more time to write for children - an interest she’s had ever since she received her first library card in the Bronx, NY. Sandy loves to travel and explore unusual places. In the future, she hopes to inspire children through other book projects she’s working on. She is a member of SCBWI, LICWI and the LI Association of Jewish Librarians. Sandy stopped by to discuss her new book, The Sun’s Special Blessing.


Tell me a bit about the blessing for the sun.

The blessing for the sun, known as "Birkat haChamah," is recited every 28 years. The 2009 recitation marks the 206th cycle of the blessing, which celebrates God's placement of the sun on the 4th day of creation. Therefore, the blessing will always be recited on a Wednesday. Although in modern times we are thankful for the sun's warmth and for its place in helping us to grow food, the blessing is for God's creation of the sun, rather than how thankful we are with what the sun provides.

What was your inspiration to write about the blessing?

When the blessing was last recited, in 1981, I was teaching third grade at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Nassau County on Long Island. In preparation for the event, all teachers were asked to prepare a lesson. My idea was to create a 'time capsule' with my students. My students and I did this and buried many Jewish and secular items in a wood and metal chest. Many years passed, and I taught Gifted & Talented children in a public school setting. Then, several years ago, after I retired, I had a 'flashback' of that event. Perhaps it was more of a realization that 20+ years had passed and the time for the blessing would be coming in just a few years. I had always wanted to take time and try to write for children, but with family and a demanding teaching position, writing seriously was not a priority. NOW, I was retired! No excuses! (Afterword: the 1981 time capsule was located in March of this year and a new one was buried for the 2009 Birkat HaCHamah. It was a most joyous and fulfilling event!)

I was fortunate to work with Yaacov Peterseil at Pitspopany Publishers, and to work with Ann Koffsky, as the illustrator.

How did you become a writer?

I had always wanted to write, and often dashed off 'letters to the editor' and enjoyed teaching writing to my students for over 35 years. I 'became' a writer by taking the advice I had always stressed with my students: Revise! Revise! Revise! So two years after my retirement, I wish they could have seen me with my many revisions of The Sun's Special Blessing! I joined a writer's group, a critique group, took a few courses and attended conferences, such as the annual Jewish Writers' Conference at the 92nd ST "Y." in Manhattan. I joined SCBWI and the SSCBWI listserve, and found the writing community to be so supportive and encouraging to a new writer.

What is one fun fact about you?

Hmmm. I have a good sense of humor and look at the humorous side of almost everything. I try not to take myself too seriously and enjoy seeing the fun in everyday life. When my granddaughter, Yael, learned that her Savtah's book would be published and therefore on "other peoples' shelves" with her name in the dedication, she was excited. She's four years old, and frankly, I'm almost at the same level of excitement about this first book; does that make me childlike? As a teacher of gifted students for many years, I usually think 'out of the box;' this often makes for funny enounters with friends and family, and hopefully other books.

Sandy, thanks for sharing your knowledge about this special blessing!

To learn more, visit Sandy's web site at web.mac.com/sfwasserman

Deborah Guttentag

Please welcome author Deborah Guttentag. Today she is talking of her books, Saving Soroya and Into the Dark. A Manchester, England native, Deborah is wife of the Rabbi of the Whitefield Hebrew Congregation and mother of 6 children and several grandchildren. Drama and writing have been her main interests since she was a little girl, and her family background has been a major influence on her writing. Deborah’s parents were both refugees from Nazi Germany and the quintessential feelings of refugees — insecurity and isolation of the individual — feature prominently in much of her writing.

What was the inspiration for the books?

As both my parents were refugees from Nazi Germany, and as the Jewish community I grew up in was made up largely of German refugees, I have always been very conscious of the unstable position of the Jewish people in the Diaspora. Saving Soraya is about a young teenage Jewish girl, Nomi, looking for adventure on a family holiday in France who discovers a Jewish girl in hiding, who has escaped from Iran. When I wrote the book five years ago things were not as bad as they are now in relation to Iran and now some of the novel seems even more relevant than it did a few years ago. There is an episode in the second half of the book when Soraya is terrified by the relaxed way in which the Levy family walk about the streets of Paris with their tzitzit and cappels prominently displayed. She says it may be safe now but it won’t always be. In fact the Jews of France are now careful to wear caps on their heads because of the open anti-Semitism there. There is also a scene in which the family visit a site dedicated to the martyred Jews of the Holocaust who were taken from there to their depths. So although Saving Soraya is basically a teenagers’ adventure story there are dark moments in it and there is an underlying theme of the insecurity of the Jew.

The inspiration for Saving Soraya was a family holiday in France. For years I’d been searching for a good plot. One Shabbos evening on holiday we had a rather strange experience. We were sitting watching the sun go down. It was terribly hot and close and everyone was on edge - there was a curious sense of expectancy in the air. Suddenly, some large blue insects swooped down from outside into the living room. It was rather odd and unnerving and I realised I had to distract everyone – so, of course – I told a story! The story was about a boy on holiday in France who makes a strange discovery. One of my sons said to me. ‘Why don’t you try to write this kind of plot for children?" Kids want mystery and suspense.’ Eventually, the boy in the story evolved into a girl…the plot changed – but the backdrop – a holiday in France remained!

The plot for In the Dark was similarly conceived on holiday. A cross child needed entertaining. I began a story about a boy and a girl who are taken in as evacuees during World War Two. As it happened my husband’s uncle had just sent us an email describing his visit to Shefford where he had been evacuated for a short time as a boy. I have always been intrigued by the idea of Jewish children being placed with gentiles, completely out of their normal home environment. My mother in law told me how she had been belittled at first, together with her younger brother in the home of a rather cold, unpleasant lady – who had told her that someone had died in her bed! That idea went straight into the book!

I have also always been fascinated by the idea of people having power over others. Some people, through the sheer force of their personality can frighten others into doing what they want. These people are often unpredictable and difficult to please. Do you allow yourself to be controlled by them because they seem in some way superior to you or do you exert your own personality over them? Are you less than them just because they try to belittle you? How is it that some people are not overpowered by these controlling personalities whereas some are? In In the Dark Rochel is drawn into Miss Darwen’s power while Susie, her friend is able to see right through Miss Darwen.

Was a lot of research involved?

I spent a good couple of years researching the book and writing several early drafts. My main ideas for the plot were a) the idea of evacuation b) the idea of a dominating personality. I had no idea, however, in which part of England the book was to take place or at which point in the war. One of my sons suggested that the early part of the war – 1939 was the most suitable for a spy story – the British were very afraid of enemy aliens at the time. I read several books about the life people lead during the war – e.g. rationing, bomb shelters. I also read about the Battle of Britain and the bombing campaigns. A lot of the stuff I read was very technical and a bit over my head but it gave me a feel for the complexity of the danger to Britain in 1939. I also read about the danger to Britain from the U boat campaign in the Battle of the Atlantic – the idea was to cut off supplies to Britain, starving it into submission.

I visited Liverpool several times to get a feel for the place – Rochel comes form there. I smelled the sea air and heard the seagulls! I also saw some of the key places that were bombing targets for the Germans. I visited Scarisbrick once (a village near Liverpool) – the place on which Barroclough is based. A lady called Margaret drove me round the whole village. We were looking for the kind of house that I thought Miss Darwen might live in. She stopped suddenly outside a tall, three storied building. ‘This is Miss Darwen’s house!’ she said. I took photos of it and all through the writing of the novel I imagined the events taking place there. Margaret also sent me maps and pictures of the military installations around the area that helped me plan the novel.

I borrowed a book from the library called ‘MI5’ which described in detail the spying work of the agents and counter agents during the war. This was extremely helpful in helping me plot the book so that it made historical sense! I kept that book for about five years, renewing it over the months but sometimes not managing to renew it. In the end I clocked up a fine of £60!

What is the most interesting thing you learned in the process of writing the books?

That people are genuinely interested in discussing your book with you and helping you find things out and are willing to make suggestions. People like to be involved in the process of creating a book!

What is your favorite holiday?

The English countryside, when it’s not too hot and not raining! Visiting old houses, imagining living in them and then returning to the comfort of a modern holiday home. Walking through the forests and meadows and beside the canals. There’s nothing like the peace and beauty of ‘this green and pleasant land.’

Deborah, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about writing and your fascinating research! I especially enjoyed the learning about Miss Darwen's house!

Portraits of Jewish American Heroes

Malka Drucker is an award winning author of 20 books, including GRANDMA'S LATKES, and her highly acclaimed JEWISH HOLIDAY Series which won the Southern California Council on Literature for Children Prize series. She belongs to many literary organizations, including: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Southern California Council on Literature for Young People, the Association of Jewish Librarians, The Authors Guild, and PEN. Malka was ordained in 1998 from the Academy for Jewish Religion, a transdenominational seminary. She is also the founding rabbi of HaMakom: The Place for Passionate and Progressive Judaism, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am delighted to share my interview with Malks about her newest book, Portraits of Jewish American Heroes (Penguin, 2008) a collection of short biographies, beautifully illustrated by Elizabeth Rosen.

What inspired you to write Portraits of Jewish American Heroes?

I wrote Portraits of Jewish American Heroes because I was asked to. The publisher had published a book about African American Heroes that did very well, and they decided to publish a series of other ethnic groups by writers of that group. That being said, I said yes immediately because I love to read and write biographies and always have. Second, Jewish and non-Jewish children need to know about Jews who have enriched America more than ever. Names like Madoff get far too much attention. All children, perhaps adults as well, live in a world where celebrity and charisma trump character, and those whom the world calls heroes are merely famous. A hero is one who is a pioneer, who sets examples for others, and whose effort is for the benefit of more than oneself.

How did you choose which heroes to write about?
That was a great challenge! The format of the book was for 20 heroes and I agonized over not including many heroes. These were my considerations: gender equality, a 350 year span of American Jews, and representatives from diverse fields of accomplishments. I’ve been asked many times how I could exclude Sandy Koufax. I chose Hank Greenberg because he had the honor and struggle of being the first Jew to play major league baseball in a city known for Henry Ford’s antisemitism.What was the most interesting part of the process?I learned so much from researching this project! When people ask me what age group the book is aimed at, I say all ages. Besides the individual contributions—child labor laws, social work, jeans—there is a collective picture. From Chaim Solomon who came to America to escape antisemitism to Daniel Pearl who died because he was an American Jew, they all loved this country for its promise of freedom. I saw how Jewish values strengthened the lives of these heroes and how they made America a better country.

How do you balance being a writer with your work as a Rabbi?
A rabbi does a lot of writing, so I never get out of practice between books. The problem is finding the time to write the books! When I’m working on a book, I try to do nothing else for a month at a time. I also have a community that is very understanding and takes responsibility for itself 75 percent of the time.

Are you working on any other books for young readers?
I’m playing with the idea of a Mary Poppins-like rabbi who has a small dog with uncanny ability to solve difficult problems. Together they time travel with a bunch of religious school dropouts into adventures throughout Jewish history. Along the way, they get to ride in an ark and get to see the first rainbow, help David defeat Goliath, and discover the excitement of our history.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love gummy bears and goldfish.

Malka, thanks for visiting. I can't wait to read your time travel story! To learn more about Malka and her work, please visit her web site at http://www.malkadrucker.com/

Welcome Leah Subar, author of COPYCAT!

Leah Subar’s book, COPYCAT, introduces readers to Tzipora Stein. Tzipora longs to fit it. When the girl who has teased her in the past invites her to join the “in” crowd, Tzipora is thrilled, but there is a price to pay. Leah says, “I hope this book will help readers in some way when they need to decide between being ‘popular’ and doing what they think is right.”

Leah is a native of Denver, Colorado, lives in Jerusalem with her husband and children. She and her husband, “Uncle Reuven,” wrote and produced the popular children’s music series, “Uncle Reuven and the Simcha Train.” Leah’s articles about motherhood and family life appear in numerous publications, including Mishpacha Magazine and Mishpacha Junior. Her plays are produced in the United States, England, and Israel. She is currently working on an anthology of children’s stories, tentatively titled “Impact for Kids” (Targum Press).

Tell me about Copycat?
Copycat is the story of an eleven year-old girl who desperately wants to be part of the ‘in’ crowd. But she needs to decide how far she is willing to follow the crowd in order to be part of it. This question pervades the entire story, climaxing with a face-off between her and the school bully,where she is forced to make a choice: Will she stand up for what she believes in,even though doing so will cost her all of her friends and embarrass her in front of the entire school?

It’s a book that makes you think twice about who you want to be friends with!

What was the inspiration for the book?
When I was eleven,I was called Freckle Face and Shorty pie, just like my protagonist. I,too,struggled to belong.

The villain in my book is quite evil, too evil for a book nice Jewish kids are going to read! Or so I thought, until I spoke to the principal of a major Jewish girls school in New York: she told me that all the students in her school are required to sign a “Bully Contract!” This contract defines “bullying” and the punishment for first-time and repeat offenders. The school offers support to help “victims” learn how to cope and to stand up for themselves.

Before I heard that, I was tempted to tone down my villain, to make her more ‘pareve.’ But when I heard how prevalent the problem of bullying really is, I realized that my book has a timely and important message.

How did you become a children’s writer?
By writing. My Yiddish-speaking friends call it zitz fleishe. In English, it’s called ‘hard work’ — waking each morning and sitting at the desk to write. As a busy wife and mother of a large family, it’s hard to make the time. But even 200 words a day adds up to a book eventually. Mine did.

Why do you write specifically for children?
I’m not sure, but a few years ago, just for fun, my husband and I produced a music CD for kids called “Uncle Reuven and the Simcha Train.” It became a #1 Best-Seller! (Country Yossi Family Magazine Feb 2005)It started out as songs I made up when putting my children to sleep. I feel completely natural composing music for a young audience, and with writing it’s the same thing.

What interesting thing did you learn in the process of writing this book?
Great question, because whenever we set out to write something, we don’t realize how deeply we ourselves may be affected in the process. At least I did not think about it during my book’s beginning stages. Instead, it was all about how my readers will internalize my message, how they will be affected.

But somewhere deep into the process, as my protagonist struggled with her enemy, I discovered that I, too, struggled with the memories of my own pre-adolescent years. I had not fully gotten over being called “Four Eyes.” I’m still figuring out how to say with confidence and grace:“This is who I am.” Writing my book has taught me that no matter how much we consider ourselves “all grown up,” we still have far to go.

What is your favorite holiday?
My husband’s grandfather used to say when asked what his favorite food was: “The one I’m eating now.” My favorite holiday? The one I’m celebrating today! The Jewish calendar is so rich! I love sitting in our sukkah, eating matzah, bursting out in tears as the final shofar blasts at the end of Yom Kippur, and we all say:Next Year in Jerusalem!

Shabbat is really the center of everything that goes on in my home. I bake challah, make gefilte fish, matzah balls, potato kugel…the works! It’s so delicious! I’m not bragging, because Shabbat itself is the fabulous secret ingredient that makes all the food so yummy. We sing songs around the table — everybody is home, even the teenagers. Nobody is talking on the phone. We’re together. We talk. We’re family.

Leah, thank you for such thoughtful, inspirational responses! Best of luck with COPYCAT!

Listen to Leah's music at http://www.mostlymusic.com/unclereuven-m-1589.html

Pamela Ehrenberg - Blog Tour Kick-Off!

Last year Pamela Ehrenberg’s book Ethan Suspended created a loyal fan base, including me. I am thrilled to kick off the blog tour for Pamela Ehrenberg and her new novel, Tillmon County Fire, a multi-dimentional, thought-provoking story of small town life in Appalachia. The gripping plot, unique cast of characters, and the stories they share will keep readers turning the pages.

I’m delighted to share my interview with Pamela.

Tell me about your new book, Tillmon County Fire.

It's about a couple of kids who set fire to their classmate's house in an anti-gay hate crime. The story is told from eight different perspectives, the voices of kids who are in one way or another connected to the event. One kid's story is all in poetry; another story has large chunks of instant-messaging dialogue. There's even one story told in the third person, which was a big departure for me.

What was your inspiration for the book?

Though the characters and events are fictitious--and the setting is fictitious too--I drew my inspiration for the setting from the year I spent as an AmeriCorps member in Appalachian western Maryland. My inspiration for the storytelling style came from the Ernest Gaines book A Gathering of Old Men. That story was also told in multiple perspectives, and it was a story where the place itself--the community--could be seen as a character in the book.

Was research required?

Most of the research was the first-hand experience of living in an Appalachian community. But I got to do some research on police scanner codes--at one point, my working title for the novel was 477, which is the scanner code for arson. And I researched what kind of birds would have been around that part of the country in April. And the designs on different old-timey bottlecaps. And NYC prep schools, and Carrie Underwood lyrics. Fun stuff. Stuff that probably would have been really time-consuming before the Internet.

What was the most interesting discovery you made during the writing of the book?

I'm afraid that if I choose anything that's actually in the book, people will think back and say, "gosh, I didn't find that interesting at all!" But one thing that was interesting to "discover" was the (invented) history of this (imaginary) county where the book takes place. At one point, I had a whole chapter that was a letter written by one of the county's first settlers, talking about some of the county's history that tied back into the current story. All that's left of that chapter now is about a sentence and a half in the prologue. But it was fun to uncover the layers of history in the place. The discovery helped me get to know the county better, even if most of it didn't make it into the book.

Is there a Jewish link in the book? Why is the connection important?

Yes--Ben, one of the main characters, is one-quarter Jewish, and his father had abandoned the family years earlier to seek a Jewish life that wasn't possible in this part of Appalachia. Ben begins traveling to a synagogue 60 miles away (the synagogue, by the way, was inspired by the shul where I spent Rosh Hashanah during my AmeriCorps year). He's an outsider for being part-Jewish but also an outsider within the synagogue--and at the same time, this experience gives him a space to work through some of the other issues he's struggling with, some of the other ways he's an outsider.

Be sure to follow Pamela on the rest of her tour! Check out the details on her web site at http://www.pamelaehrenberg.com/

Meet Jacqueline Dembar Greene!

American Girl fans have been awaiting the newest addition to the historical doll collection. Her name is Rebecca Rubin and she was welcomed to the world on May 31. As with all the American Girl dolls, a series of books about Rebecca has been released.

Rebecca is a nine-year-old Jewish girl growing up in New York City in 1914 during the height of America’s immigration era. Written by award-winning author Jacqueline Dembar Greene, the stories offer insight into a unique time in America’s history, including the struggles of immigrants, the early days of the movie industry, and the fight for safe working conditions. Young readers will experience Rebecca’s loving extended family, the excitement of Coney Island and the sights and smells of the Lower East Side of New York.

The six Rebecca books are a wonderful contribution to children’s literature and I am honored to have the opportunity to interview Jacqueline Dembar Greene.

How were you chosen to be the writer for the Rebecca series?

That’s a question I wondered about myself! I was quite surprised to receive a call one afternoon from an editor at American Girl. She explained that they were interested in developing a new character, one that would feature a Jewish girl in an immigrant family. She asked if I would be interested in submitting a proposal for a six-book series to accompany the character. How could I refuse? When pressed about how American Girl decided to contact me, the editor mentioned that she had read my historical novels, Out of Many Waters and One Foot Ashore. She had also looked at online information about other books that I had written. I think that the company was interested in a Jewish children’s book writer who was familiar with historical novels. But some of this is just a guess! Mostly, I’d have to say it was my lucky day.

How much research was involved?

I recently checked the bibliography I compiled for the series and counted over 100 books. Most of them I read cover to cover.In addition to poking through libraries to discover books on obscure topics (like makeup for silent films), I watched several documentary films about New York City during the influx of Eastern European immigrants around the turn of the Twentieth Century.American Girl assigned an historical researcher to the Rebecca project. He was a wizard at finding a wealth of information just when I’d reached a dead-end. He found websites that answered questions for me, and provided illustrations and material from vintage catalogs on clothing, decorations, furnishings, and so much more. It was a luxury to have such support in finding information that I normally would have had to track down on my own.Another avenue of information was even more fun than sleuthing the library stacks.

American Girl sent a team of people involved in the Rebecca series to New York City for several days. A member of the art department, my editor, the illustrator, the historian, and I visited locations and museums that provided first-hand knowledge of the Lower East Side neighborhood where Rebecca lived. We visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, took tours through the marvelous Tenement Museum on Orchard Street, and went to numerous museums. The Jewish Museum, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Museum of the City of New York, the Coney Island Museum, and a long list of other places filled our visit. The weather cooperated with a lovely January thaw, and we tramped around the neighborhoods from East Seventh Street, where we imagined Rebecca could have lived, to Rivington Street where I placed her father’s shoe store. I snapped numerous photographs to spark my memory after I returned home, and took pages of notes. In between, sampled “authentic foods” in the local delis and bakeries. After all, how could we get into the spirit of our trip without fueling up with rugelach?

Was the writing process different than with your other books?

The Rebecca series was similar to my previous books in many ways. It is based on historical events, yet the stories are fiction. I spent a great deal of time doing background research until I felt as if I could step into a time machine, emerge in New York City in 1914, and feel quite comfortable. As with other novels I have written, I moved from gathering facts to conceiving of a main character. One I envisioned Rebecca’s personality and created her family and friends, I moved on to writing outlines of the plots.In many other ways, the project was quite different than working in isolation. Generally when I complete a book, I try to find an interested publisher, and then work with an editor to make revisions. With the American Girl series, the publisher found me, and I worked with the editor from the start.I had never written so many books about one character all at once. I had to think of how Rebecca might grow and change over a full year. Each book had to stand alone, yet also fit in with previous books in the series. It was a challenge to think of six book ideas that would wrap up neatly.There was another unique aspect to writing for American Girl—I didn’t have to write the books in a vacuum. I met with the editor or had occasional long phone discussions (with a break for lunch!) to think of different ways to solve a plot problem. Having so much support was helpful and energizing.

What is your favorite thing about Rebecca?

Like Gepetto who carved Pinocchio from a block of wood and saw him become a real boy, I feel as if Rebecca came to life as the stories were created. She began as an idea and stepped from my imagination into her own life. I hope she’s a girl that readers will care about. Above all, I like the way Rebecca finds a balance between keeping her family’s traditions and forging ahead in a changing American world. Sometimes, she starts off on the wrong path, but as events develop, she finds new approaches. Rebecca learns from her efforts, and from the people around her. She is always changing and growing into the person she wants to be.At the end of the sixth book, Rebecca says that she has come to feel that every person is like a member of a band, each playing her own instrument, but together creating a harmonious sound. I felt as if Rebecca had finally hit her own perfect note.

Jacqueline, thank you for sharing your author’s journey and for creating such a wonderful character for us to enjoy! To learn more about Jacqueline and her work, please visit her web site at http://www.jdgbooks.com/.

For more information about Rebecca and other American Girl dolls, visit http://www.americangirl.com/

MEET REBECCA RUBIN!

Today at the American Girl Place at The Grove in Los Angeles, my daughter Jillian and I joined in the celebration for the launch of American Girl's newest historical doll, Rebecca Rubin. Rebecca is a nine-year-old Jewish girl growing up in New York City in 1914, at the height of America’s immigration era. Today's celebration included a themed brunch, arts and crafts, prize drawings, lots of photo opportunities and more. The first 100 customers received a goody-bag of American Girl items, including trading cards, puzzles, a Rebecca poster, and an American Girl magazine.

American Girl Place is a destination spot for girls and their parents. The enthusiasm in the air is contagious. The excitement begins before entering the store. The fantastic window display shows Rebecca in each of her outfits in different scenes in huge doll house. Inside the store each doll has a section with historically accurate details. American Girl Place is as much a museum as a store, combining educational elements with good old fashioned fun!

There are more events coming up in June to continue Rebecca's launch. The window display will be at the store until September. Be sure to visit http://www.americangirl.com/ for more details.

***Visit the blog tomorrow to meet Jacqueline Dembar Greene, author of the Rebbeca books!

The Disappearing Dowry - Libi Astaire

Libi Astaire is an author and freelance journalist who lives in Jerusalem. She is a frequent contributor to Mishpacha Magazine, an international Jewish weekly magazine, where she writes about Jewish history and art. The Disappearing Dowry is her first book to be published. Ms. Astaire grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she received a degree in Theatre, English Literature, and European History. She also received an M.B.A. in Marketing and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business. I was excited to speak with Libi about her fascinating debut historical novel.

Tell me about The Disappearing Dowry
The Disappearing Dowry is the first book in a new historical mystery series that’s being published by Zahav Press. The setting is London during the Regency period, which is a very popular era thanks to the books by Jane Austen. What makes “Dowry” unique is that it’s about London’s Jewish community - it’s a kind of “Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes,” but with a Jewish twist.

In The Disappearing Dowry readers get to meet my detective, Mr. Ezra Melamed, who is actually a wealthy benefactor of the Jewish community. Because he’s recently been widowed, he’s looking for something that will give new meaning to his life. He finds it when a fellow member of London’s Great Synagogue, Mr. Samuel Lyon, has his money stolen - including the dowry money for his eldest daughter, Hannah, who has recently become engaged. So Mr. Melamed’s mission is to restore the stolen money before the groom’s family finds out that Mr. Lyon has been financially ruined and they call off the wedding.

What was the inspiration for the book?
I’ve always loved history and I’ve always loved reading mysteries, so the decision to write a historical mystery was a natural one.

The decision to set the series in England was a natural one for me, as well, even though I grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas. For some reason, when I was young I was a big fan of everything English – the history, the literature, the idea of having afternoon tea. I remember the first time I asked a waitress at a Prairie Village restaurant for tea with milk, which is how the English drink it. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She didn’t know if I was pulling her leg or if I was out of my mind.

But to get back to your question, I was really looking forward to finally making use of this great storehouse of English trivia that I had accumulated over the years, and I just had to decide what time period to set the story in. I chose the Regency period because it’s an era that’s brimming with life and offers all sorts of possibilities for an author. The Napoleonic Wars are going on in Europe, the Industrial Revolution is just starting, and fortunes are being made and lost overnight on the London Stock Exchange. It’s also a very interesting time for the Ashkenazic Jewish community, which is only just beginning to establish itself both socially and financially. So I loved the fact that there would be so many different ways to develop the series and create interesting complications for the characters.

Was a lot of research involved?
Yes, but it was definitely a labor of love. It was very important for me to be able to visualize the details of my characters’ lives – where they live, how they dress, what they do with their time, etc. - so that I could create a world that would be convincing for the reader.

I was really happy when I came across a very detailed street map of London that was from the period. I knew, of course, that the center of Ashkenazic Jewish life was the Great Synagogue. But even though that narrowed things down considerably, I still sat with the map for hours trying to decide things like what street the Lyon family should live on, and where was the best location for Mr. Lyon’s fashionable clock-making shop.

Then I had to research the women’s dresses – including Hannah Lyon’s wedding dress - which was a great deal of fun to do. And, of course, I had to find out what was happening in the year that the story takes place. I chose to set the story in the year 1810 after I discovered that there was a financial panic in the summer of that year and many banks failed. That struck a sympathetic chord, after what’s happened to the world economy during the past year.

What is the most interesting thing you learned in the process of writing the book?
Listen to your editors! When we were first discussing the book, the editors were concerned that it was going to be too male-oriented because it has a male detective and Mr. Lyon is a central character. I didn’t think it would be a problem, since Mrs. Lyon and Hannah Lyon are also very important to the story. But I guess something from the conversation stuck in my brain, because a few days later I woke up to the “voice” of a “young lady” babbling in my ear.

I’m not a morning person, so I just turned over and went back to sleep. But this “young lady” was persistent. She came back the next morning, and the one after that, as well. I finally figured out that she was Hannah Lyon’s younger sister and that she wanted to be the narrator of the story. So that’s how the character Rebecca Lyon entered the picture. And I’m very happy that she did, because it’s her “young Jane Austen” voice that sets the tone for both this book and the entire series.

What is your favorite holiday?
I live in Jerusalem and so I do have to say that every holiday here is wonderful. But my personal favorite is Succos. Most people have off from work for the entire week and so during the day everyone goes visiting each other’s succah, while at night there are music concerts in all the neighborhoods. Of course, everyone tries to make at least one trip to the Kosel (Western Wall), and so the plaza area is packed day and night. And because Succos is zman simchoseinu – the time of our joy – everyone is in a really good mood, which is a pleasure to see. But it’s also very nice to sit quietly in the succah with a cup of tea and just enjoy having the very great privilege of living in this very beautiful, very amazing city.

Libi, thank you so much for sharing your journey of The Disappearing Dowry.

Libi’s novel about modern-day descendents of crypto-Jews living in Catalonia, Terra Incognita, is scheduled to be published by Targum Press in the Fall of 2009.

LIBRARIANS' CONVENTION LUNCHEON FEATURES ILLINOIS AUTHORS

LIBRARIANS' CONVENTION LUNCHEON FEATURES ILLINOIS AUTHORS

Association of Jewish Libraries Serves Up Authors at Sheraton Chicago on July 7(Chicago – May 20, 2009) Teachers, librarians, educators and booklovers are invited to attend a gala Jewish Author Luncheon on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers at 12:00 noon. The event will feature over thirty-five authors and illustrators who create books for adults and children. A book signing and reception will follow the luncheon, which is being held in conjunction with the annual Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) national convention.During the luncheon and reception, authors and illustrators will circulate among the attendees to highlight their works, ranging from children's picture books, adult fiction and non-fiction, poetry, and short stories to cookbooks and scholarly works.

Several of these authors will also present sessions during the AJL convention. On Monday, July 6, Esme Codell (Vive La Paris, Hanukkah Shmanukkah), Ilene Cooper (Sam I Am, Jewish Holidays All Year Round), Brenda Ferber (Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire, Julia's Kitchen), and Esther Hershenhorn (Chicken Soup By Heart) will explore "Writing the Jewish Children's Book" and Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry, How to Ruin My Teenage Life) will discuss "Bat Mitzvah & Beyond: Jewish Girls Coming of Age in Fiction." On Tuesday, July 7, Peter Ascoli will speak about his book about his grandfather, Julius Rosenwald: The Man Who Built Sears, Roebuck and Advanced the Cause of Black Education in the American South.Local authors will be joined by authors and illustrators from across the United States and Israel. Richard Michelson (Northampton, Massachusetts) and Raul Colon (New City, New York), author and illustrator of As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom, the 2009 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Reader, Aranka Siegal (Williams Island, Florida), author of Memories of Babi, the 2009 Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Older Readers, and Anna Levine (Jerusalem, Israel), author of Freefall, the 2009 Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Teen Readers, will all present during sessions on Tuesday, July 7 and will also be recognized during the awards banquet on Tuesday evening.

Pearl Sofaer (San Francisco, California), author of Baghdad to Bombay: In the Kitchens of My Cousins, will speak about the gems of Mizrahi liturgy on Monday, July 6."The AJL convention will draw over 200 Judaica librarians from synagogues, day schools, community centers, seminaries, universities, and research institutions from across North America and around the world," explains Rachel Kamin, a member of the local planning committee and chair of the Jewish Author Luncheon. "We want to showcase and celebrate the wealth of Jewish literary talent in the metropolitan Chicago community during the convention."Tickets for the Jewish Author Luncheon and Reception are available for $75.00 and include an elegant kosher meal and delicious dessert reception. Copies of the participating authors' works will be available for sale. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the Association of Jewish Libraries and its Chicago convention, contact Marcie Eskin atmjeskin@comcast.net or (847) 676-1480, or visit www.jewishlibraries.org.

All About Dina Rosenfeld

Dina (Devorah Leah) Rosenfeld has written over 18 Jewish books for children including the classic, The Very Best Place for a Penny, the beloved Labels for Laibel, and Five Alive, an AJL notable book for 2003. She lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with her husband and children. Dina's newest book is All About Us.

Tell me about All About Us.
All About Us is a deceptively simple preschool picture book that highlights all the mitzvot (good deeds) that can be done with different parts of the body.

What was your inspiration for the book?
Having taught in a Jewish preschool, I always wanted to provide a Jewish twist to the curriculum. Every nursery school presents a unit on the parts of the body, and All About Us addresses the subject from a uniquely Jewish point of view.

According to Jewish tradition, the entire world was created according to the blueprint of the Torah, with the performance of mitzvot as the ultimate goal.

From that perspective, it's not just a nice idea to use your hands to open the door for a guest or to light Shabbat candles. The ability to perform those acts is the very reason we needed to have hands in the first place!

As a preschool teacher, I wanted to challenge myself to present this rather advanced esoteric concept to my three-year-old students in a completely age appropriate way.

Are you working on anything new?
It's purely in the "mulling over" stage right now, and in my experience, an idea made public before its time somehow never works.

What is the best part about being a children's writer?
Your fans always read your books cover to cover, and sometimes, they know every word by heart! How many famous novelists can say that?

But the best part of being a children's writer specifically for the Jewish market is the possibility that the books will actually affect children's attitudes and behavior... increasing their awareness and practice of Judaism in a meaningful way.

Dina, I wish you continued success with your books! Thanks for stopping by.

Congratulations Lisa Silverman - Librarians Rock!

Last night Lisa Silverman was honored with the Dorothy Schroeder Award by the Association of Jewish Libraries of Southern California. Lisa is the director for the Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library. She is also the Children's Editor for Jewish Book World Magazine and along with Susan Dubin hosts the annual Jewish Literature for Children Conference every year. I have had the pleasure of working with Lisa and am honored to call her a friend.

The event was held at the lovely Sinai Temple. Rabbi David Wolpe gave an inspiring speech about the spiritual nature of books and reading. Lisa was presented with her award and gave a charming talk about her journey as a librarian. It was a wonderful evening, a great opportunity to see old friends and meet a few new ones. Most of all, I was delighted to be part of the warm reception for a well deserving member of our community.

Mazel Tov, Lisa!

Auction for Book Lovers to Help Author

If you are looking for some fabulous items, including manuscript critiques, original illustrations, signed books, and more, please check out the auction for Bridget Zinn, a children's book writer who is fighting cancer.

http://bridgetzinnauction.wordpress.com/

Jone MacCulloch is the organizer of the Bridget Zinn Auction. Hedi Estrin at The Book of Life Podcast interviewed Jone about Bridget and the auction created on her behalf.

http://www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com/

Ventura Museum Features "The Magic of Children's Books!"

If you have the opportunity to visit the Ventura County Museum - now it the time! Six local children’s authors and illustrators are being be featured in an exhibit called, “Picture This! The Magic of Children’s Books.” The exhibit will be at the museum until July 5th. Fans of children's literature will be delighted to experience the art and writing of Mary Ann Fraser (Mermaid Sister), Carol Heyer (Humphrey’s First Christmas), Alexis O'Neill (The Recess Queen) Amada Irma Perez (My Very Own Room), Jody Fickes Shapiro (Apple Picking Time), and Caldecott Award Winner, Simms Taback (Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.)

If you would like to meet some of the authors and illustrators in person, stop by on May 17th. Alexis O'Neill, Carol Heyer, and Jody Fickes Shapiro will be featured. Book signing will be available and art activities are also planned. The event is from 1:00-3:00. Best of all, it's free!

Many local supporters, including SCBWI members, helped to celebrate the opening of "Picture This! The Magic of Children's Books." The photo above features Jean Castaing, Barbara Bietz, Eloise Freeman, Dianne White, Tina Nichols Coury, Alexis O'Neill, and Yuki Yoshino (courtesy of Jean Castaing).

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 89 South California Street, Ventura, CA 93001. For more information, go to www.venturamuseum.org

Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner - Richard Michelson

I am thrilled and honored to welcome award winning author, Richard Michelson, to my blog. His book, As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom (illustrated by Raul Colón) was awarded the Sydney Taylor Award Gold Medal. This eloquent book explores an important time in American history and the goodness of the people who came together for freedom. The beautifully written text of such a poignant, historic story is ageless and timeless. As Good As Anybody has the potential to educate, inspire, and bring communities together for the common good. It is an outstanding example of the power of books.

What was your inspiration for writing As Good as Anybody?

Inspiration, when it visits me, always seems to follow a very slow, pedestrian course.Well before I was writing children’s books I was exploring my childhood confusion concerning violence and racial issues, both in my poetry (Battles and Lullabies, U. of Illinois Press) and essays (a recent essay called Jews and Blacks can be read on the homepage of my site (www.RichardMichelson.com). When I was born, my area of East New York, Brooklyn, was 90-percent Jewish. Twelve years later, less than 10 percent of those living in the neighborhood were Jews. There was anger, bitterness--and friendship --on all sides. Much of my work is an attempt to both heal society’s racial wounds, and those within myself.

When I began to write children’s books I decided to fictionalize my old neighborhood at the 50/50 point. Across the Alley, (a 2006 National Jewish Book Award finalist and PJ Library selection) is about two boys, one Jewish and one black, who are not allowed to play together, but whose bedroom windows face each other's. At night, when nobody is watching, they become secret best friends. It was while writing this story, that I remembered the friendship of King and Heschel, and I decided to examine another facet of a situation where social convention tries to keep people apart, but individuals attempt to overcome their differences.

Are there some interesting facts about the relationship between Reverend King and Rabbi Heschel that you did not include in the book?

Reverend King was killed on April 4th, 1968, just 9 days before Passover was to begin. King’s emphasis on the Jewish Exodus in his sermons formed the basis of a strong bond between both men and King and his family had planned to join the Heschel’s at their Seder. What a wonderful holiday celebration that might have been. I am sure it would have forged further alliances between the two men.

How much research was involved in this project?

Research is my favorite part of any project, though sometimes I suspect it becomes an avoidance mechanism. I had to tear myself away from reading books by and about King and Heschel, and force myself to begin writing. Coming into the project I knew more about King, so I primarily reread some of his speeches, to put his cadences back into my head. Like many secular raised Jews of my generation, what little I knew of Heschel, was centered on his anti-Vietnam stance, and that famous photo of him marching with King, which Raul Colon brilliantly interpreted for the book cover. I ended up reading Edward Kaplan’s biography of Heschel (and I was very pleased, months after publication, to run into Mr. Kaplan at a lecture by Susannah Heschel, Rabbi Heschel’s daughter and an accomplished scholar in her own right. The three of us had much to talk about and have kept in touch). I also read Or Rose’s YA bio, and Heschel’s essays Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, which I heartily recommend. It is an inspiring, sometimes difficult, always thought provoking book. And purely for my own enjoyment, I read Heschel’s poetry. Of course, I badly wanted to show off all my new “smarts,” so the most difficult part of the project was cutting out all that was extraneous to the core story.

What is your favorite holiday?

Hmmm. I am really not much of a holiday person, to my wife and children’s constant chagrin. One of my yearly pledges to myself is to slow down a bit and learn to enjoy a more leisurely holiday pace (spoken, I realize, as one who does not have to do the holiday cooking). Still, if I had to pick, I admit that, though I hate the long drive to and fro, I do look forward to Passover every year. I get to catch up with the cousins and I can’t resist my lovely wife’s potato-carrot kugel.

Richard, thanks so much for sharing your writing journey with us!

Richard loves to speak to groups. To learn more visit his web site at http://www.richardmichelson.com/

My Interview on The Writer's Journey

Hi Friends,

The tables are turned - I was honored to be interviewed by Meredith Resnick on her blog, The Writer's Journey. It's an interesting blog - you might want to check it out - www.innerwritingjourney.blogspot.com

Welcome Illustrator Pegi Ballenger

Pegi Ballenger was born and grew up in Houston, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Newcomb College of Tulane University in New Orleans, LA., later returning to school to study commercial art, television production, and computer graphics. Pegi has lived in several places, but has called Colorado home for almost 30 years. In addition to her art career, Pegi has worked as a copy writer, a continuity director for television, and an advertising director. She freelances as an illustrator and graphic artist, and teaches adult and children’s art classes. Two books with her illustrations have been published; KAT’S MAGIC BUBBLE and A MOUSE IN THE RABBI’S STUDY. She is a member of SCBWI and a founding member of the Pikes Peak Pastel Society. Pegi, her husband Ray, and their dog live in Woodland Park, CO.

Tell me about your new book.

A Mouse in the Rabbi's Study is a book about a mouse trying to find a place to live for the winter. A rabbi, who is a messy eater, decides that the mouse can stay in his study if he will clean up all the rabbi's crumbs. As the weeks and months go by, the rabbi teaches the mouse about the Jewish holidays and special foods associated with each one. There is a fun surprise ending.

As an illustrator, is it challenging to create art based on a writer's words?

Yes, it can be challenging. Fortunately, most writers are good with words and can explain things well. The key, in addition to reading and re-reading the text, is to listen and ask questions. Nancy and I hit it off immediately and I understood her approach to the book right away. She wanted it to look like the time she was growing up because so much of her childhood memories are of the wonderful traditional foods her mom made. However, no matter how well I think I understand things, some rework is inevitable. When that happens I remind myself that it's part of the job and I'm grateful for it!

Was any research involved?

Yes, I had to research clothes, things from the 1950's, historical costumes, and some of the foods to make sure I was painting them correctly. At the sketching stage, the author and I would talk about any changes she thought were needed. There were very few changes after the sketches were approved.

Are you working on anything new?

I paint and show my work when I'm not illustrating, and do a little teaching as well. I'm looking for another book illustration project and hope to find one for 2009!

Pegi, thanks so much for sharing an illustrator's perspevtive. To learn more about Peg visit her web site at http://www.pegiballenger.com/

Welcome Alan Radding

Alan Radding spent ten years as a lay leader of his synagogue’s children’s services and additional years as a parent advisor to the synagogue’s teen program. The Uncertain Art of Hooking Up and his other writing for teens were inspired by his activities with teens at the synagogue. His stories for teens and children can be found at his website, www.jewishfamilystories.com. Many of his children’s stories have been collected in his book titled Miracles—Stories for Jewish Children and their Families (Booklocker, 2003). He is regularly invited to read his children’s stories at synagogues and Jewish community centers in New England. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Newton, MA

Tell me about your new book.

Miracles is a collection of original stories for children ranging from ages 7-12. With that wide an age range, obviously not every story will appeal to every child. The stories cover the major holidays and some minor ones. The goal of the stories, in one way or another, is to apply Jewish values and Torah to situations contemporary Jewish children enounter

What was your inspiration for the book?

I spent 10 years as a lay leader of my synagogue's children's services while my own children were growing through the various levels of children's services. During that time I sought stories that addressed the situations I knew the children were encountering and, in the process, would make Jewish values and Torah meaningful. I also wanted stories that shared the attitude of the children. The children didn't like being at services or at synagogue; they didn't like aspects of Jewish holidays or Jewish practices. The characters in various stories don't like those things either, but in the course of the story the characters come to a different appreciation and change of attitude.

Was any research involved?

I spent a lot of time reading Torah and books on Jewish practices to make sure the stories were accurate from the standpoint of the Conservative movement. During that time I also participated in various Jewish adult learning programs and applied some of what I picked up to the stories. Maybe my best research was the actual reading of the stories aloud each week, first to my own children and then to the larger group attending children’s services. They make it abundantly clear what works and what doesn't.

Are you working on anything new?

Yes, I'm working on a series of Jewish children's picture books that revolve around Jewish practices in the home. The stories are told by two savvy cats who observe the family they live with and are knowledgeable about Jewish practices and Yiddishkeit and even try to participate in the practices, often with silly consequences. Like children, they sometimes get into trouble or disrupt things but they really enjoy living as Jewish cats. They love chasing dreidels and hunting down the afikomen with the children. Protecting the Sukkah from squirrels turns into an epic adventure. I hope the stories will come out in 2009 as the Meow stories: Shabbat Meow, Chanukah Meow, Pesach Meow, Sukkot Meow, and more. Shalom Beiyit Meow tells about the family adopting a new puppy, Miezuzah Meow describes the family’s move to a new home.

Alan, thank you for sharing your thoughts about your creative journey!

All the Way From Israel - Pnina Moed-Kass

Multi-award winning author Pnina Moed-Kass has lived in Israel since 1968. Her novel, Real Time (Clarion) was awarded the Sydney Taylor, the National Jewish Book Award, among others. The novel was also translated into German and French. Pnina is the author of a series of eight picture books about a snail, BERALE (Keter Publishing) which is available in the US and Israel, and a middle grade novel about an inquisitive dog which was published in Hebrew. Pnina frequently appear at community centers, schools, and libraries performing Berale stories. Her short stories (in English) have appeared in Cricket and the story "Five Words" appears in the Cricket anthology CELEBRATE. Pnina has toured the U.S. several times, speaking to adult and high school audiences. She also writes for various magazines, contributing book reviews and articles about the writing life and living in Israel. I’m glad she could take time out of her hectic schedule to respond to a few questions.

How does the publication process differ for the American and Israeli market?

Israel is a smaller country and access to publishers and agents is an easier process but the bottom line is the same - how good is what you've written. Other than books published in another country that have to be translated into Hebrew, all original material should be presented in Hebrew. I write my picture books and middle-grade novels in Hebrew.

Tell me a little bit about your award-winning book, REAL TIME.

REAL TIME is a fictional way to unravel all the strings in this small part of the world, strings that seem to be tied in a very tight knot. The strings are the stories of the various characters; these people relate the horror of the Holocaust, fighting a war, becoming a suicide bomber, starting a new life, solving the riddle of an old one. I describe hope, I tell about desperation - in the end I want my reader to have a gut understanding, to realize there are no easy solutions but that there are the good and the innocent living their lives here.

What was your response to being honored by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee?

Initially I was flabbergasted because I live at such a distance, and somehow (despite cyberspace and the global village library) my workroom, in my Herzliya apartment, far away from big libraries, seems very far away from that kind of recognition. Then I received the National Jewish Book Award - and recognition in Europe - well, it was quite a year! When I was a kid I couldn't buy books, so I almost lived in my neighborhood library - on the book tours the Sydney Taylor Award gave me a chance to thank my favorite people in the world - librarians

Are you working on anything new?

The writer Cynthia Ozick once warned writers not to talk about ideas, unwritten stories, etc. - saying that all of it could vanish into thin air in the stream of spoken words (a loose rewording.) I'm working on several things, for different age groups, and of a different nature. I'm always working on something new, actually a few new things. Some peter out after the first paragraph, some go into cold storage, some fascinate me enough to keep me plugging at them, like a mouse gnawing at a piece of cheese. I'll try a poem, a script, a memoir - in short any genre that illuminates and brings life to the story. Like every occasion has its correct outfit, so does every idea have the "clothes" that suit it best. At the moment I'm working on a novel, a picture book, two middle-grade novels and some short stories; obviously not all at the same time though they all share one common denominator - words.

Pnina, thanks for joining me and sharing your thoughts and ideas about writing books for childen.

Genesis - The Book with Seventy Faces

The Jewish Book Council has awarded the National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Family Literature to Genesis – the Book with Seventy Faces (Pitspopany, March 2008) by Esther Takac. Esther is a psychologist and children's author. She is the author of Loni and the Moon, a children's book placed on the Victorian Premier's Reading List. She has studied Jewish texts for many years and presents workshops on Genesis. Genesis – the Book with Seventy Faces, is a remarkable book that appeals to parents, teachers, and students. I am happy to welcome Esther to my blog.

Tell me about you book, Genesis – the Book with Seventy Faces.

Genesis – the Book with Seventy Faces, is a storybook and guide to Genesis for the whole family. It is written in multiple layers and so invites kids and parents to read together and explore the richness and contemporary relevance of these stories and the commentaries written about them. Each page includes a retelling of the biblical story (with the corresponding chapter and verse references given) and layers of commentary drawn from traditional and modern interpretations, Midrash, Kabbalah and legend. Readers are encouraged to discuss the moral and philosophical issues raised, and so the book offers a way for families to connect around the Genesis text, showing how these stories reflect our own struggles and dilemmas. There is more source material and historical background provided for teenagers and adults in margin boxes, and each page has beautiful illustrations (I am very lucky to have worked with a talented illustrator and designer.) The book offers readers an insight into the rich and multi-layered approach of Judaism to texts, whilst allowing them to distinguish between Torah on the one hand and commentary on the other. References to all commentaries are given in the endnotes.

What was your inspiration for the book?

My inspiration for this book came from my own children. I wanted them to be exposed to the depth, poetry and contemporary relevance I had discovered in the Genesis stories and commentaries. Through this book I wanted to give my children and children everywhere a taste of the richness of the Jewish tradition. So they would understand that the Torah really does have seventy faces – it is like a pass-the-parcel game: each time you unwrap a layer of paper, there is another layer with more secrets and meanings ready to be unwrapped. I wanted these stories, with their sense of mystery and wonder, their telling of things sacred, to seep into the minds and imaginations of our children, a rich resource to draw upon as they grow up.

Was research involved?

An enormous amount of research was involved! When I started the project I had no idea how much work I was getting myself into! To write the book I studied the Genesis Torah text, and then I read the widest range of commentaries on the text I could find – traditional Rabbinic commentary, Midrash, Jewish legend, Kabbalah, contemporary commentary from a range of approaches (literary, psychological, legal, feminist). My study at home was filled with volumes of books as I studied the different approaches to the stories and drew out the themes and issues to be focused on.

What was the most interesting part of the process of writing the book?

The process of writing the book was a fascinating one. It was my pleasure and privilege to spend many hours reading the works of our traditional and contemporary scholars, many of whose insights on Genesis, and life in general, I found to be full of wisdom, moving and inspiring. It was also very interesting to think about ways of conveying these different approaches, the concept of multiple meanings or seventy faces, to the reader, in ways that invite the reader to actively engage and struggle with the issues raised.

Are you planning to write more books about Torah?

I love having a creative project to work on. I have a number of possible ideas bubbling, one of which involves a Torah text, but I don’t know yet where the bubbles will go…

Esther, congratulations on the success of Genesis – the Book with Seventy Faces. Thanks for visiting with me!

Edith Tarbescu - ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE

Edith Tarbescu is the author of four children's books, including the award-winning picture book ANNUSHKA’S VOYAGE (Houghton Mifflin). She is also a playwright and has written ANNUSHKA’S VOYAGE into a play for young people. The play was performed at The Little Theatre, in Albuqueruqe, and was recently published by PlayScripts. Her latest play for adults, SUFFER QUEEN, was produced at the Algonquin Theatre, in New York, in August. She is an ex-New Yorker (born and bred in Brooklyn) who now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She enjoys long walks with her dog, Sugar Bear, as well as traveling, including trips to New York, and is looking forward to writing more books and plays.

Tell me about ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE.

ANNUSHKA’S VOYAGE is the story of two young Jewish girls who travel in steerage from Russia to Ellis Island, circa 1920. They are supposed to be reunited with their father who traveled to America a few years earlier. The journey is long, and there's a storm at sea. And after they arrive, Ellis Island is crowded, and they have to be examined before they can leave the island. Most of all, Anya and Tanya are worried Papa won't find them.

What was your inspiration for the book?

I am first generation American. My mother came here from Russia, and my father came from Hungary. I took some of my mother's story about traveling to America and some of my father's story, put them in a "blender" and came up with the best possible story.

Was research involved?

I did a lot of research. I had only heard bits and pieces from my parents, mostly from my father, who was a natural storyteller. When Ellis Island Museum opened, I was living in Connecticut, and it was not difficult to travel to the museum, view the exhibits, talk to curators, etc. I did that a few times. I also asked the Curator of Oral History to read my manuscript and make corrections. He did that, which was very helpful. He also wrote a blurb for the back of the book.

You have also created a play based on your book. Can you share a bit about that process?

I'm also a playwright but had only written plays for adults. After ANNUSHKA was published, I did many school visits, and librarians and teachers said, "You're a playwright. Why don't you turn ANNUSHKA into a play for children? It took several years, but I finally did that. I added scenes for the stage and took some liberties with the text. Luckily, I found a director, and I had a workshop and staged reading at The Little Theatre, in Albuquerque and made revisions. I also had feedback from the director of a theatre Upstate New York (The Open Eye). After receiving her comments, I revised again. The play was recently published by PlayScripts:http://www.playscripts.com/

Are you working on anything new?

I'm working on a picture book biography as well as a picture book about Passover titled "The Passover Elves." I also completed a novel for adults titled WALL STREET WIVES. I plan to revise the main character, a stockbroker, by making him more likeable, especially in this economic environment. I was encouraged by several agents, so I'll get back to the drawing board.

Edith, Thanks for visiting! Best of luck with all of your books.

Illustrator Marc Lumer

I'm pleased to introduce children's book illustrator, Marc Lumer. Marc Lumer's early works have appeared on the Warner Bros hit shows Batman and Superman. While Lumer was at DreamWorks his paintings helped create the animated films Prince of Egypt and The Road to El Dorado. He now owns and operates a boutique advertising agency in Los Angeles, MarcLumerDesign.com. Marc does a lot of work with for Jewish organizations. He created the colorful dancing Rabbis on billboards and banners for the Chabad Telethon adds and the logo for the web site AskMoses.com, and creates the designs and illustrations Farbrengen Magazine. Marc lives in Fairfax district of Los Angeles with his family.

Tell me about your new book.

When Miracles Happened: The Wondrous Stories of Tzaddikim (Targum), is inspired from ancient Sephardic tales about of two famous ancestors of the Baba Sale. In the first story we follow Rabbi Shmuel Elbaz on his way to collect money for an impoverished community and see how he will he get to his destination without money to pay the ships captain. In second story we watch his descendant, Rabbi Yaakov, travel through the desert and discover how he will save his life when confronted by a band of robbers. The book, retold by Esther Davis, is aimed to teach young children the meaning of Jewish courage and faith.

As an illustrator, is it challenging to create art based on a writer's words?

In general if you are working with a good writer that knows his craft it is pretty easy. Good writers have a good visual sense and they create their stories with a sense of what will be interesting to illustrate.

Was any research involved?

The illustration style in this book is realistic and the stories take place in two specific time periods. I did quite a bit of research on everything from costumes to backgrounds and from weapons to ships. I even did a photo shoot with models for some parts of the book to get the expressions right.

Are you working on anything new?

I just finished a book called the Yarmulke Kid for Saphire Press and written by Shmuel Marcus and due out early next year. I am currently illustrating an exiting adventure story written by Shmuel Blitz and Miriam Zakon for Artscroll and due out sometime in the fall of 2009.

Marc, thanks for givng us insight into the illustrator's process. To learn more about Marc and his work, please visit http://www.marclumerdesign.com/

Sydney Tayor Book Award Blog Tour - Welome Winner Karen Hesse!

Karen Hesse’s books have entertained and enlightened countless readers. I have been a great fan of her work for many years. I’m delighted that she has been honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award for her historical novel Brooklyn Bridge. I first read Brooklyn Bridge when I reviewed it for the Association of Jewish Libraries and again for the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. I was captivated from the first page. In the book, Joseph Mitchom is a fourteen-year old boy growing up in Brooklyn in 1903. His parents have created a cottage industry with their creation of the original Teddy Bear. The Jewish immigrant experience in New York comes to life, including a sense of extended family that is so reflective of the time. In spite of the family’s growing wealth, Joseph is the unlucky kid who has never been to Coney Island. There is an element of mystery and the supernatural in a sub-plot that Hesse uses as a vehicle to share the plight of homeless children. Brooklyn Bridge is a beautifully crafted story and a great contribution to children’s literature.

I am thrilled to welcome Karen Hesse to my blog and officially launch the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour!

In Brooklyn Bridge you tell the story of Joe Michtom and his parents who created the Teddy Bear. What about their story inspired you?

I’m always interested in exploring stories with Jewish themes. So when I came across the teddy bear entry in Bill Slaven’s book I was taken not only with the step-by-step description of the construction of a teddy bear (I really am fascinated by how things work, how things are made, etc), but with the back story, the story about how this beloved toy came into creation as a result of the inspired vision of an immigrant Jewish couple struggling to make a living in America. There are millions of immigrant stories and each one is a testament to individual courage and hope. I’m so fortunate that twice now immigrant stories have come to me at a time and in a way that I was able to receive them and make literature out of them.

You created a unique subplot about the children under the bridge. Was the spiritual aspect something you initially planned to include in the story?

I wish I could claim to know what I’m going to do with a book when I start it. I don’t. The book evolves with each revision as I go deeper into character and theme. When I begin a book I rarely, rarely know how it will end. I suspect, with my particular set of writing skills, if I knew from the beginning how the book would climax and resolve, the reader would know, too, and would therefore be deprived of the joy of discovery and surprise that comes with the ideal reading experience. When the book began to reveal itself to me, I conceived of it as a sort of three-ring circus, with Joseph’s story in one ring, the bridge children in another, and Coney Island in the third. The audience, by turning its attention from one ring to another gets an evening of entertainment that is bigger and more eye-opening than if all their attention had been paid to one ring alone. I don’t think every book should be told this way. But this particular book seemed to demand such an approach.

How much research was involved in writing Brooklyn Bridge?

I scoured the pages of the New York Times and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1903, 1904, and 1905. I delved into business records to better understand the Michtom’s Ideal Toy and Novelty Company. I read about the period and watched early video. I listened to music from the period. I got to know Prospect Park intimately, and Brooklyn Bridge, and Coney Island, first through books and video, then through time spent walking, riding, and breathing in these settings. My research brought me to Brooklyn during a fierce rainy spell and I went through two umbrellas, discarded in trashcans in front of the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Public Library. I must give a big shout out to the museum and the library and their extraordinary collective staff who could not have been more helpful. And thanks also to the Brooklyn Historical Society. And to Paul Zelinksy and his wife, Deborah, who allowed me to intrude on their busy lives and opened up Brooklyn to me in a way I could never have done on my own.

Did you have any contact with the Michtom family?

Yes, I interviewed several members of the Michtom family both early on in my research, and again, a year or so later, near the end of the project. Everyone had different memories to share with me, each member of the family I spoke with contributed to my understanding and enhanced it. The Michtom descendants were generous, warm, and supportive. I hope I have not disappointed them with the fiction spun from their family story.

What are you working on now?

I’m reluctant to talk about projects in progress. They are so fragile during their formative stages.

Karen, thank you for sharing your insights about your writing process. Congratulations on your much deserved award!

For more information about the blog tour please visit sydneytaylorbookaward.blogspot.com

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour is Coming!

My friend Heidi Estrin has orgainized a blog tour for the STBA winners. Here is the schedule:

Sunday, January 18, 2009Karen Hesse, author of Brooklyn BridgeSydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Older Readers Categoryat Jewish Books for children http://barbarabbookblog.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 19, 2009Richard MichelsonAuthor of As Good As Anybody, Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers CategoryandAuthor of A is for Abraham, Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat The Well-Read Childhttp://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 19, 2009Ron Mazellan, illustrator of A is for AbrahamSydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat Tales from the Rushmore Kidhttp://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/

Tuesday, January 20, 2009Jane Yolen, author of Naming LibertySydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat The Boston Bibliophilehttp://www.bostonbibliophile.com/

Wednesday, January 21, 2009Anna LevineAuthor of Freefall, Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Teen Readers CategoryandAuthor of Jodie's Hanukkah Dig, Notable Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat Abby (the) Librarianhttp://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 21, 2009Jim Burke, illustrator of Naming LibertySydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat The Page Flipperhttp://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 22, 2009Jacqueline Jules, author of Sarah LaughsSydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat Chicken Spaghettihttp://www.chickenspaghetti.typepad.com/

Friday, January 23, 2009Deborah Bodin Cohen, author of Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah RideSydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Category at Becky's Book Reviewshttp://blbooks.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 23, 2009Shahar Kober, illustrator of Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah RideSydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers Categoryat Into the Wardrobehttp://peteredmundlucy7.blogspot.com/

ANNOUNCING - THE SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS

Congratulations to all the winners - it has been an honor to serve on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee!

THE 2009 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS
ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:
As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Amazing March Toward Freedom by Richard Michelson with illustrations by Raul Colon
(Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse
(Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti
(Bloomsbury)

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Younger Readers:
Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Shahar Kober (Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Sarah Laughs by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
A is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet by Richard Michelson with illustrations by Ron Mazellan (Sleeping Bear Press, an imprint of Gale)
Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen with paintings by Jim Burke
(Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin)

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Older Readers:
Memories of Babi by Aranka Siegal
(Farrar Straus and Giroux)

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Teen Readers:
Freefall by Anna Levine
(Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

Notable Books for Younger Readers:
Mysterious Guests: A Sukkot Story by Eric Kimmel with illustrations by Katya Krenina
(Holiday House)
Jodie’s Hanukkah Dig by Anna Levine with illustrations by Knesia Topaz
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Harvest of Light by Allison Ofanansky with photographs by Eliyahu Alpern
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Sammy Spider’s First Shavuot by Sylvia Rouss with illustrations by Katherine Janus Kahn
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
My Tzitzis Book by Elisheva Schreiber with clay creations by Batsheva Ravad
(Feldheim)
Hanukkah Haiku by Harriet Ziefert with illustrations by Karla Gudeon
(Blue Apple Books)

Notable Books for Older Readers:
The Boy Who Dared: A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Scholastic Press)
The Walls of Cartegena by Julia Durango with illustrations by Tom Pohrt
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Capturing the Moon by Rabbi Edward M. Feinstein (Behrman House)
Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass: Igniting the Nazi War Against Jews by Stephanie Fitzgerald (Compass Point Books)
My Chocolate Year by Charlotte Herman with illustrations by LeUyen Pham
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
The Mozart Question by Michael Morpurgo with illustrations by Michael Forman
(Candlewick Press)
Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman with illustrations by Ross McDonald (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)
The Bat-Chen Diaries: Selected Writings by Bat-Chen Shahak (Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Keeping Israel Safe: Serving in the Israel Defense Forces by Barbara Sofer
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Honey Cake by Joan Betty Stuchner with illustrations by Cynthia Nugent
(Random House, a Stepping Stone Book)

Notable Books for Teens:
Nothing by Robin Friedman (Flux)
Rutka’s Notebook: A Voice from the Holocaust by Rutka Laskier
(Time, Inc. Home Entertainment)
Gravity by Leanne Lieberman
(Orca Book Publishers)
The Freak by Carol Matas
(Key Porter Books)

Notable Books for All Ages:
Genesis—the Book with Seventy Faces: A Guide for the Family by Esther Takac with illustrations by Anna Pignataro (Pitspopany Press)
Celebrating with Jewish Crafts by Rebecca Edid Ruzansky with photographs by Roberto Zeballos-Peralta(self-published)

Welcome David Adler

David Adler is the much-loved author of over 200 books for children, including the iconic Cam Jansen Series. David’s writing career was inspired by his curious three-year-old nephew whose questions led to David’s first book, A Little At A Time (Random House) is being released with new art in 2010 by Holiday House. His latest book, Don’t Talk To Me About The War (Viking) is a touching middle grade novel about a young boy’s life in New York during World War II. I have been a huge fan of David’s books for many years, and I was thrilled at the opportunity to chat with him about Don’t Talk To Me About The War.

What was your inspiration for Dont' Talk To Me About The War?

Writing Don't Talk To Me About The War was a real process. It began with my fascination with the time between WW I and WW II. I had already written one very successful book of historical fiction about that time period, The Babe and I, a picture book featuring an encounter with Babe Ruth. The book won may awards including a Golden Kite Honor Award and the California Medal. Don't Talk To Me About The War began for me with the idea to fashion a story on one boy and his family's reaction to Roosevelt's fireside chats. After all, so much has been said and written about those talks, how families gathered by their radios to listen. Well, how did they react? That idea proved unworkable. The chats were too infrequent, only about once every six months. Instead I began with the 1940 rescue at Dunkirk, two views, one of a girl wrapped up in the horror of the trapped soldiers and her best friend Tommy who feels it's all happening so far away, across the ocean, and means very little to him. But more is happening in Tommy's life. There's baseball and his favorite team the Brooklyn Dodgers, radio, his friend Beth whose mother recently died and whose father works in the press room of the New York Daily Mirror, their friend Sarah's escape from Nazi-held Europe, and Tommy's mother's medical issues. It's a coming-of-age story as Tommy assumes more responsibilities at home as his mother becomes less able to care for Tommy and his father.

Was any research involved?

Oh, yes! I began with a calendar. I always knew what day it was in my story: May 23, 1940; May 24, 1940; May 25, 1940. And as I wrote I had that day's newspaper on my desk. If I wrote the Dodgers won that day, they did. The score and the details of the game in the book are accurate. The radio schedule and the weather is also accurate. The news reports about the rescue at Dunkirk are accurate, too, even the slow pace the full news reached the United States. Also, for Tommy's mother's illness I consulted old medical texts and a woman whose mother was diagnosed in 1939 with the same illness. I didn't want to know how it's treated today. I needed to know how it was diagnosed and treated in 1940.

Are you working on anything new?

Of course! I am working on an older level biography, similar in approach to my B. Franklin, Printer and George Washington: An Illustrated Biography. There are also Cam Jansen, Young Cam Jansen, and Jeffrey Bones mysteries in the works as well as another book of historical fiction.

David, it's been an honor to have you visit my blog!
For more information about David Adler and his books, please visit http://www.davidaadler.com/

Congratulations!

The winner of the Like a Maccabee book contest is Debbie Colodny. Debbie also sent in her fabulous latke recipe. I can't wait to try it!

Latkes with a Spin.
3 Granny Smith apples
3 parsnips
3 slightly beaten eggs
3 Tbsp. flour or potato pancake mix from a box
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Grate or shred in food processor the apples and parsnips. Blend in the eggs, flour or mix, salt and pepper. Drop by tablespoonfuls into hot oil, and fry until crisp on both sides. Enjoy.

Congratulations, Debbie!

Like a Maccabee Contest Ends on December 26!

In honor of Hanukkah I am offering a contest for a signed copy of Like a Maccabee. Simply send an e-mail to me at BarbaraBietz@aol.com with Happy Hanukkah in the title. Only one entry per family, but if you include your favorite Hanukkah recipe, I will enter your name twice. The winner will be drawn randomly. Good luck and Happy Hanukkah!

HAPPY HANUKKAH

To all my friends and blog readers,

I wish you all a Happy Hanukkah filled with light and love. As we celebrate with the scent of frying latkes, the sweet taste of sufganiyot (jelly donoughts), and the dancing flames of the candles in the menorah, let's all remember that the real miracle of Hanukkah is one of hope and courage in the face of despair - where there is faith, there is strength.

B'Shalom,

BB

Exploring the Holocaust Through Children’s Literature

The Western Regional Jewish Literature for Children Conference is coming up on February 1, 2009.

Here is the announcement for this terrific day:

The Association of Jewish Libraries, Association of Jewish Libraries of Southern California, Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, Children’s Literature Council, UCLA, and Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library in cooperation with the Bureau of Jewish Education will hold the 7th annual West Coast Regional Conference on Jewish Literature for Children on Sunday, February 1, 2009, at Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance, 9786 Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. This year librarians, teachers, authors, and publishers will tour the museum, listen to a panel discussion, and attend break-out sessions on using Holocaust literature with children. The one-day event is open to administrators, teachers, librarians, authors, booksellers, would-be authors, and adults who have a passion for Jewish children’s literature. The $70 registration for the conference includes all sessions and handouts, lunch, an autograph dessert party, and the museum tour.

For additional information, contact Susan Dubin at 818-886-6415 or email her at sdubin@socal.rr.com . Registration forms are available to download at http://jewishlibraries.org.

I hope to see you there!

Once Upon A World Book Award Winner - Gretchen Woelfle

On November 2, I attended the Awards Program for The Once Upon A World Book Award. The event took place at The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. This award was established by Sonia Levitin and her family to "support and perpetuate the values and mandate of the Simon Wiesenthal Center & Museum of Tolerance by honoring children's books ... which deal with issues of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice, thus inspiring a young reader to promote positive change in the world."

In previous years, only one book for younger readers was chosen. This year, the Young Adult category was added. The books that were honored this year are SURFER OF THE CENTURY by Ellie Crowe for younger readers, and JEANETTE RANKIN: POLITICAL PIONEER by Gretchen Woelfle, for YA. Gretchen is a local writer, and I was delighted when she invited me to this wonderful event and took the time to share her thoughts about the award and some other exciting activities related to her book.

What inspired you to write about Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to congress?

Back in the 1990s I worked as a scriptwriter for interactive multimedia educational programs. One of our projects was called 100 American Heroes and during my research I discovered Jennette Rankin. I’d never heard of her, and was intrigued by this woman who was ahead of her time in many ways. Years later, after I became a book author, I discovered there were no full-length children’s biographies of her – and off I went.

How much research was involved?

Any biographer will tell you that research can be endless, and for me that’s a plus. When you choose someone who lived nearly as century – 1880-1973 – and was involved in most of the political movements of that century, you can research endlessly. [Deep dark secret: Often I find research a lot more fun and a lot easier than writing.] I did all the usual things: read books and researched online for primary documents. It’s hard to imagine how books got written before the internet! My picture research led me to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs collection (online!) and to state historical societies and university libraries. The Papers of Jeannette Rankin are stored at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard and they sent sixteen rolls of microfilm to my local library. Rankin had a clipping service while she was in Congress and I found all sorts of tasty tidbits to include in the illustrations.

What was the most fascinating thing you learned during the research process?

Rankin didn’t like to write, but she loved to talk. Fortunately the Suffragfist Oral History Project at Berkeley recorded several interviews with her in 1972. Transcripts of those interviews are now online and I was able to download and read 275 pages of Jeannette’s own words and speech patterns. Thus I was able to include many direct quotes from Rankin in my book.

Tell me a little bit about the video conference you had on election day.

As you know, Jeannette Rankin: Political Pioneer, won the first Young Adult Once Upon A World Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance. Two days after a lovely award ceremony, I took part in a video conference at the museum with three groups of students – a middle school from south central LA, a private Jewish girls’ school, and a group of middle schoolers in Missoula, Montana (Rankin’s hometown.) A week before this event I had traveled to Missoula to take part in the Montana Festival of the Book, and had given a talk to the students who took part in the video conference. For an hour the three groups and I talked about Jeannette Rankin and how I wrote the book. Toward the end, one student from each group stood up on a “soapbox” and told us about his or her hero. A girl in Montana chose Rankin for her courage and perseverance. A boy from LA described his mother, who never gave up working for what she wanted – just like Jeannette.

What are you working on now?

I seem to have caught the biography bug and am working on several of them – from picture books to YA – from American history. I find that as I do background research for one subject, I come across a second and then a third. Writing biographies combines the best of fiction and nonfiction. You’ve got all the elements of fiction to work with -- protagonist, conflicts, setting, narrative arc – and you get to do all that research!

Gretchen, thanks for taking the time to chat abour your work and for showing readers and writers that non-fiction really is exciting!

If you would like to learn more about Gretchen and her books, please check out her web site at http://www.gretchenwoelfle.com/

Association of Jewish Libraries Launches Podcast

My friend Heidi Estrin shared the exciting news about the new AJL podcast. There are some really terrific programs available. Please check it out!

Here is the original press release with all the info you need:

Author talks, lectures on Jewish literature, panel discussions, and workshops are among the offerings of the newly launched Association of Jewish Libraries Podcast. Available at www.jewishlibraries.org/podcast, the program provides audio that enhances and enriches the listener's appreciation of Jewish book culture.

The podcast will include material recorded at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual convention, as well as recordings of Jewish literary events across North America. A wide range of topics will be covered, from the academic to the hands-on, from children's literature to technology.

"Jews are book lovers, and Jewish librarians even more so," says Susan Dubin, President of the Association of Jewish Libraries. "The AJL Podcast gives us a way to share our enthusiasm with others, without geographical or scheduling restrictions. Now everyone can learn and enjoy!"

New podcast episodes will be posted every few weeks. Listeners can hear the show online at www.jewishlibraries.org/podcast, subscribe via iTunes or other feed readers (using the feed http://feeds.feedburner.com/ajlpodcast), receive episodes by email via FeedBlitz, or listen by phone at (651) 925-2538.

To celebrate the launch of the podcast, AJL is offering a Jewish book give-away. Forward this press release or post its contents on a blog or web page to be entered into a drawing for five Jewish interest books from Hachette Book Group. Be sure to CC jewishlibraries@gmail.com on any forwarded messages or to email us about any posts. Complete contest rules and information about the give-away titles can be seen at jewishlibraries.org/podcast - click on the Contest page in the sidebar. Deadline for entry is December 12, 2008.

Welcome Debbie Spring

Debbie Spring has been a writer for over twenty years. I was deeply touched by her book, THE RIGHTEOUS SMUGGLER (2005,Second Story Press), which is a part of the Holocaust Remembrance Series, and was short listed for CBC's Young Canada Reads. It was star rated in “Our Choice” Magazine by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.

Debbie was invited to speak in Ottawa by The Netherlands Embassy during Holocaust Education Week next month. The Ambassador will be there to hear Debbie present THE RIGHTEOUS SMUGGLER to school children at the libraries. She has spoken to over 4,000 students about "one person making a difference".

Debbie is also the author of BREATHING SOCCER (2008, Thistledown Press), and WILMA THE WILD WHITE WHALE (2001 Small World Publishing).

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOOK, THE RIGHTEOUS SMUGGLER.

Based on real events, The Righteous Smuggler tells the story of Hendrik, the young son of a poor Dutch fisherman who decides to risk his own life to save his friends.In 1940, when his country is invaded by Nazi soldiers, Hendrik is forced to grow up faster than he ever expected. He and his parents see their community being destroyed and their Jewish neighbors persecuted. Hendrik hates that his very best friends can’t come to school anymore and that their former classmates are turning against them only because of their beliefs.

When Jews are being taken away to be imprisoned or worse, Hendrik’s family decide they must do something. But what can they do against the Nazi patrols? With the help o f a mysterious boat captain they begin their dangerous campaign of “smuggling.”

WHAT INSPIRED THIS STORY?

When my son was about ten, we were camping at Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Josh was playing with a boy from Holland who noticed my husband’s Jewish Star and pointed. “What’s that?” he asked.I replied, “We’re Jewish.”The boy got very excited. “During the war, my Uncle helped smuggle out Jews in Holland.”I said, “Your Uncle is a hero. I would like to meet him.”He said, “You can’t.”I asked “Why?”He said, “Because he was caught and killed.”I was very moved by the story. That was the seed that started my book.

HOW MUCH RESEARCH WAS INVOLVED?

I went to Holland I saw the Annex where Ann Frank hid. I sailed across the English Channel in a sail boat. That gave me a true feeling of what it was like to cross the sea in a small boat. The current was very strong and the waves were huge. I got quite seasick. I interviewed Holocaust survivors. I had to make sure that my dates and maps were accurate.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

I am currently writing a book about a Jewish couple who survived the Holocaust in Romania and escaped to Israel. This is a different type of writing. The book records the grandparents’ stories so that their grandchildren will know not only their family tree, but their personal stories will never be forgotten.

Debbie, thank you for sharing your insights about THE RIGHTEOUS SMUGGLER and for your contributions to Jewish literature for children.

Introducing Alexis O'Neill

The High holidays are a time for reflection and counting the blessing in our lives. One of the greatest blessings of all is the gift of friendship. I am thrilled to introduce my dear friend, Alexis O’Neill. Alexis is a gifted writer. Her books strike a deep chord with children, teachers, and parents. Even more, Alexis is a great friend to the children’s writing community. Through her work with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) she has encouraged and mentored countless writers. In her newly launched book, THE WORST BEST FRIEND (Scholastic), Alexis explores the challenges of friendship. With her gift of rhythm and word play, young readers will relate to Conrad as he deals with his worst best friend.

Her other children’s books include THE RECESS QUEEN (Scholastic), LOUD EMILY (Simon & Schuster), and ESTELA'S SWAP (Lee & Low). In addition, Alexis has written fiction and nonfiction for popular children’s literary magazines. A writing teacher for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, she is also a Regional Advisor for the SCBWI. A popular presenter who visits schools all over the country, Alexis’s highly interactive assemblies demonstrate the importance – and fun – of playing with words and “reading and writing with your whole body!”

It is an honor for me to introduce Alexis on my blog, and a greater honor to call her my friend.

Tell me about Worst Best Friend.

In THE WORST BEST FRIEND, Mike and Conrad are best, best friends – until a cool new kid comes between them. But what happens when teams are chosen for the big kickball game, and Conrad doesn’t measure up in the cool guy’s eyes?

I think a lot about friendship. One day I wondered, how do some friends manage to stay friends their whole life long and while others break apart? And I wondered, when something comes between friends, can a friendship can ever be repaired?

What was the inspiration for the story?

My dad, Tip, and his best friend, John, who were loyal friends from childhood, were the inspiration for this book. They called each other every week. When my dad was dying, John visited him every day. I also thought about how my sister, Donna, and our neighbor Corrine, have been best friends since they were babies, and now their own babies are grown up. I love that they all stayed true-blue their whole lives through.

Was WBF written as a companion book for Recess Queen?

I didn’t plan THE WORST BEST FRIEND as a companion book -- but the illustrator, Laura Huliska-Beith saw it that way. She’s brilliant! She put the action right on the same playground as THE RECESS QUEEN, and even had characters make cameo appearances. It was a “duh” moment for me. Of course there are lots of overlapping stories on any school playground. I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me! Kids who see the connections between the two books are ecstatic. It’s like a “Where’s Waldo” experience as they look for Mean Jean (who is now reformed), Katie Sue and the Cowboy Dude.

Worst Best Friend and Recess Queen show a deep empathy for playground social dynamics. Where do you draw this knowledge?

I used to be a kid.

What is the most interesting question you have been asked by a young reader?

One time, a second grader from an inner city school asked, “Have you ever lost confidence in something you were working on?” I was flabbergasted. No adult – never mind a kid – had ever asked such a deep question. Confidence is at the heart of all of art making – actually, of any kind of moving-forward-in-the-world activity -- whether it’s writing, drawing, singing, acting, researching, exploring, living . . . So, that’s the question that stays with me. And when I find I’m not moving forward with a project, I wonder if it’s because I’ve lost confidence in my ability to do justice to it, or if it’s just a bump in the road to getting where I need to go.

Alexis, thank you for bringing us such wonderful books about friendship. For more information about Alexis, please visit her web site at www.alexisoneill.com

Deborah Blumenthal

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who divides her time between writing adult novels and children’s books. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times covering health and fitness stories, consumer issues and travel, including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist. She has also been a home design columnist for New York Newsday. Her stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including The Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue.

Deborah is the author of numerous picture books, including Aunt Claire’s Yellow Beehive Hair (Dial Books, 2001) with illustrations by Mary GrandPre of Harry Potter fame, as well as young adult, adult, and non-fiction titles.

I’m pleased to welcome Deborah and share her thoughts about writing.

Tell me a about your book, Aunt Claire's Yellow Bee Hive Hair?

It's the story of a Jewish girl and her grandmother who spend a rainy afternoon gathering together old family pictures and memorabilia to create a family memory book, "to keep the past alive, so that it will never be forgotten."

What inspired this story?

All my memories of spending weekends at my grandparents' apartment in the Bronx looking through their picture album and thinking about all the relatives I never met or knew much about.

You have written books in many genres. Do you have a favorite genre?

Right now I'm enjoying writing young adult novels, but I'm always thinking of new ideas for picture books and adult novels too.

How did you become a children's writer?

I never planned to, but one day after a playdate that lasted too long my daughter was overtired and had a terrible temper tantrum. I went home, fed her lunch and put her in for a nap. After that I sat down at the typewriter -- because back then I worked on a typewriter -- and tried to figure out what happened. It turned into a picture book: "The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum."

Do you have any other Jewish themed books?

So far, only "Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair."

Any new books coming out?

My latest picture book, published February/2008 by HarperCollins with illustrations by Denise Brunkus of Junie B. Jones fame, is "Charlie Hits it Big," the story of a little guinea pig with big dreams who runs off to Hollywood where he finds out about stardom and much more.

What are you working on now?

I just finished another young adult novel, and have an idea for an adult novel.

Deborah, your career is an inspiration! Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk about your work.

Joan Betty Stuchner is an award-winning author. Her recent release, HONEY CAKE takes place in Denmark during World War II. It is a story of hope during a very dark time. Joan Betty was born in Leeds, England, but has lived in Vancouver Canada since 1965. She says she “always had a head full of stories, but didn't write many of them down until I was in my twenties.” Along with numerous books, her poetry has been published in Ladybug Magazine and her stories have been featured in Spider magazine. Joan Betty has worked as a teacher, performed as a storyteller live and on television, and has appeared in many stage plays with local community theatre companies. Currently, she works as a library assistant and also teaches part time at her synagogue school. She lives with her husband and son in Vancouver, where she enjoys a lovely view of both sea and mountains from her balcony.

Tell me about your new book, HONEY CAKE.

HONEY CAKE is set in Denmark during the Nazi occupation of WW2. It's the story of a Jewish boy David, and his Christian friend Elsa, whose lives are disrupted by the war and also by the presence of enemy soldiers in their beloved city of Copenhagen.
David's sister is a university student who is hardly ever home. Shortly after David finds out that she's actually working for the resistance, he too is called upon to run a very dangerous errand. Still, for a while it seems as if David's biggest problem in life is his inability to do math. But something much more serious is about to happen.

In 1943 the Nazis decide to round up all the Jews on Rosh Hashanah. That's when the Danish people are put to the test. It's really a story about how people cope under difficult circumstances, and try to live as normal a life as possible. It's also about courage, loyalty and friendship. Ordinary people, grown ups as well as children, become heroes by simply doing what's right.

It sounds like a very serious book, but there's also humour in the story, coupled with suspense. And it leaves the reader with a feeling of hope for humankind. It made me feel that way when I'd finished writing it. HONEY CAKE is a chapter book and it would be suitable for some grade two children, but I know some grade fives who have enjoyed reading it too.

I must mention that the US edition is published by Random House, and the Canadian edition is published by Tradewind Books. Award winning artist Cynthia Nugent illustrated the story with wonderful line drawings, and Joanne Renaud created the beautiful US cover.

What inspired this story?

It began when I sent what I thought was a very funny story to Mike Katz of Tradewind Books in Vancouver. He e mailed me a few days later: 'Let's talk.' I thought, great, he likes my story. But when I phoned him it turned out he wasn't interested in that story at all. He said, "How would you like to write a picture book about the Danish rescue of Jews during World War II?"

Right away the idea really appealed to me. I did my research, created characters that I felt very close to, and eventually what happened, of course, was that the 2,000 word story became a 10,000 word story. It wasn't a picture book any more!

How much research was involved?

I read some history books, especially those with personal recollections - it helps that I work at a university library - and I also checked the internet.The stories of ordinary Danes, both Jewish and Christian, fascinated me. I was especially struck by the courage of Danish children. But I also had a stroke of luck that sometimes happens when you're writing, when your antenae are up there and pointing in the right direction.

Someone at my temple, that I'd known quite casually for a few years, turned out to have been one of the Danish children rescued and sent to Sweden. Her name is Bente Nathan Thomsen, and not only was she generous with her time, telling me little personal stories and anecdotes, she also lent me a videotape that she had made for a Jewish archive. It detailed many of her experiences. There were more stories than I could use, of course, but Bente's information helped to add so much more colour to the book.

What was the most interesting thing you learned?

It's difficult to choose. There are two things that really stand out for me. The first is that when the Danes found out about the Nazi plan to round up all the Jews, almost the whole country mobilized. People rode around the streets on bicycles warning Jews. They tore pages out of public phone books and went to the houses of people with Jewish sounding names. The escape route was organized almost overnight. The bottom line was that in Denmark everyone was family.

The second discovery that blew me away was that all of the Danes imprisoned in Theresienstadt camp survived the war - except those who died from natural causes. King Christian and Danish officials kept in touch with them throughout the war. I think the Germans kept on hoping the Danes would become their allies.

What are you working on now?

Well, my last book JOSEPHINE'S DREAM, just came out in the US (Silverleaf Press) It's illustrated by another fabulous artist, Chantelle Walther, and is a picture book about the late, great Josephine Baker.

As usual I have too many stories on the go (four short novels to be exact), but the one that's closest to completion takes place in 18th century England. One of the characters is a highwayman. (He's an actual character from history. In fact, I once sat on the iron bed in his old prison cell). There's a lot of humour in the story, some mystery and suspense.

The boy in the story longs for more adventure, so I've already got a sequel in mind that places him in a town of smugglers. Entire towns were involved in the smuggling trade. And again, by coincidence, it turns out that most of the English coastline, where I spent my summer holidays as a child, was for centuries, used by smugglers.

Joan Betty, it's been wonderful getting to know you. I look foward to reading your future books!

Writing Class

Hi Friends,

I'll be teaching a class this fall on WRITING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN at the Oak Park Community Center. No experience is necessary for this introductory class—just a love of children’s literature and a desire to learn! If you would like to join in the fun, here is the info:

Writing Books For Children - Monday October 6 through November 10
7:00-8:30
Oak Park Community Center
1000 N Kanan Road, Oak Park, CA 91377

Register online at Oak Park Community Center at www.rsrpd.org

Hope to see you there! Feel free to e-mail me at BarbaraBietz@aol.com with any questions.

Thanks to Tina Nichols Coury!

I want to thank my dear friend Tina Nichols Coury for creating a beautiful video book trailer for Like a Maccabee Please check it out!



Be sure to visit Tina's wonderful blog about children's literature, art, and more at www.tinanicholscouryblog.com.

Welcome Anna Levine!

I’m thrilled to introduce Anna Levine. Anna is the Regional Advisor for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) in Israel. Her new book, FREEFALL (Greenwillow) is being released this week. Anna was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up in Montreal, Quebec. When she turned eighteen she immigrated to Israel where she lived on a kibbutz for five years picking apples.

Today, Anna lives in a neighborhood outside of Jerusalem with her husband Alex, a professor of plant and environmental sciences at the Hebrew University, and her two sons, Nimrod, who will be studying at Ben Gurion University in the south (now backpacking through India) and Tomer, who has just begun his military service in an elite combat unit.

Anna’s website and blog at www.freefallthenovel.com is full of fascinating information about her life and fabulous photos of Israel. Be sure to check it out!

Tell me about your new book, FREEFALL.
FREEFALL is a novel for young adults that is set in Israel. It tells the story of eighteen-year-old Abigail Jacobs just before her draft into the Israeli army. It’s a novel about everything that being eighteen and living in Israel entails from family to friendships, to military service and of course….to experiencing the thrill of falling in love for the very first time.

How much research was required?
When my son and his friends got their first draft notices, my research was easy in that they sat for hours in my living room discussing the pros and cons of all the different units. But in order to flesh out Abigail, Lily and the other girls in Aggie’s unit, I had to interview a lot of female soldiers. It was an amazing experience to meet and talk with such articulate, mature and determined young women. Other scenes in the novel came from my personal experiences during the first Lebanon war when I lived on the northern border.

What would you hope American kids understand after reading about Israeli teens?
I hope my American readers see themselves in this novel. Yes it takes place in a foreign country and yes there are scenes of rockets falling and war, but Aggie is a girl like them who strives for independence, values friendship, cares about her family and discovers love. I want my American readers to see how much we have in common.

Are your books available in Hebrew?
Not yet!

Tell me a little bit about your life as a writer in Israel.
Well first of all, there must be something in the air in my neighborhood because across the street from me lives David Grossman and Aaron Apelfeld!

Israel is a very central character in all of my work, whether I am writing about the country, the culture or the conflicts. After twenty years of living here, I still feel like an outsider, which helps to give me some distance and perspective. Perhaps that is why my work about Israel tends to be less critical. I am constantly in wonder at the creativity, the scientific and technological developments, and the cultural consciousness of the people for each other and the State. I know we are far from perfect and I’m not blind to the issues we struggle with, but I choose to focus on what I admire about this country and the people.

Anna, it has been a delight getting to know you. Best wishes with the launch of FREEFALL!

Carla Killough McClafferty

I’m excited to welcome multi-award winning author Carla Killough McClafferty. Carla is the author of several book including, Forgiving God (Discovery House Publishers, 1995), an inspirational book for adults that deals with the Spiritual battle she faced after the death of her son. Many readers have found encouragement from her story when facing their own personal tragedy. Her children’s books include The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone:The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful X-ray (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2001) and Something Out of Nothing:Marie Curie and Radium (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006). Carla’s books have received numerous awards and stellar reviews.

Her latest book, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry will be released on September 2, 2008. The book is about an American Holocaust rescuer, Varian Fry, who was a Harvard educated American journalist who went to Marseilles, France in 1940 and arranged the escape of more than 2000 predominately Jewish refugees. Varian Fry was the first American to be honored at the Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Israel, as Righteous Among the Nations. This book has received a starred review in Booklist.

Carla lives in North Little Rock with her husband Pat. Their son Ryan, lives in Benton and works as a salesman for Mutual of Omaha. Their daughter Brittney is pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas.

Tell me a little bit about your book, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry.

It is a true story of an average American who became a Holocaust rescuer. After Paris fell to the Germans in 1940, countless refugees fled to the south of France and were trapped there. In New York City, Varian Fry and others created an organization called the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) whose sole purpose was to get many of Europe’s intellectuals to safety.

Varian Fry, who was a Harvard educated journalist, volunteered to travel to France on behalf of the ERC to arrange the escape of as many people as possible. He planned to stay for two weeks, but ended up staying for 13 months—and only left then because France forced him to leave. More than 2000 predominantly Jewish refugees were rescued from the Nazis because of Fry’s work. The list of those he rescued includes Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, André Breton, Jacques Lipchitz, André Masson Franz Werfel, Lion Feuchtwanger, Victor Serge, Hannah Arendt, and Nobel Prize winning physicist Otto Meyerhof.

What inspired you to write about Varian Fry?

The fact that this average American volunteered to go to war-torn Europe to rescue people he did not know from the clutches of the Nazis. He had no background or training that prepared him for the job ahead—but he went anyway. It is an incredible adventure story of courage and determination.

When I realized he was the ONLY American to be honored at the Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations, I was amazed. Could it be that only one American had helped Jews during the Holocaust? I knew this was a story I must tell. By the way, since I began the book, two more Americans have been honored as Righteous Among the Nations—a married couple, Martha and Waitstill Sharp.

How much research was involved in this project?

I did a massive amount of research. I’ve read many books including those written by Varian Fry and by many of the refugees he rescued. I concentrated on primary sources. I traveled to Columbia University where the Varian Fry Papers are housed and did research. When I returned home, I arranged for interlibrary loans to look at each reel of microfilm that I didn’t get a chance to see while at Columbia—there were 14 more. I spent days and days plugging quarters into the microfilm copier. I read thousands of pages in those files to find exactly what I needed to tell this story. I also traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Pierre Sauvage, who runs the Varian Fry Institute, and looked at the many photographs in his collection. I also walked around the campus at Harvard when I traveled to Cambridge.

In addition, I studied various sources to better understand what was happening in Europe in the years leading up to 1940—including reading Hitler’s infamous book, Mein Kampf. I’ve spent many, many hours looking at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum web site, which is amazing in its scope of material.

What was the most interesting thing you learned in the process of writing the book?

The more I study history, the better I understand the saying “Freedom is Never Free.” To free others, it takes people who are willing to pay the price in their own personal lives. It costs something to be a hero. For Varian Fry, I think that in some ways he paid a high personal price to rescue 2000 strangers.

Carla, thank you for sharing your fascinating journey.
For more information about Carla, please visit her web site at www.carlamcclafferty.com

The PJ Library - Providing Books to Families

The PJ Library is unique program that provides quality books and music to Jewish families with young children. The PJ Library is an inspiring example of the impact of meaningful outreach. I had the opportunity to learn more about the program from Marcie Greenfield Simons, Director of The PJ Library.

Tell me about the history of the PJ Library
The PJ Library is the brainchild of philanthropist and social entrepreneur Harold Grinspoon, who founded The Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Harold found his inspiration for The PJ Library in country singer Dolly Parton. He said, "About five years ago I brought Dolly's Imagination Library - which distributes books to inner-city children - to Western Massachusetts. Then it occurred to me --this is the ideal project to adapt to the Jewish community. We need to get Yiddishkeit into the homes of unengaged Jewish families in a positive way."

Grinspoon knew that reading stories and listening to music are among the most powerful childhood learning experiences. Parents and children have warm memories of that special time right before bed where snuggled together, they end the day with a book. In Winter 2005, he decided to turn these special moments into "Jewish moments". He named the library "PJ" -- short for "pajamas" -- with the notion that books and music add to the magic of bedtime.

In December, 2005, Grinspoon launched The PJ Library in his home community in Western MA. Now in over 70 communities in America, that number looks like it could reach well over 100 by next year. Plans are also underway for international growth.

How can a community become involved?
A funding partner is required to bring The PJ Library to families in any new region, city or town. To become a partner, a local philanthropist, foundation, Federation, or other Jewish organization must finance the cost of the books, music and the mailing for children in the designated community. The cost is $60 per child per year. This amount covers the cost of 12 mailings to families, who receive The PJ Library for FREE for the first one or two years in the PJ Partner’s community. Each year thereafter, we recommend asking for a minimal donation of $18 per child from families. This donation brings the base cost of sponsorship to $42 per child per year each year thereafter. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation covers all overhead and administrative costs for the program, and coordinates the monthly distribution of books and music.

Partners in The PJ Library program receive various educational resources and information from The Harold Grinspoon Foundation for help with implementing the program, recruiting families to participate, and planning complementary educational programs. This is all done in an effort to enhance the experience of participants in The PJ Library. In each community, the program is advertised as a gift of the local sponsor, under The PJ Library program partner’s name.

Individuals and organizations interested in become partner-funders, please contact marcie@hgf.org.

Currently you focus on books for kids ages 1-6. Do you have any plans to provide books for older kids?
Just this year it was expanded from age 6 to age 7 - and the current plan is to include 8 year olds beginning in December.

Do you welcome book contributions from individuals?
Book authors are welcome to submit their books for consideration. You can write to: Natalie Blitt, head of the Book Selection Committee, at Natalie@hgf.org

What are some of the long-term goals for PJ library?
To have The PJ Library active and thriving in every Jewish community in North America.
To reach and involve more and more intermarried families, as well as "unaffiliated" and "un-engaged" Jewish families. Although the program was originally conceptualized to reach out to these kinds of families, the program is open to ALL Jewish families on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of level of Jewish involvement. Each city or town is funded for a certain number of children's subscription-slots, and once it reaches capacity, there is a waiting list.

Marcie, thank you for all you do for the PJ Library. To learn more about the PJ Library, please visit the web site at www.pjlibrary.org

Jewish Books at BEA

My friend Heidi Estrin from The Book of Life has posted several podcasts featuring interviews she conducted at BEA, including one with me. I'm excited to be part of Heidi's wonderful world of podcasting!

Check it out:jewishbooks.blogspot.com

Happy Listening!

Welcome Nora Raleigh Baskin!

Nora Raleigh Baskin is the author of several books for young readers. Her newest book, THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH (Simon and Schuster) is a touching story of a young girl’s journey to discover her own heritage after the death of her grandmother. I first heard about the book from Nora’s editor, Alexandra Cooper. I met Alexandra at an SCBWI retreat. Coincidentally, about a week later I received a copy of THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH to review for the AJL (Association of Jewish Libraries) newsletter. I was immediately drawn to the story, especially Nora’s ability to create such a believable, authentic character. By the end of the book I felt like I had been at Caroline’s side as she triumphantly navigated her way to a meaningful resolution. Interviewing Nora was a joy and I’m thrilled she was able to share her thoughts about her writing journey.

I’m happy to announce that THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH just received a ***Starred*** review in Jewish Book World!

Tell me a little bit about your latest book, The Truth About My Bat Mitzvah. What inspired you to write a book with this theme?
Short answer, my life. A little longer answer: This book is very much my story, although in my case it wasn't that my Jewish mother was unobservant, but that she had died when I was three years old. But like Caroline in the book, I grew up without any understanding of my Jewish heritage- at all. But around the age of twelve, just like most girls and boys, I began questioning my identity and searching for who I wanted to be, what I wanted to be. And while I wanted to believe in a connection to my mother, who I couldn't even remember, and to my Judaism, there was a lot standing in my way. Mainly, that I had no idea what being Jewish meant.

In seventh grade, I actually did pretend to be sick on Yom Kippur so that I would be absent from school just like the two "really" Jewish kids in my class Debbie Nemerofsky and Rob Schiff, I decided to have Caroline do the same thing. I remember it very clearly.

But a long time I felt like a faker, a pretender, until I was and realized "I am Jewish" because I chose to be. And that holds true even for people who grew up learning Hebrew, having Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and knowing what Yom Kippur is. At some point in your life, you still have to choose.

What type of research was involved?
I didn't have to do much research because for the past twenty years, since my first son was born, I have been learning everything I can about Judaism. I even teach Hebrew school, for nearly as long. So I knew that having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah isn't a "requirement " for being Jewish. I knew that having a Jewish parent, especially a mother (for the conservative and orthodox) was technically enough.

But I also learned that being Jewish is about being part of an incredible history and that passing that history on, learning about it, writing about it, teaching it, remembering its beauty.. I was proud of the things I learned about.

When writing the book, I also used what I knew from teaching Hebrew school-- how difficult it is to give things up, deal with missing games or trips because its Passover or Rosh Hashanna. Going to Hebrew school itself, every week.

And while you may not "have to " have a B'nei Mitzvah, it is a wonderful thing -- to stand in front of the whole world and proclaim who and what you are. I have beautiful memories of my boys' Bar Mitzvah services. I used those memories, too, while writing the book.

But mostly I used my true "lived" experiences for this story. I really did break my Nana's Star of David necklace. But I still found a way to wear in my school photo by pulling a leather shoelace from my work boot and using that (we all wore workboots in those days!) And I really did ask my grandfather for my Nana'sr perfume when she died. It's all I wanted and I still have it.So in a way this book is my way of connecting, not only to my mother, but to my Nana. I think she would be very happy to see how far I've come. Or rather, how close I am now.

How did you become a children's writer?
I have been writing for children for fifteen years. My first book was published in 2001 but I had been writing and trying to publish for a long time before that. In fact, some of my earliest attempts were short stories with Jewish themes. But they were too didactic. I didn't realize all I needed to do was look within myself to find the real story I needed to tell. But live and learn, right? Nothing is ever really wasted.

What are you working on now?
I have my first YA novel coming out in August (ALL WE KNOW OF LOVE) and then a book with an autistic first person narrator coming out next spring,'09 (ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL).

And, by the way, if you look back at my work, you will find all my characters are Jewish, even if in name only. You will never find a casual Christmas celebration or gratuitous Easter unless it specifically fits the needs of the story.

What are a few fun facts about you?
Hmm...facts about me? I hate zucchini and cilantro. (you can check out http://www.ihatecilantro.com/member.php?user=norabaskin) I love egg creams (just like Caroline!) chocolate or vanilla. I swim or run just about every day, or at least every other day. Or at least as often as I can.

What is your favorite holiday?
Easy one! Passover. I make the most amazing Seder..with toy frogs all over my table, Baby Moses in little baskets. I cook the best kosher chicken with onion. And my matzah ball soup is really, really good, so they tell me. None of my dishes match, or my napkins or glasses, but the table is so full and so beautiful it doesn't matter.

I love the Jewish holidays because they are all about "story"--every one, except maybe Tu B'shevat, right? Every holiday is based on some amazing piece of history and telling these stories over and over keeps them from disappearing. I think for all people, throughout all time, stories are what make us real, make us exist. They help us to understand ourselves and the world. They make us feel we belong and that makes us less lonely.

I hope with my story, I did that-- in some small way.

Nora, it’s been a delight getting to know you! Wishing you continued success with The Truth About My Bat Mitzvah!

If you would like to know more abour Nora, please visit her web site at www.norabaskin.com

Sarah Gershman - Bedtime Sh'ma

Sarah Gershman is the author of BEDTIME SH’MA (EKS publishing, illustrated by Kristina Swarner), a lovely child-friendly adaptation of traditional prayers that gives children a sense of peace and comfort before drifting off to sleep. BEDTIME SH’MA was honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award for 2007, which Sarah will be accepting this June at the Association of Jewish Libraries conference. I had the opportunity to hear Sarah talk about BEDTIME SH’MA at the Jewish Book Council event last year. After watching her lovely presentation, I knew BEDTIME SH’MA was destined to become a favorite of parents and children.

Among her many accomplishments, Sarah is a Jewish educator at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center. She produced the award-winning Shabbat Songbook, AIN SOF. Sarah is also the author and producer of the musical, NOTES IN A DIFFERENT KEY, which featured a 35-person intergenerational cast and was performed at the Thalia Theater in Manhattan. Most importantly, Sarah is the mother of Matan, 3, and Josie Fay, 9 months.

I’m delighted Sarah was available to share her thoughts about being a writer.

How did the idea for Bedtime Sh'ma come about?

I always thought the Bedtime Sh'ma was a beautiful prayer, and I also
have had dreams for a long time of writing a children's book. One day I put the two together and realized that the prayer would make a wonderful children's goodnight book. I also was searching for a Jewish book to read my son before bed and decided to write one myself.

What was your reaction when you found out you had won the Sydney Taylor Book Award?

I was thrilled! Truthfully, I had really heard of the award, although the All of a Kind Family series was my favorite as a little girl. I feel incredibly lucky that my first book actually received this award!

What is the best part about being a children's writer?

I get to write books for my own children.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a good morning companion book. I find that mornings can be such stressful times. I am trying to adapt from the morning prayers to create a book that will help children and their parents peacefully and purposefully start each day. Thankfully, Kristina Swarner will again be the illustrator.

What is your favorite holiday?

Yom Kippur. I know it's strange, but I love that day. I think the prayers and melodies are just beautiful - and it is the only fast day where I don't miss eating. It feels right somehow. I look forward to it each year.

What are some fun facts about you?

I am a public speaking trainer. I love American Idol. A few years ago fulfilled another life-long dream and played Maria in the Sound of Music. I have a wonderful husband named Daniel, a 3-year old son, Matan, and a 1-year old daughter, Josie Fay. I have had two audiences with the Dalai Lama.

Sarah, thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on all your success!

Book Expo 2008

I spent last weekend with friends at the BookExpo LA at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Book Expo offers industry professionals a sneak peek of upcoming book lists from publishers. There are lots of giveaways, including books, posters, tote bags, and more. All weekend long, both established and new authors sign copies of their books. It was a blast - like Woodstock for book lovers! I walked the floor with my author friends Tina Nichols Coury, Alexis O'Neill, and my daughter Jillian, who is a teen book reviewer. We picked up some wonderful books and had the chance to receive signed copies from terrific authors and visit with friends along the way.

A highlight for me was meeting Heidi Estrin and Etta Gold from the Association of Jewish Libraries. They have welcomed me into the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and made me feel like I am part of the family. Here we are:









Etta, me, Heidi
(photo courtesy of Tina Nichols Coury)

Despite aching feet, my time at BookExpo 2008 was the best!

Let My People Go - Tilda Balsley

Tilda Balsley is the author of LET MY PEOPLE GO!(Kar-Ben)This delightful picture book tells the story of Passover in a reader’s theatre format that is engaging, humorous, and appealing for kids and adult of all ages. The interactive nature of LET MY PEOPLE GO! makes it a perfect selection for schools and families.

Tilda lives with her husband in North Carolina. Along with writing she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, trips to the beach, and tending to the flowers in her yard.

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why you were drawn to write about a Jewish topic?
The idea for this book and others began when I discovered the fun of readers’ theater for kids. For my students at school, I turned some our favorite books into scripts. VOILA, they wanted to read them over and over. The ancient stories of faith are naturals for this form and the story of Moses and the ten plagues is the first I wrote. It had a trial run with the children of my own congregation.

What type of research was involved?
I stayed very close to the scriptural text for this book so extra research was not needed. Good writers are always doing research about the craft, however. We study skills like humor, plot, good rhyme (and bad), and characterization. We also research to see if there are competing books already published and which publisher might be interested in a particular book.

How did you become a children’s writer?
My mother loved books and taught me to love them as well. My father sat down with me at homework time and taught me to love writing. In college I studied poetry, practicing the art of rhythm and (sometimes) rhyme. Soon, the wonderful books I read to my own children introduced me to the genre of my heart. A later career, teaching elementary school reading, cinched it. I had to give it a try.

What are you working on now?
I’m still working on biblical readers’ theater, but I also have a number of picture books that are not religious—some completed, some in process. All books have the values of the author built in, but some messages come in through the back door. I love to write books that beg to be illustrated because books that combine good pictures with good words beg to be read.

What are a few fun facts about you?
I grew up as an army brat. That makes me patriotic, adaptable, and restless. My husband is tolerant of my urge to move. We have lived in five houses on this downtown block of his hometown.

I love color. My living room is purple, my dining room is red and my kitchen is yellow.

Pulling weeds is my favorite form of exercise. My body may not always show the progress, but my yard does.

What is your favorite holiday?
Anytime my whole family is together is like a holiday. I especially love gatherings at the beach. These times are as memorable as any designated holiday.

To learn more about LET MY PEOPLE GO! Please check out Tilda’s web site at www.tildatalks.com

Sonia Levitin Brings The Return to the Stage!

Sonia Levitin is the award winning author of over 40 books. Most recently, she was honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award for STRANGE RELATIONS (Knopf, 2007). Sonia has a new project on the horizon, a musical version of THE RETURN (Atheneum, 1987), an emotional story about Operation Moses - the rescue airlift of Ethiopian Jews. Sonia is also committed to social action and works with organizations to fight intolerance and slavery. She is a shining example of tikkun olam - repairing the world with her meaningful work. I was honored that Sonia could take time out of a very busy production schedule to share some insights about the musical.

How did the idea of creating a musical come about?

I have always loved musicals. The first one I ever saw was SOUTH PACIFIC,when I was in high school. I was hooked. I learned all the songs and love them still.To me,it is the best form of entertainment.

Of all your books, why did you choose THE RETURN to create a musical?

I think RETURN has the most to offer as a musical,with its universal theme of the longing for freedom,its inter-cultural cast of characters. I think a musical needs great variety in story content and an intriguing locale. RETURN has all of these.

Do you have a background in musical theatre?

My only background in musical theater is the love of it, and appreciation of the art form--which, incidentally, has grown tremendously as I've been working with the talented people who must join together to create a musical.

What type of research was required to write the play?

For the book I did an enormous amount of research to get the ethnographic and political/social details. I went to Israel several times and interviewed Ethiopian immigrants, anthropologists, teachers, doctors, politicians and aid workers. I studied documentary films, books, anything I could get my hands on about Ethiopia and the Beta Israel tribe--the black Jews. I traveled to other states for interviews, steeped myself in Ethiopian culture. When it came to writing the play, I re-checked my original sources and conferred quite a few times with people who have been to Ethiopia and worked there: Barbara Ribakove Gordon, executive director and founder of NACOEJ, the North America Conference of Ethiopian Jewry, and Dick and Middie Giesberg of Los Angeles, who are tireless supporters and workers in that organization.

What do you hope the audience learns from the show?

First of all I want the audience to come away from the show having had a fabulous experience of entertainment and inspiration. I want them to feel good about having been part of a rescue experience that is still going on today. I want them to be singing the wonderful songs by composer Will Anderson.I hope they will have learned that "falasha" is a pejorative, that ordinary people from the U.S., England and other nations extended their hearts and their pocketbooks to save oppressed strangers in Africa, and that the country of Israel gave them sanctuary, averting a possible genocide. I want them to realize that for the first time in all history, white people helped to bring black people out of slavery and into freedom, and that it is possible to change the world for the better.

How does it feel to see your story come to life on stage?

Watching my story come to the stage is an astounding, overwhelming feeling. When I hear the songs and see the scenes, I remember the Ethiopian immigrants who told me their stories, which I wove into the drama. It pulls me back and affects me anew each time, making me feel the emotions of sorrow, pity, anger, joy. I also feel a strong bond with the actors, director, and all the people behind the scenes who are working many, many hours every day and night to bring this show to life.

How can your fans see the show?

To see the show, call the box office at the Edgemar Theater:310-392-7327, and check out the web site at www.returnthemusical.com

What are some fun facts about you?

I am crazy about animals. My husband once pointed out that I talk to every animal I see, be it a horse, bird, dog, cat or lizard. I also love babies and children. I will hug a tree. I like to hike, to paint, to play the piano. The first is a priority, because we have two dogs who are always ready to go places. I forgive them their foibles--and they forgive mine. As in the show's premise, I do believe in "SIGNS." A little bit of magic, premonition, attention to the "Unseen" and the unusual makes life interesting, I think.

Sonia, thanks for taking the time to share the news about RETURN THE MUSICAL. It's been a delight. Break a leg!

A Righteous Project - Holocaust Memorial Day

Jillian Curtis homeschools her sons Joshua 11, and Jarret, 10. Together they embarked on a project to learn about the Holocaust and honor those whose lives were taken. They have been collecting individually made Jewish Stars which represent loved ones lost. Thus far, they have collected upwards of 500 stars. They hope to display these beautiful works in a clear star-shaped box. I was so deeply touched by their story and I wanted to share it with my readers. It was an honor for me to interview Jillian, Joshua, and Jarrett.

Tell me about your Holocaust project. What inspired you to take on this type of project?
We collect homemade stars from people that put their creative talents into it. The stars represent the Jews that lost their innocent lives because of intolerance. I wanted to teach my children that acceptance is important, that we shouldn't prejudge anyone. That History usually repeats itself. I wanted them to have a daily reminder with the memorial we'll be building with all these homemade stars. I also wanted them to know not just the Jews were affected by intolerance, and that their souls shine brightly through the stars we have received.

How did you collect the stars?
We have gotten it all through the snail-mail.

How many have you collected?
500 and counting.

What did you learn from this project?
A lot of people died because of their unwavering faith. Intolerance still happens today. I will always remember the people who sent these stars.

What kind of response have you received?
A very good one. People from all over have heard about this project, not a day goes by that we don't receive something in the mail.

How you got the word out that you were collecting the stars? Did you give people instructions or a template or are the all unique?
We got the word out mostly by my blog and emailing people, then by word of mouth. People created each one on their own.

Was there anything that resulted from this project that has surprised you?
Yes, I sent a email to Rabbi Shmuley from the TLC channel Shalom in the Home and got a response. We are so pleased with this. We are also going to be in our local paper.

Jillian and her children are a shinning example to their community, and their inspirational project will continue to touch lives and remind us all of the importance of freedom and tolerance.

You can read Jillian's blog at
http://blog-me-til-midnight.blogspot.com/

To view a news feature about Jillian, Joshua, and Jarret, click here:

http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S431130.shtml?cat=10151

Interview with Families Online Magazine

Hi Friends,

Last week I was interviewed by Geraldine Jensen, editor of Families Online Magazine for her radio show. We had a wonderful chat about kids, reading, and books for all ages.

Check it out: www.blogtalkradio.com/families/2008/04/04/Encourage-Kids-to-Read-

Happy Listening!

Welcome Editor Alexandra Cooper!

Alexandra Cooper is an editor at Simon and Schuster. I met Alexandra at a recent SCBWI Writer’s Retreat. She was kind enough to answer some questions about Jewish books, and her role as an editor. Many people wonder about the editor’s perspective, and I’m delighted to share Alexandra’s thoughts on Jewish literature for children.

As an editor in a mainstream publishing house are you able to produce books that fit into the genre of Jewish children's literature?

I think so. Every editor has to have a balanced list, between novels and picture books and also between more commercial and more literary projects. I would count Jewishly-themed books as a part of my mix, and I am definitely enthusiastic about editing books of Jewish interest. It's about striking that balance--no editor can publish books meant only for one audience, unless that editor is at a publishing house exclusively devoted to that particular audience. As an editor at a general trade house, I think I have the opportunity to raise awareness and bring books I love to a wider population.

Are there any unique marketing issues with a book that has a Jewish thread?

The Jewish community in particular has some wonderful resources, so there are a number of opportunities for books of Jewish interest to reach their target audience. But what about expanding beyond that base? I wouldn't want a person to pick up a book, then realize that the book has some Jewish content and think, "That's not for me." Every book has a specific theme, but the challenge is to make that translate universally so the book speaks to a wide audience, not just those readers who could directly relate to the protagonist.

Is there a Jewish topic that is not well represented in mainstream books that you would like to see?

That's a tough question! I'm looking for books that appeal to a wide audience, but at the same time, aren't just another book that's similar to what's already been published, or to a book I've already edited. There are all kinds of topics, Jewish and not, that aren't necessarily what I'd call well-represented by general publishers, but that's also not the mission of a mainstream house. I think that more and more, specialized publishers are going to gain traction, because they will be able to put out strong books meant for a specific audience, books that will be found and embraced by that specific audience. It's already happening with the recording industry and with movie-making--smaller companies are finding it easier to brand themselves by creating niches.

Do you have any book in your previous or current list you would like to mention?

I edited a middle-grade novel called THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BAT MITZVAH, by Nora Raleigh Baskin, that I'm really excited about. It centers around a girl who is just discovering her Jewish identity--her mother is Jewish but her father isn't, and her best friend is starting to plan her own bat mitzvah. I think Nora absolutely captured how it feels to be in seventh grade and confused about everything, trying to navigate friendships and boys and school, and the character here is also struggling with religion, tradition, and family.

What was your favorite book as a child?

I couldn't pick only one--I think that's part of the reason I work in children's books now! I remember loving Ferdinand the Bull, Caps for Sale, and the Frog and Toad stories, to name a mere

Alexandra, thanks so much for sharing your words of wisdom!

Welcoming Steve Sheinkin and Rabbi Harvey!

Graphic novels are a growing genre in children's literature. Steve Sheinkin has created a series young readers love. He is the writer and illustrator of The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey (Jewish Lights), for which he won Moment Magazine's Emerging Writer Award in children's literature in 2006. The new follow-up, Rabbi Harvey Rides Again, was published by Jewish Lights in March 2008. Steve lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, NY. I recently met Steve at the Jewish Literature for Children conference in Los Angeles. Be sure to check out his newest book!

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why you were drawn to write about a Jewish theme or character?

Rabbi Harvey Rides Again is a graphic novel of Jewish folktales, creatively retold and let loose in the Wild West. Harvey’s part old world rabbi, part western sheriff. He protects his town and delivers justice wielding only the weapons of wisdom, wit, and a bit of trickery. This book is a follow-up to The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey, for which I was honored to win Moment Magazine’s Emerging Writer Award in children’s literature in 2006.

I grew up loving both Jewish folktales and stories of the American West. So I guess Jewish and American folklore were mixing in my head for years, and these Rabbi Harvey stories are the result. One thing I love about retelling these classic tales is the opportunity to add my own characters and dialogue—and lots of jokes.

What type of research was involved?

The “research” was a pleasure. Basically, I read every book of traditional Jewish stories, Talmudic wisdom, and Hassidic tales I could find. I started with my own books, most of which once belonged to my father—the real Jewish scholar in our family, and a major inspiration for the Harvey character. Then I branched out to libraries and on-line searches. What I love to do is find a few great stories or gems of wisdom, and then figure out a way to weave them into a single narrative.

How did you become a children’s writer?

For years I researched and wrote history textbooks for a living. And time after time, I watched nervous editors cut out all the best stories. This was so frustrating that I finally started writing my own history books for kids, packing them with all the amazing, funny, and gross stories and quotes that never make it into textbooks. A couple of these books will be coming out with Roaring Brook Press later this year.

My approach to Rabbi Harvey has been kind of similar. I would never set out to preach to kids about Jewish ethics. But I do love to take this wealth of material, and figure out ways of making it funny and accessible to young readers. My favorite quote about the first Rabbi Harvey book came a from Publisher’s Weekly reviewer, who said: “Harvey’s adventures are so much fun, you hardly realize you’re learning anything until it’s too late.”

Was it difficult for you to get these books published?

The first Rabbi Harvey book went through about eight years of steady rejections before it was finally published by Jewish Lights in 2006. The concept of setting Jewish folktales in the Wild West, and doing it all in graphic novel format, is a bit strange, apparently. At least, that’s what publishing companies told me. But I just kept thinking about myself as a kid, picturing myself reading Rabbi Harvey. I knew I would have liked it, and that encouraged me to keep trying to get it out there to other readers.

What are you working on now?

I hope to begin work on a third volume of Rabbi Harvey stories later this year. My goal is to keep the series going, so we’ll see… And I’m always plugging away on new history projects, hoping to prove to kids that history is actually exciting (they never believe it when you just tell them).

What are a few fun facts about you?

I live in Brooklyn, NY, with my wife, Rachel, and our young daughter, Anna. Anna’s not exactly a Rabbi Harvey fan yet. In fact, when I showed her the first book, she attempted to eat it. I love to get out of the city and into nature whenever possible, and I help maintain a hiking trail along the Hudson River about an hour north of NYC.

What is your favorite holiday?

My favorite has always been Pesach, because it’s so much about telling and re-telling wonderful stories. Sure, my uncle offers the same exact commentaries year after year, but even that’s part of the fun. And every year, before the seder, I can research some new angle, some new interpretation or insight, and use it to spark conversation and debate. I think Rabbi Harvey would lead a great Seder, though I’m not really qualified to say exactly what he might do.

Steve, thanks for visiting! To learn more about Rabbi Harvey visit www.rabbiharvey.com

Welcoming Jacqueline Jules!

Jacqueline Jules has made some terrific contributions to Jewish literature for children, and it is an honor to share her interview on my blog. Jacqueline Jules is the author of thirteen children's books including The Hardest Word (Kar-Ben), The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle(Kar-Ben), No English (Mitten Press), Abraham's Search for God (Kar-Ben), and Sarah Laughs (Kar-Ben). The Hardest Word and Abraham's Search for God were named Notable Books for Younger readers by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. Sarah Laughs was named a 2009 Sydney Taylor Honor Book for Younger Readers. She is also a public elementary school librarian, who teaches weekly classes to students from preschool through sixth grade. The mother of two grown sons, she lives in Northen Virginia, with her husband, Alan, the webmaster for http://www.jacquelinejules.com/

Tell me a little bit about Sarah Laughs. Why you were drawn to write about this biblical matriarch?

To talk about Sarah Laughs (Kar-Ben, 2008), I need to talk a little bit about its companion book, Abraham's Search for God (Kar-Ben, 2007). Both books are part of a Bible series I am doing for Kar-Ben Publishing. The original idea for Abraham's Search for God came to me in 2001, when I was working as a synagogue librarian at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC. One of the religious school teachers asked me for a book for young children on our patriarch Abraham. I couldn't find anything suitable in the children's collection. Since the library had an endowment for children's books, I tried finding something I could purchase. Everything available had too many words and not enough pictures for young children. I realized that there was a need for a more child-friendly introduction to Abraham. That inspired me. My work as a librarian frequently leads me to the topics I choose to write about. Librarians love connecting readers with books. When I have no existing book to fill a request, I find myself itching to write one. Maybe I have an overwhelming need to please, but my creative juices start pumping when I see a need for something that doesn't currently exist.

It took several years to get a book contract for Abraham's Search for God. However, when Kar-Ben purchased it, they requested a book about Sarah as well. I agreed because my research into available children's books on Abraham had taught me that there was a need for children's book on the matriarchs as well as the patriarchs.

Sarah Laughs tells the familiar bible story of Abraham's journey to Canaan, through his wife, Sarah's, eyes. It imagines the thoughts that must have twirled in Sarah's mind when Abraham told her they were leaving their comfortable home in Ur to go to an unknown place. Sarah had fears and concerns, but she was a true partner in everything her husband did. The story follows the couple through years of traveling in Canaan, ending with Isaac's birth, when Sarah uttered her famous laugh.

What type of research was involved?

I did extensive research for Sarah Laughs. My main sources, which are listed on the last page of the book are Biblical Images by Adin Steinsaltz; Etz Hayim Torah and Commentary edited by David Lieber; Daughters of Fire by Fran Manushkin; Legends of the Bible by Louis Ginzberg; Miriam’s Well by Alice Bach; Pentateuch & Haftorahs, second edition, edited by J.H. Hertz; Reading the Old Testament by Lawrence Boadt; Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler; Wrestling with Angels by Naomi Rosenblatt. The Torah does not describe Sarah or her feelings in great detail, so I had often had to rely on midrash. As a librarian, research comes naturally to me. Librarians love digging up facts. And once I start researching a subject, it becomes an exciting adventure.

How did you become a children’s writer?

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't want to be a writer. Long before I wanted to be a librarian, before I wanted to be a wife and a mother, I wanted to be a writer. I have always loved to read. Books took me to different worlds. They introduced me to interesting people. They were magical. The idea of creating something myself that gave me such pleasure was very appealing to me, even as child of nine. In third grade, when my teacher asked us all to put our career goals down on a strip of construction paper for a bulletin board, I wrote down "writer."

In 1979, I got a BA in Writing at The University of Pittsburgh, becoming one of the first undergraduates of a newly established writing program. However, it was many years before I realized that most of the protagonists in my stories were young people and I should start marketing my work to children's publishers. Some of the same stories that were rejected by adult publishers were accepted by children's magazines. That's when I began to focus on writing for children. A little while later, when I went back to school to become a librarian, I found myself mesmerized by the children's literature courses. While I have worked as a Judaica librarian, serving both children and adults, my first love is for children's literature, and I am happiest working in an elementary school library as I do now. I am a voracious reader, but I only read one or two adult books (outside of my research) a year.

Do you have any new books to tell us about?

I am excited to tell you that I have four new books out. Three of them are of Jewish interest. The Princess and the Ziz (Kar-Ben Publishing), the fourth book in the Ziz series, which began in 2001 with The Hardest Word, was released in September of 2008. This story is an extension of a tale about King Solomon's daughter, in which I first encountered the gigantic mythical bird called the Ziz. In The Princess and the Ziz, the eager lovable Ziz takes the princess on a joyful trip around the world. But when she falls in love with a young man, the Ziz becomes jealous and problems follow. I have had a great time doing author presentations for The Princess and the Ziz. At some events, the kids have come dressed in royal costumes. We sing princess songs. To hear a little of the program and see the Ziz flying, please visit my website and watch The Princess and the Ziz book trailer, http://www.jacquelinejules.com/princess2.htm

The Princess and the Ziz was followed by a board book, Goodnight Sh’ma. http://www.jacquelinejules.com/goodnight.htm Eventhough board books are quite short, they are not easy to write because every word is important, and the rhyme must scan perfectly. My editor and I were absolutely thrilled when Jewish Living Magazine said Goodnight Sh’ma should become “a must-read bedtime story for Jewish babies."

Benjamin and the Silver Goblet http://www.jacquelinejules.com/Benjamin.htm
was released in January 2009. It is the third book in the Bible series which began with Abraham’s Search for God. Benjamin and the Silver Goblet tells a story I have been enchanted with for years. When Joseph falsely accuses Benjamin of stealing his silver goblet, he gives his brothers the opportunity to abandon their youngest brother. Will they treat Benjamin as callously as they treated Joseph all those years ago? The brothers choose not to make the same kind of mistake they made before, thereby showing they have repented for their crime. For me, this bible story reveals the true meaning of teshuvah (repentance). Benjamin and the Silver Goblet, like Abraham’s Search for God, and Sarah Laughs are all PJ Library selections.

Finally, Charlesbridge Publishing released Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation in January 2009. Illustrated by Nickelodeon Magazine comic strip artist, Jef Czekaj, Unite or Die dramatizes the conflicts and compromises of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in the form of a school play performed by exuberant young actors dressed as the thirteen original colonies. Please see the book trailer for Unite or Die at http://www.jacquelinejules.com/unite2.htm

What are a few fun facts about you?

In addition to reading and writing, I like to sing. Before story time in my school library, my youngest students and I always sing for about ten minutes. Some of the songs are from children's tapes I listen to in the car, and others are ones I have simply made up. I also love puppets. I have a huge collection of them, including a Ziz puppet I asked an artist to make for me. My puppets love to kiss little cheeks as we sing songs in the library or at my author appearances.

My favorite color at the moment is purple. Two summers ago, I redecorated my bedroom with purple paint, purple carpet, purple bedspread, and purple sheets. Many of my clothes are purple including my winter coat and favorite earrings. I recently purchased a purple purse.

What is your favorite holiday?

My fondest holiday memories are of Rosh Hashanah when I was a child. I grew up in a small congregation of less than one hundred families in a small southern town. After Rosh Hashanah evening services, there was an Oneg for the entire congregation. We would stay for hours after services, eating delicious cookies and talking. I also remember feeling special in the new dress and shoes my parents bought me for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. One day, I hope to write a story that captures the joy of celebrating the holidays in a small congregation.

Jacqueline, it has been a delight getting to know you! For more information about Jacqueline or her books, visit her web site at www.jacquelinejules.com

Welcome Sid Fleischman!

Last week at the Jewish Literature for Children conference in Los Angeles, I had the honor of sitting with Newbury author Sid Fleischman. I have read and admired Sid's work for many years, but never had the opportunity to meet him in person. Sid was charming, kind, and gracious enough to blog chat with me about his newest book, THE ENTERTAINER AND THE DYBBUK(Greenwillow), which won a Sydney Taylor Book Award for older readers. Both children and adults should read THE ENTERTAINER AND THE DYBBUK, a tribute to the children of the Holocaust. The story brings to life an important part history through the character of Avrom the dybbuk, who takes over the life of Great Freddie, a ventriloquist. The relationship that develops between the two characters is warm, touching, and surprisingly humorous. I'm thrilled to interview Sid about his latest work.

The Entertainer and the Dybbuk is your first book about the Holocaust. What was the inspiration for the book?

I think every Jewish novelist wants to deal with this most dramatic and disturbing event in our lives. But what can you say? Through the years my thoughts have returned again and again to the nightmare and in particular to the murder, beyond belief, of the 1 1/2 million Jewish children. It was only after I began thinking of a dybbuk as the illuminating character in a novel that I found a fresh way of dealing with the Holocaust.

Do you have experience as a ventriloquist?

None as a performer, though many of my magician friends do vent acts. It is, after all, a bit of magic to throw the voice. Still, when I was nine or ten, I saw an adv in a Johnson Smith catalogue of novelties (magic tricks, joke books, stage beards and makeup, etc.) offering Ventrillo, a device that allowed you to throw your voice into a trunk, and so forth. I believe the price was ten cents. Anyway, I sent for one and was disappointed to receive a rubber warbling device you put on your tongue -- the same device sold to make bird calls. My career as a ventriloquist or bird caller ended on the spot. But in writing the book, I talked over technical problems with friends who were pros.

The concept of a dybbuk might be unfamiliar to kids. How have readers
responded to this aspect of the story?

Yes, even among Jews, I have found only spotty familiarity. But they respond immediately and with fascination when the dybbuk is explained. Kids, especially, to discover there is a well-defined Jewish ghost lurking about. From mail I have received so far, kids especially are enchanted with Avrom, the dybbuk in the novel, and particularly the ending when he tricks the villain into confessing.

Of all the books you have written, do you have a favorite?

Almost always the last book I have written, out of sheer relief to have gotten the story on paper. I'd have to say, the novel I find myself thinking about the most these days is The Entertainer and the Dybbuk. At other times the book that has pleased me the most is By the Great Horn Spoon! and more recently, ESCAPE! The Story of the Great Houdini. Impossible to pick an absolute favorite.

Can we expect another book soon?

Yes. THE TROUBLE BEGINS AT 8, a biography of Mark Twain, due out in May.Due in 2009,THE DREAM STEALER. I've been busy.

Sid, we look forward to seeing you new books on the shelves. Thank you for all your contributions to children's literature. I know you will continue to inspire readers, writers, and librarians for years to come!

To learn more about Sid please visit his web site at www.SidFleischman.com

Welcome Brenda Ferber

I’m thrilled to introduce Brenda Ferber, the author of JULIA’S KITCHEN (Farrar Straus & Giroux), a sensitive novel of love, loss, and healing. JULIA’S KITCHEN was honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner in 2007. Brenda’s fans will be delighted to learn that she has two more books coming out, JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE, (FSG, 2009) and THE YUCKIEST, DROOLIEST, STINKIEST, BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER, (Harcourt 2011). Brenda lives in Illinois with her husband, three children, two cats, and one rabbit. Brenda was willing to take a little time away from her busy writing schedule to talk about her work.

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why you were drawn to write about a Jewish theme or character?

JULIA’S KITCHEN is about an 11-year-old Jewish girl finding hope and resiliency after her mom and sister die in a house fire. My initial inspiration was to write about grief, about coping in life when the worst possible thing happens. I was interested in the relationship people have with God when tragedy strikes. So often, people thank God for all their blessings in life, but does that then mean God is to blame when something awful happens? That was the question I explored in JULIA’S KITCHEN. Because I’m Jewish, it was natural for me to write about a Jewish character and to have a Jewish perspective on God’s role in our lives.

What type of research was involved?

I spoke with my rabbi and read a lot of books about the Jewish mourning experience. I also spoke at length with a friend of mine whose mother had recently passed away. She showed me how beautiful the grieving process can be. And I interviewed a firefighter to make sure everything about the fire made sense.

How did you become a children’s writer?

I always dreamed of becoming a children’s book author, but I never thought it was a realistic goal. When my three kids were born, I was staying at home, not making any money anyway, so I figured it was as good a time as any to try my hand at writing. I took classes, read practically everything in the children’s department at my library, joined a critique group, wrote, and revised and revised and revised. A few years later I sold two stories to Ladybug magazine. And then I sold JULIA’S KITCHEN to Farrar Straus & Giroux!

What are you working on now?

I have a second novel for kids, JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE, coming out in spring, 2009. It’s about friendship troubles, water-skiing fiascos, and sailing adventures at an overnight camp in northern Wisconsin. I also have a picture book called, THE YUCKIEST, DROOLIEST, STINKIEST, BEST VALENTINE’S DAY EVER, coming out sometime in the future.

What are a few fun facts about you?

I’m addicted to my flat iron.
I have never broken a bone.
I once got out of a speeding ticket by singing, “Hail to the Victors” (the University of Michigan fight song) in front of a full courthouse.

What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving. Ever since I was a little girl, our family has had a tradition of going bowling the morning of Thanksgiving. Then we feast that night. I love spending carefree time with my extended family!

What were the challenges you faced in writing a middle grade novel about death and loss?

The biggest challenge was in being honest with my main character’s emotions. I’m a naturally optimistic, cheery sort of person. I wanted Cara, the main character, to be happy, despite her loss. Luckily, my critique group and my editor pushed me to go deep into her grief and to really explore those feelings. And luckily, too, my optimism seeped into the manuscript so that the story has a quality of hope to it, rather than simply being a great big sob-fest.

What concerns did you have for your young readers?

I am concerned that people might think of JULIA’S KITCHEN as bibliotherapy… a kid loses a parent or sibling, and some thoughtful friend or relative gives the kid this book. That kind of thing makes me really uncomfortable. Maybe there are children who would like that, but I don’t know. I think if you’ve actually lived through that kind of tragedy, you might prefer reading about something else entirely… at least until enough time has passed. I think JULIA’S KITCHEN should be thought of more as a vaccination… the kind of book children read before tragedy strikes. Then when they have to deal with something hard (not only death, but divorce, or illness, or any other kind of change or loss), hopefully Cara’s story will be in their cellular memory, in their soul. Cara’s resiliency will rub off on them without them even realizing it. That’s my greatest hope!

Brenda, thank you so much for such a thoughtful discussion. I have no doubt that Cara will leave a lasting impression on your readers. For more information about Brenda, please check out her web site at www.BrendaFerber.com

Jewish Literature for Children - Western Regional Conference

Yesterday I attended the Jewish Literature for Children Western Regional Conference. This fabulous annual event was held at Sinai Temple is Los Angeles. In attendance were authors, teachers, librarians, and more. The theme of this year’s conference was “Focus on Illustration,” and included an impressive line up of speakers. The event opened with Lois Sarkaissian from Every Picture Tells a Story, a local art gallery which represents numerous book illustrators. Lois offered an historical overview of children’s illustration that informed and enlighted us all. Next came the wonderful panel of speakers including Melissa Moss, Elisa Kleven, Amalia Hoffman, and Steven Sheinkin.

After a delicious lunch, I attended a session on collage with Elisa. She explained that collage is a great medium for those of us who think we can’t draw – which is exactly why I chose the session! We cut, glued, and created our pieces with abandon! Collage is a terrific way to get those creative juices going. The final event was a storytelling by Amalia Hoffman. Her retelling of a Purim folktale was charming and captivating. What a terrific way to spend a Sunday. Plus, I had the chance to catch up with old friends and make some new connections, too! I can’t wait until next year.

Many thanks to Susan Dubin, Lisa Silverman, Judy Cohn, Ellen Cole, Sinai Blumenthal Library, Association of Jewish Libraries, and Association of Jewish Libraries of Southern California

New York City May Close Beloved Library

I heart NY. Although I have never been a resident, the city that never sleeps has always been one of my favorite destination spots. There is something for everyone in New York, and one of the most treasured attractions is the Central Children's Reading Room in Midtown Manhattan, home to the original Winnie-the-Pooh toy collection. The sad news is that the library may be closing to make way for a hotel. If you have a special memory of the library you would like to share, please visit www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog

Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee!

I am proud to formally announce my affiliation with the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. The Sydney Taylor book awards are given to those books deemed to be the best in Jewish Children’s Literature. I feel honored to be a part of this important process. As a child, I was an avid reader of Sydney Taylor’s All of a Kind Family Books. The sisters in the books, Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie, were my friends. I have no doubt that their stories shaped my childhood and continue to inspire me as a reader, writer, and reviewer. In a sense, being on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee feels like coming home. If you would like to know more about the award, please visit www.SydneyTaylorBookAward.org

Jillian's New York Adventure

It's a little bit off topic, but I wanted to share my daughter Jillian's experience at Teen Vogue Fashion University in New York last fall. You can read all about it in the Acorn, our local newspaper.

Here's the link: http://www.theacorn.com/news/2008/0110/Community/030.html

SCBWI Retreat

I have just returned from the most glorious SCBWI retreat held at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, organized by Alexis O’Neill, our tireless leader, whose dedication to children’s writers has fostered a community of storytellers. The weekend offered opportunities to work on manuscripts, meet new people, and visit with old friends in a relaxed and serene environment. I was one of forty writers who shared our work with each other as well as three (yes, three!) editors, including Stacy Cantor from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, Alexandra Cooper from Walker Books for Young Readers, and Kristin Daly from HarperCollins Children’s Books. These lovely young women read and critiqued manuscripts until their eyes were bleary.

Throughout the weekend, participants supported and encouraged each other, with the unspoken knowledge of how precious each manuscript is to its writer. This generosity of spirit and sense of kinship have given me the inspiration I need to do my best work, and I am deeply grateful. I’m looking forward to the months ahead as I continue to post interviews, write book reviews, revise manuscripts, and begin my work as a member of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee.

Linda Silver - Jewish Values Finder

I am delighted to welcome Linda Silver to my blog. Linda is a specialist in Jewish children's literature. A retired librarian, Linda has worked in school and public libraries as well as in synagogue and Jewish educational libraries.

Her professional activities include leadership positions in the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC/ALA) and in the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL). She has been a member of the Newbery-Caldecott Committee, an ALSC board member, president of the School, Synagogue, and Center Division of AJL, president of the Cleveland AJL chapter, and chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. In 2004, Linda received the AJL's Fanny Goldstein Merit Award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and to the profession of Judaic librarianship. She teaches workshops and gives talks on Jewish children's literature and writes about it extensively as a reviewer and co-editor of children's book reviews for the AJL Newsletter and as editor of the online Jewish Valuesfinder,www.ajljewishvalues.org.

Linda's most recent publication is a book published in 2008 by Neal-Schuman entitled The Jewish Values Finder: A Guide to Values in Jewish Children's Literature. Past publications include Jewish Classics for Kids (AJL, 2006), Excellence in Jewish Children’s Literature: A Guide for Book Selectors, Reviewers and Award Judges (AJL, 2003), and Developing a Judaic Children’s Collection (AJL, 2001) as well as many magazine, journal, and newspaper articles. Her current writing project is a guide to Jewish children's literature for the Jewish Publication Society. Linda lives with her husband in Cleveland, Ohio.

Linda’s contribution to children’s literature is inspiring. I’m honored that she was able to spend some time to share her knowledge and experience.

Tell me a little bit about the history of Jewish Values Finder and how parents, educators and librarians can access the information.

The predecessor of the Jewish Valuesfinder was Marcia Posner's Juvenile Judaica, a print publication that listed books of Jewish content, briefly described them, and gave their subjects and themes. After the first edition, which was published in 1985 and sold by AJL, several supplements were issued. Publication was suspended around 1995. In 2002, Marcia asked me to create a new publication that would continue her work in some form. She contributed the funds needed to develop the online guide, which was launched in 2003 and is accessible to anyone with a computer at www.ajljewishvalues.org. The publishing director at Neal-Schuman read an article about the Jewish Valuesfinder and contacted me, asking if I would write a book.

What drew you to create such a database?

Although more and more books of Jewish content for kids were being published, there was very little written about them. Individual reviews and short bibliographies existed but nothing that compiled all of that burgeoning literature on a continuous basis or evaluated it or identified it by the Jewish values embodied in it. As a Judaic librarian in synagogues and a bureau of Jewish education, I was very aware of how often parents and teachers looked for literature that was rich in Jewish values and how there were no guides to help find it.

This month the Jewish Values Finder was published in book form. How does the book differ from the web site? Will there be updated versions available every year?

The book contains information that the online does not, including a history of Jewish children's literature in America, selection criteria for books of Jewish content, collection development guidelines, and a list of Jewish publishers. While the online guide identifies books by more than 100 separate values, The Jewish Values Finder book organizes books by eighteen different values - each one conceptualized rather broadly. The chapter on mitzvot, for example, includes books that would be identified by many different mitzvot in the online guide. The book is portable; the online guide is not. The book is finite in the number of titles it contains whereas new titles are always being added to the online guide, which already contains books published in 2008. As for updates, I don't know what the publisher's plans are and suppose they depend on how well this book does.

If an author or publisher wants a book considered for inclusion in the Jewish Values Finder is there a submission process?

Anyone who wants a book for children or teens considered for the Valuesfinder can send me a copy for review. First, they should read about the criteria for selecting titles for inclusion in the Valuesfinder by going to www.ajljewishvalues.org. They can also email me at silverlr@roadrunner.com.

Do you see any significant trends in Jewish literature for children?

There's more Jewish "chicklit" being written and more novels for teens in general. Overall, they make me cringe: “chicklit" celebrates the very traits which sexist adult novels have always associated with women, traits that brand women as petty, materialistic, narcisistic, concerned mainly with their looks and how much money they can spend. The focus in most books for teens is on the self - on the main character and her or his personal, often narrow, concerns. There is very little sense of peoplehood or of being a part of the nation of Israel. In this sense, they are anti-Jewish.

Are there any books “missing” from the genre that you would like to see published?

The art of the picture book is one of the highest achievements in modern children's literature but there's little evidence of that among picture books of Jewish content, whose illustrations are usually banal or at best, pretty. I'm also struck by how conservative, how safe most books of Jewish content are. By this, I don't mean I yearn for the vulgarity that is so commercially successful in secular books for kids but I do wish there was more off-beat or experimental writing, more mischief, more fantasy. For this to happen, reviewers are going to have to be more welcoming of the off-beat and publishers less risk-averse.

Linda, thank you for your commitment to children’s literature!

Meredith Resnick's Writer Blog

My friend Meredith has a new writer blog. If you are looking for inspiration or some kidred soul connection, it's the place for you!

I stopped by to share my thoughts about "voice" with Meredith. Check it out:

http://fullread.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-voice-not-someone-elses.html

Happy Writing!

Phyllis Mattson - War Orphan in San Francisco

Phyllis Helene Mattson the author of WAR ORPHAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, a memoir based on her life as an orphan during World War II. Her father was forced to leave Austria, and her mother was unable to obtain the required paperwork to leave, but was able to find Kindertransport to take her daughter to safety. Phyllis was ten years old when she left her parents. She chronicled this period with letters she wrote describing her life, including her experiences in numerous Foster homes and an orphanage. Phyllis hopes that sharing her story will help a younger generation “learn about the struggles that some children have as the result of war.” Phyllis is a mother and grandmother, has been a member of the Peace Corps, and is currently a college teacher in Northern California.

You came to the United States when you were 10 without your parents. How did that happen? Why didn’t they come with you?
Father forced to leave Austria in 1939, mother didn’t have an affidavit, so she found a Kindertransport for me.

Tell us about the journey. Were you scared?
Mother had prepared me for it, and she promised she would soon be there.

You lived with an aunt, but only for a brief time. What happened?
I left my aunt’s because she had only planned to have me a short time, and she was very busy. I added a burden to the already small space and her husband was ill. So it was more for her reasons than anything I wanted or did. We remained in touch after I left.

What happened to your parents?
Father became a British POW (an error) and sent to Australia. Mother was sent to Germany twice to labor, then shipped to Minsk where she died.

How did your separation from your parents affect your life?
It made me very independent. I learned to plan for the things I really wanted, such as an education. I’ve had an extraordinary life, with many rewarding experiences such as teaching, traveling, service, and of course, many, many, friends to replace the family that I lost.

What are you working on now?
My China adventures.

What are a few fun facts about you?
I've traveled the world and just got back from 6th trip to China

What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving and 4th of July

You can learn more about Phyllis and her inspirational story at www.StevensCreekpress.com.

Sarah Lamstein - LETTER ON THE WIND

I am happy to welcome Sarah Lamstein to my blog! Sarah crafts heart- filled stories that are loved by children, parents, teachers, and librarians. Her newest picture book, LETTER ON THE WIND (Boyds Mills Press) just received a Sydney Taylor Honor Award for picture books.

Congratulations on the Sydney Taylor Book Award! How did you hear the news?

I received a very tantalizing email from Rachel Kamin, the chair of the Sydney Taylor Award committee asking me to call her. I did and was thrilled to hear that Letter on the Wind was selected as an Honor book. I was glad I could directly hear her enthusiasm for the work of her committee and that I could convey my excitement to her. It was great!!

Tell me a little about the book.

Letter on the Wind, a Chanukah tale, is a story of faith and generosity, skepticism and innocence. When a Middle Eastern village suffers a drought and the olives hang withered on the trees, the villagers cannot make olive oil to light their menorahs. They are resigned to a year without Chanukah, but one man, the poorest in the village, won’t accept that possibility. He writes a letter to the Almighty, asking for help with the dilemma. Help arrives, but with it come complications.

This tale reminds readers of the first Chanukah and of Mattathias’ bravery in protecting his faith.

Why were you drawn to a Jewish theme?

My first Jewish-themed book, Annie’s Shabbat, was a paean to the Shabos of my childhood. My editor asked if I could write a story like Annie’s Shabbat, but about Chanukah. Chanukah wasn’t as rich for me as our weekly observance of the Sabbath, with is preparation, its feast, its shul, its Havdalah, its time of peace and family. I could have written a Chanukah story about going to Joel Feldman’s each year, where his mother served a delicious meal, his grandfather being a butcher and always supplying his family with the fattest and juiciest hotdogs to go with our latkes.

My editor suggested that instead I research Jewish folktales to find one for Chanukah. Dov Noy’s Folktales of Israel proved a valuable source. One of the stories, a Passover tale entitled “Letter to the Almighty” captivated me with its image of a poor, innocent man sending a letter to the Almighty on the wind. It was the poetry of that image that set me to writing Letter on the Wind.

How much research was required to write the book?

I wanted to set the tale in the Middle East – a place of olive groves – in, say, the sixteenth century. I researched Jewish communal living in that time and place, found little, and broadened my scope to just plain communal living. I also looked a bit into the horticulture of olive trees and the process of making olive oil. I believe the illustrator, Neil Waldman, researched, among other things, menorahs. But rather than from research, the setting of the tale came more from my intuition and imagination.

How did you become a children’s writer?

After my first child was born, I began to explore writing for children but spent most of my early mothering years writing poetry. When our family spent two summers in Nepal for my husband’s work, I was drawn to the folk literature of the country and worked with a Nepali writer to produce a collection of tales for American readers. That project, From the Mango Tree and Other Folktales from Nepal, set me on the path to writing for children.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on old manuscript – something I’ve been clinging to for twenty years – a work of nonfiction for older readers. And in the back of my mind is a middle grade novel with a Jewish theme.

What are some fun facts about you?

I’m a puppeteer.
I love Motown.
I can play the Third Man Theme on my nose.

What is your favorite holiday?

My favorite holiday is Pesach because it involves a full table – filled with food and people gathered around it. I love the opportunity for discussion. I love the singing. But most of all, I love the long preparation – the quiet time in my kitchen preparing the ancient symbols – the roasted egg, the roasted shank bone, the horseradish, the charoseth. I feel like my mother, performing the same tasks as she. I feel like a part of a rich continuum.

To learn more about Sarah, please visit her web site at www.SarahLamstein.com

Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about writing books for children. Congratulations on your well deserved Sydney Taylor Honor Award!

Sydney Taylor Book Awards Announced!

Hi Friends,

I thought you might be interested to know that the Sydney Taylor Book Awards have been announced. You can check it out on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SydneyTaylorAward

To see a full list of the awards, click here:

http://sydneytaylorbookaward.blogspot.com/


Mazel Tov to all the winners!

Michelle Edwards - Chicken Man

Happy New Year friends and fellow book lovers! I know you will enjoy my first interview of the year with the talented author/illustrator, Michelle Edwards. Michelle has written and/or illustrated several picture books. Her most recent book is a new release of an old favorite, CHICKEN MAN. I’m delighted to welcome Michelle to my blog!

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why you were drawn to write about a Jewish theme or character?

My newest book, Chicken Man (January 2008) is actually one of the first books I wrote and illustrated. It will have a new cover and author’s note.

I wrote Chicken Man after living and working on Kibbutz Mizra. I had a friend who worked in the lul, the chicken coop. His charming stories of the chickens and the fun he had in the lul convinced me to work there, too. It was a horrible place and I hated the chickens. That’s when I learned about the power of stories.

What type of research was involved?

I guess you could say that my research was my short, but very memorable tenure in the Kibbutz Mizra chicken coop.

How did you become a children’s writer?

During my first stay in Israel (1974) I filled sketch books with stories and pictures. I knew I wanted to be an artist. One day, I realized that children’s books told stories this way. So I started to teach myself about writing and illustrating for children. It has been a very long course. I am still learning.

What are you working on now?

A book called THE GRAVEL ROAD GANG.

What are a few fun acts about you?

My childhood nickname, Mush. Still in use.
I knit socks!
I love comic books.
I save stamps. And sometimes their envelopes.

What is your favorite holiday?

Rosh Hashanah! I love beginnings. And apples and the first signs of autumn.

Here's to a fabulous new beginning for Chicken Man! Michelle, thanks for stopping by!

To learn more about Michelle and her other wonderful books, please visit her web site at www.MichelleEdwards.com

Pamela Ehrenberg - Ethan Suspended

Pamela Ehrenberg is the author of ETHAN SUSPENDED, a multi-layered novel about a boy who moves into the home of his grandparents. ETHAN SUSPENDED is a wonderful example of a growing genre in Jewish kidlit, with a strong Jewish character in a story that will appeal to kids of all backgrounds. Pamela is a former teacher. She currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and young daughter. I’m so happy to welcome Pamela and share her thoughts about writing.

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why were you drawn to write about a Jewish theme or character?

Ethan, Suspended (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) was published in March 2007; it's about a kid who moves to Washington, DC, to live with his grandparents and becomes the only white, and Jewish, student at his junior high school. He also becomes the world's first jazz oboist.

I don't think I consciously chose to write about Jewish characters; it was more like as they talked (and ate) I realized that of course they were Jewish. Exploring the history of Ethan's family in DC, and why his grandparents stayed put as their friends moved out to the suburbs, made me want to learn about Jewish roles during the Civil Rights Movement and past and present relationships between Jewish and African-American communities.

What type of research was involved?

Mostly it was the first-hand experience of teaching in a DC junior high. The school Ethan attends is fictional, but the setting was inspired by a school where I taught seventh and eighth-grade English a few years ago. As I was writing, I found gaps in my knowledge that led me to do some research at the DC Historical Society and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (the stairwell of which appears in the book itself, as the site of the novel's one kiss). I also researched a few questions online, such as when I needed to know what flavors Fruit-by-the-Foot comes in.

How did you become a children's writer?

I think I've always been one: I remember "writing" a story in kindergarten and being dismayed when the ending was misinterpreted by one of my classmates. That was when I first thought about the relationship between writer and reader, how what I put on the page doesn't matter nearly as much as what the reader thinks is there. As an English major in college, I spent a couple of years trying to write "literary" short stories, until a professor returned a draft to me with the note, "This sounds like the first chapter of a young people's novel." That comment freed me to write what I had always loved.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on edits for my new book, currently called "Tillman County Fire," which is due out from Eerdmans in late 2008 or early 2009. It's about a fire that takes place in a rural West Virginia community--one of the main characters is one-quarter Jewish (through his father), so we'll see whether it's ultimately considered "Jewish book." And I'm also working on a new novel, about a Jewish extended family in 1950s Baltimore.

A few fun facts about me:

I live in Washington, D.C., with my husband Eric and daughter Talia (age 2.5 as of this writing). Neighborhood favorites include Butterscotch and Brownie, the gerbils in the kids' area of our library; a phenomenal Tot Shabbat service; and a couple of really nice coffee shops for writing. This year we came off the waiting list for a plot in our community garden, and Talia and I successfully grew 11 tomatoes and more kale than any of us had thought possible. More fun facts about me are on my website, www.pamelaehrenberg.com.

My favorite holiday:

Passover. I love the seders, especially our wildly off-key versions of adapted classics (in my family, "Adir Bimlicha" became "Grebow of Pimlico" in honor of my late grandfather's insurance business) and new favorites like "Don't Sit on the Afikomen." I love re-discovering treasures like the frog dish for holding saltwater (a gift from the rabbi who married us) and the plastic clapping hands that, after enough wine, sound vaguely like hail. But mostly I love how everything feels different for a week when our foods and dishes are different. I think a good book can have a similar effect, making the familiar seem just a little bit unfamiliar, making me see the world a little bit differently.

Pamela, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I promise to forward requests for the lyrics to “Don’t sit on the Afikomen!”

To learn more about ETHAN SUSPENDED, please visit Pamela’s website: www.pamelaehrenberg.com

Welcoming Betsy Rosenthal

I first met Betsy at a Jewish book event where we were both speakers. She was warm and friendly and I was charmed by her presentation. Betsy worked as a lawyer for many years before she became a children’s author. She has written two picture books, MY HOUSE IS SINGING, and IT’S NOT WORTH MAKING A TZIMMES OVER. Betsy lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. She says they are all “worth making a tzimmes over.” I’m so pleased to bring you this interview with my local colleague, Betsy Rosenthal.

Tell me a little bit about your latest book. Why you were drawn to write about a Jewish theme or character?

It's called, It's Not Worth Making a Tzimmes Over! It's a romp about a girl and her grandmother (her bubbe) who make a shabbat challah together. After Sara makes a mistake when she's adding the ingredients, the challah dough grows and grows until it's flowing through the town. They find a way to solve the problem and the whole community benefits from the yummy challah.

The story was based on a real life situation in which my son (when he was in a preschool temple program) mistakenly added his cup of orange juice to the mix instead of the eggs. It got me thinking.... In the book I even have a recipe for Challah a l'Orange courtesy of my son.

When I was growing up, my parents occasionally used Yiddish so that my brother and I wouldn't understand what they were saying. Hearing Yiddish brings back memories and gives me a warm feeling that I tried to replicate in my book by sprinkling in Yiddish words through the grandmother. I also have a Yiddish glossary in the back of the book.

What type of research was involved?

I did a little research on the old horror movie, The Blob. Also I used a couple of books to check the English spelling of the Yiddish words. And lastly, I tested out the challah recipe - it was yummy.

How did you become a children’s writer?

I used to practice law, up until I had my second child. At that time I stayed home with my children and spent many hours on the rocking chair, reading children's books to them. Since I had always loved to write stories and poems, I tried my hand at books for children. Now my children are beyond the age that I write for, but they still inspire me with their antics and give me fresh ideas I can incorporate into my writing.

What are you working on now?

I'm trying to interest a publisher in my novel in verse about my mother's childhood, growing up in a super large Jewish family (she was one of 12 children) in Baltimore during the depression.

What are a few fun facts about you?

In my Tzimmes book, Sara and her grandma play badminton because I play badminton. I just launched my website -- www.betsyrosenthal.com that has some biographical stuff about me.

I've been to Israel 8 times and I lived there for a little over a year.

What is your favorite holiday?

Definitely Passover-- the food, oh the food!

Betsy, thanks for sharing about the life experiences that inspire you!

To learn more about Betsy, please visit her web site at www.betsyrosenthal.com

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

I'd like to wish all my friends a very Happy Hanukkah!

I'm thrilled to announce that I have been interviewed by Heidi Estrin for her HOORAY FOR HANUKKAH! Book of Life blog podcast. Heidi has a delicious selection of Hanukkah related interviews, including illustrator Ann Koffsky who created her snowflake "Jerusalem of Peace," for Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure, author Sarah Marwil Lamstein and illustrator Neil Waldman talk about their book Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale, and Heidi interviews Cantor Kenny Ellis about his CD, Hanukkah Swings!

Please check it out: www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com

May your holiday be filled with light and lots of chocolate!

Introducing D. Dina Friedman

I’m delighted to introduce D. Dina Friedman. She is the author of two award-winning novels, ESCAPING INTO THE NIGHT, and PLAYING DAD’S SONG. Dina’s well-crafted stories deal with the Holocaust and the tragedy of 9/11. Through her books, young readers are able to view these difficult events with greater understanding and compassion for those who lived through the experiences.

Dina is a true creative spirit – a writer, musician, performer, community activist and more. I was pleased she was able to take time from her busy touring schedule to talk about her stories.

Your book, ESCAPING INTO THE NIGHT (Simon and Schuster, 2006) deals with the underground encampments during the Holocaust. Why were you drawn to write about this topic?

I was inspired to write about this after I visited the National Museum of the Holocaust in Washington DC and read about Tuvia Bielski, who saved 1200 Jews by setting up these encampments in the forests. Though I'd read a lot about the Holocaust and thought I knew most of the key aspects of Holocaust history, this was a story I had never heard. These encampments encompassed entire communities, and focused on mostly saving Jews who were unable to fight (women, children, elderly, etc.) I was intrigued with learning about how these communities functioned, how people survived in them, and what a child's experience living here might be like.

PLAYING DAD’S SONG (Farrar,Straus,Giroux,2006)is about a different kind of survival. Gus, your main character, is dealing with the loss of his dad after 9/11. What inspired you to write about music and performing as opportunities to help Gus heal?

I've always had a strong belief that expressing one's creative self, whatever that might be, promotes healing. My childhood self was an actress wannabee, and I've dabbled in music all my life, starting with piano lessons as a child, teaching myself guitar, playing the chimes in college, and playing in a klezmer band, so I while I believe that throwing yourself into any passion can help you grow and heal, I wanted to write about something I know and love.

Why did you start writing children's book?

ESCAPING INTO THE NIGHT was my first children's book. Before that I focused my writing on novels for adults, though I did try a couple of bad picture books. When I contemplated this story, it just seemed right that the book be written for a younger audience, and I felt familiar with the genre, having read an extensive number of YA and middle grade novels to my children (and later, on my own, because I enjoyed them so much.)

What are you working on now?

It depends on how you define "working on." I'm shopping a book I completed about a boy growing up under McCarthyism whose parents are accused of being Communists; I'm revising a book about a teenager who has to drop out of school to take care of her mentally ill mother; and I'm contemplating a number of other ideas, which I'm beginning to research, as well as write a few rough dribs and drabs.

What is the best thing about being a children's writer?

I love the audience. I like meeting children at book clubs and schools. I also like meeting other children's book writers and "talking shop." I appreciate that no matter how dark they are, most children's books have a "happyish" ending, and that while angst is there, it doesn't completely take over.

What is the hardest part about being a writer?

For me, the hardest part about writing is the first draft. Making things up is like pulling teeth, and my first drafts are really bad because I'm the type of writer who can't figure out where I'm going until I've started writing. It's not efficient, but I can't do it any other way.

What is your favorite question you have been asked by a reader?
I love it when readers ask me something specific about my books that shows that they really understand and care about my characters.

Do you have hobbies besides writing?

I'm an avid gardener, and right now it's hard to find time to write because we are still trying to process this year's tomatoes. I also love to hike, and I walk every day with my dog in the woods by our house. I like cross-country skiing, reading, playing music, and doing comedy improvisation. And I've finally cured myself of an addiction to Sudoku puzzles.

Do you have any pets?

I have a dog named Lefty (husky-shepherd) and a cat named Mopsy.

Can you share a few fun facts about you?

The info above pretty much covers it, but here are some lesser known things about me:
I am a baseball fan (currently Red Sox, but I grew up with the Mets in a family where sports was an everyday dinner table conversation topic.)

In my current family (husband, Shel, daughter, Alana -19, and son, Rafael-14) we never talk about baseball. The threads that link our family are music and food.

I cannot drive more than a mile without listening to a book on tape.

I grew up in New York City, and met my husband at a poetry reading in Greenwich Village.

I currently live next door to a dairy farm with over 300 cows.

Dina, it’s been great getting to know you! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. To learn more about Dina, please check out her web site at www.ddinafriedman.com.

Heidi Estrin - Books for Life!

I'm delighted to welcome librarian Heidi Estrin to my blog. Heidi is the Library Director at a congregation in Boca Raton, Florida, presides over the South Florida Association of Jewish Libraries, and spent several years on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. Heidi also hosts Jewish authors on her blog podcast, THE BOOK OF LIFE. It's librarians like Heidi who put the right books in the right hands, helping children to become enthusiastic lifelong readers. Heidi's dedication and passion for Jewish literature is e