Blogging for YALSA

I'm excited to be a guest blogger for YALSA! Check it out!


http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2012/02/28/the-2012-sydney-taylor-book-awards-for-younger-and-teen-readers/

Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - Welcome Robert Sharenow - The Berlin Boxing Club

I am honored to introduce Rob Sharenow, winner of the 2012 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s TeenReaders Category for The Berlin Boxing Club published by HarperTeen. This historical novel reveals the history of Nazi Germany through the eyes of Karl Stern, a typical 14-year-old German boy. Karl never gave much thought to being Jewish and had little connection with any religious life. When classmates bully Karl, he is forced to face the dangers in his own community. Given the opportunity to learn boxing from German champion Max Schmeling, Karl jumps at the chance. He grows strong and learns to defend himself. But as the Nazi’s gain power and his family is in peril, Karl questions who he can trust. The Berlin Boxing Club is a riveting read - bringing history to life in a compelling story that will inspire readers of all ages.

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Rob and learn more about The Berlin Boxing Club.

In Berlin Boxing Club, Karl is a believable teen. His thoughts, emotions, and experiences will ring true for today's readers. Interestingly, Karl doesn't identify with being Jewish. Why was this an important part of Karl’s character?

I think most teenagers have mixed feelings about their identity, particularly if they don't see themselves as part of a majority. I grew up in a town where Jews were a real minority. Despite being brought up with a strong Jewish background, I did not love the idea of being identified as the class "Jew" at school and having to answer for that in any way. At school, I wanted to be just another kid, and I was largely able to achieve that in modern America. Nazi Germany did not allow for such choices. In 1930s Berlin, a Jew was a Jew and you could never deny or change that in the eyes of anyone. I specifically made Karl come from a non-observant family to amplify just how unfair the Nazi labeling could be. Interestingly, although Karl does not consider himself Jewish, his interests reflect that identity without him even knowing it. His love of comic books and cartooning is a very Jewish trait, as is his love of the sport of boxing. One of the wonderful revelations for his character is his discovery of the Jewish fighters who filled the U.S. boxing ranks at the time. For a German boy, it was a complete shock to see that kind of powerful image of Jewish masculinity. It still is.

After Karl is attacked by bullies at school and jumps at the opportunity to learn boxing from Max Schmeling. What sparked your interest in the famous boxer?
I first learned about Schmeling when I was working as a writer for the History Channel. I was astonished to learn that he had never joined the Nazi party and his manager and close friends were Jews. This completely flew in the face of all my assumptions about him being an Aryan superman and a poster boy for Hitler. I'm a real history buff and I'm always intrigued when a character from history reveals some unexpected quality or dimension. Also, Schmeling's life had an epic quality, he was a boxing champion, a soldier, he married a movie star, and then went on to become a hugely successful businessman. I haven't come across many characters who led such a varied and exciting life.

As a work of historical fiction, how much research was involved in writing the story? How concerned are you with balancing fact and fiction?

I researched the subject for several years. I love interweaving fact and fiction, but I'm very careful to try to keep the historical characters as rooted in reality as possible. To understand Schmeling, I studied everything I could about him, read his autobiography, watched films of all his fights and TV appearances. I tried to make sure I was capturing him as realistically as possible.

In the process of researching and writing, what is the most surprising or interesting thing you discovered?

I was most shocked by how much many Jewish boys in Nazi Germany wanted to join the Hitler Youth. Like most kids, they just wanted to belong to the cool new club that all of their friends were joining. I read an incredible memoir called Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany by Hans J Massaquoi, and he conveyed much of the same emotion. The book cover has a photograph of him as a young black boy, with a homemade swastika pinned to his sweater. The power of adolescent longing transcends politics. You just want to fit in.

Rob - Congratulations on winning the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers. Thanks for taking the time to participate in the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour!

To learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour, please visit the AJL Blog

To learn more about the Sydney Taylor Book Award, please visit the Official STBA page.

The Book of Life Podcast

So honored to be interviewed by Heidi Estrin on The Book of Life.

Listen here!

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour is Coming!

Blog Tour 2012: The Sydney Taylor Book Award Interviews

The Sydney Taylor Book Award will be celebrating and showcasing its 2012 gold and silver medalists and a few selected Notables with a Blog Tour, February 5-10, 2012! Interviews with winning authors and illustrators will appear on a wide variety of Jewish and kidlit blogs.

Later this spring, we'll follow up with an episode of Katie Davis's Brain Burps About Books devoted to the Sydney Taylor Book Award!

Click here for the full schedule

STBA Blog Tour

SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS ANNOUNCED!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2012 Sydney Taylor Book Awards Announced by the Association of Jewish Libraries

Michael J. Rosen and Robert Sabuda, author and artist of Chanukah Lights, Susan Goldman Rubin, author of Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein, and Robert Sharenow, author of The Berlin Boxing Club, are the 2012 winners of the prestigious Sydney Taylor Book Award. The awards were announced at the mid-winter meeting of the School, Synagogue and Community Center Division of the Association of Jewish Libraries.The Sydney Taylor Book Award honors new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

The award memorializes Sydney Taylor, author of the classic All-of-a-Kind Family series. The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Pasadena, California this June.

Rosen and Sabuda will receive the 2012 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Younger Readers Category for Chanukah Lights, published by Candlewick Press. This exquisite book celebrates Jewish history by pairing poetic prose with intricate paper cut pop-up art. Barbara Bietz, Chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, said: “From the shtetl to skyscrapers, the white pop-up scenes against a background of deep rainbow colors illuminate Jewish life for the eight nights of Chanukah. Together, children and adults will marvel at the stunning scenes that magically unfold with each turn of the page.”

The gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Older Readers Category will be presented to Susan Goldman Rubin for Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein, published by Charlesbridge Publishing. This biography shares the inspiring story of the young musician and his commitment to succeed in spite of his family’s opposition. Through hard work, determination and a spirit that won’t quit, Bernstein’s dream is realized as he takes the stage as a conductor at Carnegie Hall. Numerous photos help bring Bernstein’s journey to life. Committee member Barbara Krasner commented: “Music Was It" shows the struggle between the old and new worlds - the immigrant generation and the American generation. Susan Goldman Rubin's well-researched and polished narrative was filled with tension that today's kids can relate to.”In 2000, Goldman Rubin received the Sydney Taylor Honor Award for Fireflies in the Dark: The Story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. Her book, The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin, was a 2006 Sydney Taylor Honor Book.

Robert Sharenow will receive the 2012 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Teen Readers Category for The Berlin Boxing Club, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing. This historical novel reveals the history of Nazi Germany through the eyes of Karl Stern, a typical 14-year-old German boy. Karl never gave much thought to being Jewish and had little connection with any religious life. When classmates bully Karl, he is forced to face the dangers in his own community. Given the opportunity to learn boxing from German champion Max Schmeling, Karl jumps at the chance. He grows strong and learns to defend himself. But as the Nazi’s gain power and his family is in peril, Karl questions who he can trust. Aimee Lurie, incoming Chair of the Award Committee noted: “The superb writing, meticulous research, and dramatic look into the world of boxing pack a punch that will leave teens mesmerized! Readers will be captivated and inspired by Karl's transformation from being the victim of anti-semitic violence to a strong, confident young man who is able to protect his family.”

For complete list of winners, honors, and notables please visit:

http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Portals/0/AJL_Assets/documents/awards/stba/2012%20STBAawardsList.pdf

The Mitzvah Project

Diane is the co-author of three non-fiction books for tweens, most recently, The Mitzvah Project Book Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah… and Your Life (Jewish Lights). Her writing partner is her best friend from college, Liz Suneby.

The Mitzvah Project Book Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah… and Your Life is a perfect book for any child in your life preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Kids can be overwhelmed with the idea of a Mitzvah Project. Diane and Liz provide wonderful resources to help organize kids, helping them make the right choice that will lead to a meaningful experience. I'm was happy to have the opportunity to chat with Diane about her work.

What inspired you to write The Mitzvah Project Book? The annual Mitzvah Day at my family’s synagogue, Washington Hebrew Congregation, was a major source of inspiration. I saw how just one day of service could spark great changes—both within a community and within the volunteers themselves. Likewise, my daughters gained a sense of their own power to change the world from their bat mitzvah projects. Their projects motivated them to continue with volunteer work. That was so inspiring! I wanted to help Jewish tweens find meaningful mitzvah projects so they too would feel the force of tikkun olam.

Tell me a bit about the research.
Collecting the stories of the young people’s projects was rather daunting at first. We worried, “How are we going to find a wide range of projects from all over the country?” We networked with rabbis and educators from California to Vermont via email. My coauthor, Liz Suneby, and I also reached out to friends, friends of friends and those beyond our six degrees of separation. Jewish Lights, our publisher, was very supportive of our quest. In “The Mitzvah Project Book,” we also profile a few kids’ efforts in Australia and Canada. I’m not quite sure how those kids found us!

What did you learn while writing the book that surprised you the most?
What I learned that surprised me the most is that any mitzvah project done with a full heart is a worthy one—whether it took 5 hours or 500 hours, whether it touched one person or helped hundreds of people. The first fifty kids we spoke with had done fifty dissimilar, wonderful projects! The breadth of their efforts, talents and good deeds amazed me. Kids also have boundless imaginations, compassionate instincts and sensitive insights that many of us adults have lost. I really wanted this book to appeal to any Jewish tween who might pick it up and leaf through the pages—whether they were a soccer star, computer whiz, fashionista or foodie. And I hope the book achieves that goal. If it does, it is because of the awesome kids who shared their projects with us.

Any advice for aspiring non-fiction writers?
Forget about the adage, “Curiosity killed the cat.” I think all successful writers are curious. Explore things that are unfamiliar and keep your mind open. Return to anything that gives you a happy pinprick of “aha!” or quickens your heart—because those are the things that will inspire you. Keep an inspiration board, notebook or file to stimulate ideas. And a bit of bravery is useful too. Everyone has self-doubts and self-doubts can paralyze any of us—but wrap those pesky thoughts up in the thickest paper you can imagine and forget about them! Pretend you are writing something you wish had already been written (even if for your younger self)—so just start and keep on writing.

What is your favorite holiday?
This is a hard choice, but I will pick Rosh Hashanah (Passover is a close second). I love the promise of fresh starts, new beginnings, positive changes and hope for the future. Of course, apples and honey are a delicious tradition. At our house, we’ve been collecting apple and bee paraphernalia to decorate our table for this holiday. Also, noodle pudding is my absolute favorite Jewish delicacy and we enjoy it every Rosh Hashanah. I always prepare my co-author’s mom’s apricot jam noodle pudding recipe. In college, Liz and I once ate an entire pan of it by ourselves!


To learn more about The Mitzvah Project, please visit: http://www.mitzvahprojectbook.com/

Goodbye Simms Taback

Our community was sad to hear about the passing of Simms Taback, creator of Joseph had a Little Overcoat, and many other beautiful books. His contributions to literature for children will be enjoyed for generations. May his memory be a blessing.

To read more, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/simms-taback-writer-and-illustrator-of-childrens-books-dies-at-79.html?_r=2&ref=obituaries

Like a Maccabee on Kindle!

Yotzeret Publishing announces - Like a Maccabee now available on Kindle! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006GYATJG/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1322833240&sr=1-1

Beyond Lucky - Sarah Aronson

I'm pleased to introuce Sarah Aronson. Sarah holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the author of two books for young readers: a retelling,The Princess and the Pea: A Very Short Pop-Up (Little Simon, 2002) and the Young Adult novel Head Chase (Roaring Brook Press 2007). Head Case was named a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

Sarah is also the co-founder and organizer of the Novel Writers Retreat at Vermont College. She speaks regularly at SCBWI events and writing conferences and reviews teen novels for Jewish Book World. She is a regular contributor to the craft blog, Through the Tollbooth. She is currently hard at work on two new novels for middle grade and young adult readers.

Sarah's newest book is Beyond Lucky (Dial Books for Young Readers). In Beyond Lucky, readers meet Ari Fish, a soccer goalie with a passion for the American presidents, and a fierce loyalty to his family and friends. Readers will root for Ari as he faces challenges head-on, both on and off the field.

What was the inspiration for Beyond Lucky, your first middle grade novel?
Hmmmmm….that’s a tough one. I think that “being inspired” is a big part of being a writer, and my observations change my stories on a regular basis. Every morning, I try to put myself in the position of welcoming inspiration. I look at my environment, eavesdrop, and pay attention to things that bother me, themes like injustice, luck, and community. It took me a long time to write Beyond Lucky. I put it back in the drawer many times. So at different stages, different experiences inspired the story.

At first, I thought about my own childhood and my childhood heroes. I also remembered what it was like to have problems with friends. I thought about the role Judaism played in my life. (I’m the granddaughter of a rabbi. Let’s just say: it was big.)

It was also my job! Early in the book’s development, I was working as the educational director of a small Jewish community. I could see just how important community could be to kids Ari’s age—I talked to many families who were struggling to find a balance between secular and religious life. At the same time, I was struck by the changes in my students as they approached b’nai mitzvah! Later, as I revised the final version of Beyond Lucky, I worked with a number of girls on their dvars. Our discussions very much inspired me to think about Ari’s feelings about responsibility, family, and heroism.

Of course, my family inspired Beyond Lucky, too. My son, Elliot, was the inspiration for Ari’s interest in the U.S. Presidents. The day he brought home Cormac O’Brien’s Secret Lives of the US Presidents, our meals changed! He began to read about the presidents all the time. I could predict his mood, based on the president he was interested in at the moment. (Bad mood=Gerald Ford. Good mood=Teddy Roosevelt.) At about the same time, my stepson graduated from college, became an Army ranger, and left for Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne. Here was a true hero. He inspired Sam. We were so proud of him, but like Ari’s parents, we worried about his safety.

Did you do a lot of research about club soccer for the book?
I talked to a lot of soccer players and fans. I watched a lot of games. And I read a lot of soccer commentary. You know, people are really passionate about their teams!

For me, sports offer a great community to explore in a book. Like a lot of parents, I enrolled my kids in club soccer. Elliot may bike and swim now, but soccer was not his sport! Because he was mostly picking daisies, I watched the families. I took note about how kids played together. I have to admit—I LOVE the thrill of sports. Reading about girls breaking through the gender barrier totally inspired Parker. (The truth is: in the early drafts Parker was a boy!)

Ari is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. How does Ari's Jewish identity impact his daily life?
I set out to write about a Jewish kid who has a regular story. But the more I dug into his story, the more I understood just how much his Jewish identity and family impacted the plot. Ari is a boy who wants to be a hero. But like a lot of the people from the Torah, he is just a regular person. Sometimes, doing the right thing is hard!

In Beyond Lucky, Wayne Timcoe is the local hero. Is his character based on a real person?

Not really, although I did go to school with two guys who eventually made it to the pros. I have always been interested in how athletes and other entertainers deal with life after their fifteen minutes are up. I like thinking about transitions like that…how a person adjusts to that sort of monumental change.

Ari has a lot of rituals that he thinks will bring him luck (counting presidents, reading his horoscope, etc). Do you believe in luck?

I don’t know a single writer who does not acknowledge luck! But the truth is, I have always been a little bit superstitious.

I sit down and write at the same time every day—right before and after yoga.
Before I send out a manuscript, I kiss it.
I make foods for different stages of my manuscript. (When the spicy soup comes out, my family knows we’re celebrating a “hundred page party!”)

I make a point to celebrate every step of the process. A new first page? A new chapter? A big revision? I celebrate! When I meet new writers, that is the advice I offer them.

What is your favorite holiday?
Passover wins by a hair over Purim. They both have great stories. And great rituals. The hamantaschen could have put Purim over the top, but over the last few years, my sponge cake has greatly improved.

Thanks, Sarah!

To learn more about Sarah, please visit her at http://saraharonson.com/

BLOOD LIE - Shirley Vernick

If you are looking for a compelling historical YA, don't miss The Blood Lie (Cinco Puntos Press, September 2011)by Shirley Vernick. The book is based on the first blood libel ever reported in the Western Hemisphere. It took place in 1928 in a small New York State village; the same village that has been the home to the author's family for more than a century. Today, Shirley lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two daughters, and two frisky dogs. I had the pleasure of meeting Shirley at the AJL Convention in Montreal and I'm happy to welcome Shirley to my blog.

What inspired you to write The Blood Lie?

When I was a sophomore in college, my sociology professor sent us all home for fall break with this assignment: identify a community conflict – past or present – and write a paper about it. Boy, was I mad. I had one measly long-weekend off, and I was going to have to spend it doing a paper? Besides, no juicy controversies ever happened in my dinky little hometown of Massena, NY. I thought I was sunk.
So I asked my father, who also grew up in Massena, if he had any ideas. That’s when he told me, for the first time, about the blood libel that happened in Massena when he was a high school senior. It was erev Yom Kippur, and a little Christian girl disappeared. The next thing you know, the Jews were being accused of kidnapping and murdering that little girl and baking her blood in their "holiday foods." Some of the accusers decided to take action. I couldn’t believe it. In America? In the 20th century? I got an A on the paper.

A few weeks later, the semester ended, I took the final exam, and promptly forgot everything I’d learned in that class – everything except the story of the blood libel. I knew that one day I’d need to write more than a school paper about this important event in American-Jewish history. I'd need to write the book that became The Blood Lie.

Can you tell me a bit about the research required?

I was lucky enough to have access to people with firsthand experience of the blood libel, including my father, a cousin, and the son of the then-officiating rabbi. Unfortunately, when I looked for secondary sources, I discovered a dearth of documentation. Further, the few written sources I did find often contradicted each other. So it was definitely a sleuthing, read-between-the-lines process.

What did you learn that was beyond what you had expected?

I learned that, despite the teeming hate and fear, there were also examples of great compassion, loyalty and friendship during this difficult time. People's true colors – the good and the bad – really do show during a crisis. I also learned a lot about how rumors spread and take on a life of their own. This blood libel happened in the days before email, Facebook, Twitter, or cellphones, yet the lie went viral.

How has the community responded?

Wherever I am, hardly anyone I talk to has heard of the Massena blood libel – very few Jews and no Gentiles. Massena itself is no exception, since the Jewish community there has all but died out, I'm sad to say. So when I do mention the blood libel, people respond with surprise and fascination, much as I did back in college. Jewish people tend to say, "Wait, there has been a blood libel outside of Eastern Europe or Russia? I never knew." Gentile people usually say, "What's a blood libel?" (although the media frenzy over Sarah Palin's use of the term has somewhat changed that).

What is the best part of being a writer?

For me, the best part is the creating: creating characters, settings and plots. Even if a book is based on real events, there's still the challenge of shaping the facts into an engaging story. I love translating my mental images into words that allow readers to recreate those images for themselves. Not that readers have to imagine the exact images I have in my own head. Part of the beauty of being a writer is knowing that I'm continually co-creating the story with readers. I can't imagine anything more satisfying – or fun!

Shirley, thank you for sharing the story behind The Blood Lie

When Life Gives You O.J. - Erica Perl

Erica Perl is an award-winning children's book author.She grew up in Burlington, Vermont and is now based in Washington, DC. She writes picture books, novels for older readers, novels for teens. Read on to learn about her latest book, When Life Give You OJ. A special treat - Erica shares a favorite recipe!

Tell me about When Life Gives You O.J. What was the inspiration for the story?

When Life Gives You O.J. is the story of ten-year-old Zelly Fried has recently moved to Vermont from Brooklyn and longs for a dog. Her eccentric grandfather, Ace, proposes that she use an old orange juice jug as a "practice dog" and challenges Zelly to walk, feed, and clean up after it to prove to her parents that she is responsible enough for the real thing. Zelly’s desire for a dog collides head-on with her desire not to stick out, and she can't help wondering if Ace's plan is so-crazy-it-just-might-work or - as Ace would put it - completely meshugge. Ace uses Yiddish words frequently and the book includes a Yiddish glossary written in Zelly's voice.

Is there a Jewish persepctive in the book

There is definitely a Jewish perspective in the book. The narrative in many ways reflects my own experiences growing up Jewish in Vermont, the child of New York Jews who suddenly found themselves in a distinct minority in the Green Mountain state (when we joined a temple, it met in a Methodist church where they had installed a curtain to cover the gigantic cross during our services). It was important to me that the book reflected my adolescent angst that the very things that were touchstones of my cultural identity (for example, my frizzy dark hair, some of the foods my family enjoyed - including tongue sandwiches - and, of course, my New-York-Jewish grandparents) set me apart from my peers. The serious aspects of the book notwithstanding, I would be remiss if I did not mention that there is also a lot of distinctly Jewish humor in it!

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

The best part about being a children's writer, hands down, is sharing my books with kids. I have a life-long obsession with children's books and I always dreamed of being an author.

Did you have pets as a child? Now?

Unsurprisingly, I lobbied for a dog for about five years. While I did not resort to dragging an orange juice container around, I did finally succeed by asking for a dog as my bat mitzvah gift. Now my family is "between dogs", as our beloved dog Lucy passed away at the age of 19 this summer. Our guinea pig is doing her best to fill the void in the meantime.

What is your favorite holiday?

My favorite holiday is Purim. I love dressing up in costumes and I love participating in the noisy, silly and festive annual schpiel at our temple (Temple Micah in Washington, DC). As a kid, I loved how our cantor held up red and green ping pong paddles (marked "stop" and "go") to try to rein in our efforts to drown out the dreaded name. I also have the best recipe for hamantaschen in the world and it contains - would you believe it? - orange juice. Here it is:

Erica's (and Zelly's) Famous Hamantashen
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons packed finely grated fresh orange zest
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
2/3 cup jam (I usually use apricot and raspberry all-fruit preserves)

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl with an electric mixer beat shortening, sugar, and egg at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add zest and juice and beat until incorporated. Add flour mixture, stirring, until a smooth dough is formed. Gather dough into a ball and flatten into a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.

2. When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 375° F.

3. Halve dough. On a lightly floured surface roll out half of dough (keeping other half wrapped and chilled) 1/4 inch thick. With a 3-inch cutter (or drinking glass) cut out as many rounds as possible. Transfer rounds with a metal spatula to a large baking sheet, arranging about 1/2 inch apart. Reroll scraps and cut out more rounds. Put 1 teaspoon filling in center of each round and fold up edges to form triangular cookies resembling a tricornered hat, pinching corners together and leaving filling exposed. (Pinch dough tightly enough so seams are no longer visible and sides are taut enough to prevent cookies from leaking filling as they bake.)

4. Bake hamantaschen in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until pale golden. Cool hamantaschen on baking sheet 5 minutes and transfer to racks to cool completely. Make more hamantaschen with remaining dough and filling in same manner. Hamantaschen keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days.

Thanks, Erica - I can't wait to try out your recipe!

Erica is part of the Jewish Book Council's NETWORK program, so please get in touch with them if you want to book Erica to come to your JCC. She is also available to visit with schools and book groups worldwide by skype for free (schedule permitting!)

For more about Erica, including some fun videos and downloadable items, visit her web site at: www.ericaperl.com/when-life-gives-you-oj/

Three Literary Agents in One Workshop!

On behalf of my friend, Anna Olswanger I am happy to share the following announcement about a terrific writer's workshop in the New York area.


Fall Workshop

Where Do I Go From Here?: 3 Literary Agents, 3 Opinions

You took the first step: you wrote a children's or YA manuscript that you are excited about—but where do you go from here?

We think we can help! We are three literary agents (Andrea Cascardi of Transatlantic Literary Agency, Anna Olswanger of Liza Dawson Associates, and Ann Tobias of A Literary Agency for Children's Books) who specialize in children's books and who are in regular touch with our clients and their publishers. We are once again offering our workshop Where Do I Go From Here?: 3 Literary Agents, 3 Opinions in New York City for children's book writers.

We offer this one-day workshop to help those who are trying to make sense of the publishing world. We will cover such areas as how to find an agent and/or a publisher, marketplace considerations, writing tips, and joining critique groups. We will read part of your manuscript in advance of the workshop and be prepared to discuss it with you in a small-group roundtable setting. We cannot guarantee publication but we can bring much-needed clarity to your pursuit of becoming a published author, and help you make the next step.

Workshop date:
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Location:
SLC Conference Center, 352 Seventh Avenue (at 30th Street), 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Time:
9:00-4:00 p.m.

Fee (includes continental breakfast and lunch):
$295.00 to September 30, $345.00 thereafter

Our previous workshops have all been a sell-out.

Contact Information
info@3LiteraryAgents.com

Jognau, the Dreamer

"Jognau, the Dreamer" is an original story by award winning author Sylvia Rouss and Raoul Wallenberg Prize recipient Ambassador Asher Naim, illustrated by Dawn Phillips. The animated version is narrated by Geoffrey Bennett and produced by Jordan Rouss. If you are interested in the rescue of the Ethiopian Jews to Israel, you can view the animated version, and download the book and coloring book. All are free!

I was excited to hear about this project from Sylvia. She was able to share a bit of background with me:

I met Ambassador Asher Naim when my husband and I attended an alumni event for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After his lecture, we went for coffee and we struck up a friendship that continues to this day. We have visited the Ambassador and his wife in Jerusalem, and they have visited us in Los Angeles.

In one of our earliest conversations, the Ambassador told me how well he was received when he lectured at churches. Christians generally, but particularly African-American Christians, were “overwhelmed” by the story of the modern day Exodus of Ethiopian Jews. We wondered out loud if we could create a children’s book. After reading his book, Saving the Lost Tribe: The Rescue and Redemption of the Ethiopian Jews, I knew that this was a story that should and could be presented to children. Jognau, the Dreamer was written shortly thereafter.

I “met” Dawn Phillips on FaceBook last year, and the Scholarship Fund for Ethiopian Jews contributed the money to pay for her art work. Ambassador Naim and I donated the story, and my son Jordan, an attorney, and his good friend Geoffrey Bennett, an NPR producer, volunteered to produce and narrate the animated version.

We hope the story of Jognau will bring this remarkable story of the rescue of Ethiopian Jews to a new generation of readers.

Find the story here:

http://www.sylviarouss.com/?page_id=1517

Sylvia, thank you for making this story available to your readers!

OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

Amy Fellner Dominy is the author of OyMG (Bloomsbury). The book jacket reads, "Jewish Girl. Christian Camp. Holy Moly." Ellie Taylor is passionate about speech and debate. So much so, she attends the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts in hopes of earning a scholarship to Benedict High School. The only pickle is that Ellie is Jewish and her Zayde doesn’t think a Jewish girl at Christian camp is such a good idea. Ellie has a warm and loving relationship with her Zayde, who loves to cook and peppers his speech with yiddishisms. Life gets complicated for Ellie as she swallows any personal concern and focuses on her goal of beating out her competition in the final tournament at speech camp. OyMG is a thought provoking, humorous book that will appeal to tweens and teens.

Amy worked as a copywriter in the advertising business for twenty years before leaving to earn her MFA as a playwright. Her plays for adults and children have been staged in various cities around the country. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and two teenage children. OyMG is her first novel and I'm thrilled tohave the chance to ask Amy a few questions about OyMG.

What was your inspiration for writing OyMG?

Because I grew up as one of the only Jewish kids in my school, I was always aware of being different. I was proud of my faith, but at times it was hard. Like many teens, I wanted to fit in. I think that’s always been a universal challenge—how to be true to ourselves even when there’s pressure to conform. The question is how far will we go to fit in? What part of ourselves are we willing to hide? From that question, Ellie Taylor and OyMG came to life.

Have you experienced the type of anti-semitism Ellie experiences?

Though the situation was much different, I did experience anti-Semitism when I was the same age as Ellie. I had a week-long babysitting job, and the family fired me when they discovered I was Jewish. It was my first experience with that kind of hatred, and I do think it made me wary. When you’re faced with something like that, it can be tempting to want to hide the part of yourself you don’t think people will like or accept. That experience has never left me, and I imagine I drew upon it in many ways as I wrote OyMG.

How have young readers responded to OyMG?

One of the best parts of this whole experience has been the response from readers. Kids have told me they loved Ellie, and the book has made them want to stand up for themselves in their own lives. (That’s about as good as it gets!) I’ve also been thanked by teens for writing a book about a Jewish girl that’s not Holocaust related, since they read so many of those books. And finally, I hear from all kinds of people—teens and adults—who appreciate that this is a book that raises issues of religion and faith without feeling preachy. I’m very happy about that, as well.

What was your greatest challenge in writing OyMG?
In the beginning, I struggled with how to write about this religious issue without being heavy-handed. Then, I realized I wasn’t writing about a religious issue. I was writing about a teenager with a problem. Once I focused the story on Ellie, and let her deal with the situation, the book really came together.

Learn more about Amy at www.amyfellnerdominy.com

Welcome Ann Koffsky

Ann Koffsky has illustrated and authored over 20 books for children, including Eight Lights for Eight Nights (Barron’s Educational Series), and My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel (URJ Press) which was given a Notable Book designation by the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Ann enjoys creating products of all kinds, and has designed everything from toys to calendars to formal Ketubot. Many greeting card companies have featured Ann's work. She works in two styles: Bold, graphic papercuts, and whimsical inviting paintings. I have been an admirer of Ann's work for many years. I was excited to discuss her newest book which she wrote and illustrated, Noah's Swim-a-Thon(URJ Press).

Tell me about your inspiration for Noah's Swim-a-Thon.
For the past decade, I have worked as a lifeguard at Ruach Day Camp on long island. My main character, Noah, is directly inspired by the the kids that I taught to swim there .

As an author/illustrator do you think in words or pictures?
Since I began my career as an illustrator, the visual is always a high priority for me. But it's difficult to separate one from the other--when I am writing words, I will often create a rough sketch of the books layout, to help me plan the pacing and plot of a story. But as an illustrator, you can't really start drawing until you have a concept and words to work with...so they really go hand in hand.

How different is the creative process when you are the illustrator of someone else's story versus being both author and illustrator?
Control- I control the vertical, I control the horizontal! What that really means is that when the entire project is my own, I can work the pictures around the text, and the text around the pictures. For example, if t if I am illlustrating my own story, and I find that the picture I draw eliminates the need for a couple of descriptive sentences because the picture is description enough , I can cut the sentences. If it's someone else's text/ baby, then the text is more frozen and I have to work the pictures to fit the text, not the reverse. I really enjoy both ways of working because it's great having someone elses ideas to inspire me and it's fun to come with my own ideas, too.


As an illustrator there are a variety of techniques that you use from painting to paper cutting. Do you have a favorite medium?
Nope. That's like choosing which is favorite child! Each of my styles has it's own special qualities that make them ideal for different projects.

What is your favorite holiday?
I love Purim! It's such a fun holiday, with lots of character and joy. I also love it because the mitzvot of the holiday invite creativity-- from designing your own costume, or crafting a special Mishloach manot.

If you would like to see some of Ann's wonderful artwork and learn more about her, please visit http://www.blogger.com/www.annkoffsky.com

Thank you, Montreal!

The Association of Jewish Libraries held their convention in Montreal. What a wonderful city! The Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee had the opportunity to share some of our favorite books of the year and present this year's winners with their awards, including Howard Schwartz and Kristina Swarner for Gathering Sparks, Barry Deutsch for Hereville, and Dana Reinhardt for The Things a Brother Knows. We were honored to have Jo Taylor Marshall, the daughter of Sydney Taylor, join us for the celebration. She is pictured above with the committee.

Check out the AJL Blog for more information: www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Resources/Blog.aspx

A New Release from Marc Lumer

I'm always happy to share good news. My illustrator friend Marc Lumer is excited to announce his new book,
Hashem is Truly Everywhere
Written by Chani Altein and illustrated by Marc Lumer published by Hachai.

Sometimes children picture Hashem as a distant Figure, living in the heavens or the sky. Yet, one of the most basic concepts in Judaism is the recognition of Hashem as the Creator of everything, the Original cause and source of all, and a Presence in every aspect of His creation.

In this eye-popping picture book, a curious little boy asks his friend where Hashem can be found. As they explore together in an adventure that takes them from the sky, to the sea and then to outer space, they discover that:

High and low, dark and light,
Near and far, day and night,
In and out, here and there,
Hashem is truly everywhere!

Congrats to Marc and Chani!
For more information please visit hachai.com

The Littlest Mountain - Barbara Rosenstock

Barb Rosenstock is the author of The Littlest Mountain, a new picture book from Kar-Ben about the legend of Mt Sinai. After a long career in advertising, Barb started writing for children while completing a master’s degree in teaching. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband, sons and two big poodles, who all keep her sane (or insane) depending on the day. In addition to The Littlest Mountain (KarBen, 2011), her first book Fearless: the story of racing legend Louise Smith (Dutton 2010) is on the 2011 Top 10 ALA/Amelia Bloomer Book List. Upcoming titles include: The Camping Trip that Changed America, with Mordicai Gerstein (Dial, 2012) and William’s Windmill (Knopf, 2013.)

I met Barb through our mutual friend, Esther Hershenhorn. I'm thrilled Barb was willing to share her thoughts about her new book.

What inspired you to write The Littlest Mountain?

One line in Bruce Feiler’s book Walking the Bible. He mentions a midrash legend about a contest between the mountains in a chapter on looking for Mount Sinai. I was curious (which is how these darn book ideas always start) and asked Rabbi Scott Looper from our local Congregation Or Shalom for help. Rabbi knew the legend “The Contest of the Mountains.” He provided me with translations from Hebrew, and a few additional adult books that had interpretations of its meaning. From that point on it was just a matter of characterizing the mountains, researching a bit about their history/lore/location and writing my way into some interesting word rhythms and patterns.

Do the illustrations capture your vision of the story?

This is probably the most difficult story to illustrate that I’ve written. I do not envy Melanie Hall the illustration task for The Littlest Mountain. In my head I actually had mountains circling and speaking to each other, with faces and the ability to move and dance. Picture book Illustrators tell the same story visually in their style. Melanie took the parts of The Littlest Mountain that spoke to her and made a cohesive, natural looking series of pictures that told the story her way and I thank her for her vision and terrific work.

What is the best part of being a writer?

It’s a tie between two things: The freedom to follow my curiosity wherever it leads and the great fun and satisfaction that I get when speaking with children in schools or libraries. A morning in a research library followed by an afternoon school visit would be the perfect day! OK, that's not all in my perfect day, it would include a dinner of my husband's BBQ salmon with cole slaw, hugs from my two boys, a long walk with the dogs, and about two hours work on a new book idea. Oh, and dessert, we have to have dessert.

I'd be so tired after that day I'd sleep for a week! Which is another nice thing about being a writer, afternoon naps.

What is a fun fact about you?

I have this weird ability to remember the lyrics of any song after hearing it once. I was a Gleek-type kid in high school, so I know almost every Broadway musical score written from the 1930s into the 1980s and any Top 20 song, any year. I wish I'd lived in Cole Porter’s Paris apartment about 1918.

What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving, which is like a giant summary holiday, emphasizing what all holidays are about—taking a step back to realize and appreciate our blessings. I like that people in the U.S. of all faiths and cultures celebrate this holiday together. Even though it’s a bit melancholy, I also love Yom Kippur. The bittersweet language, the image of the book of life, speaks to my heart. I feel a fresh start at Yom Kippur services every year. We can all use some extra chances to put things right. Plus there’s nothing like my mother-in-law’s kugel after a day of fasting! (with all these food references, can you tell fasting doesn't come easy to me???)

Thanks, Barb! It's been great getting to know you.

To learn more about Barb and her books, visit her website at www.barbrosenstock.com.

Welcome Anna Olswanger!

Anna Olswanger is one of the busiest and most diverse professionals in the world of children’s books. Among many other roles, Anna is an award winning author, literary agent, promoter of Jewish books, and publisher of miniature books. I was thrilled to learn that Anna’s latest project is a musical version of two of her books. I couldn’t wait to learn more about the musical, Shlemiel Crooks, as well as Anna’s newest role as a book coach. Anna is an inspiration and I am thrilled to share this interview with my readers!

Tell me about the new musical Shlemiel Crooks which is based on your books, Shlemiel Crooks and Chicken Bone Man. How did the musical version of your books come about?

Two years ago, I sent a copy of Shlemiel Crooks to Sean Hartley, director of the Kaufman Center’s Poppy Seed Players in New York. Shlemiel Crooks, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and PJ Library Book, is the story of two bumbling crooks who are goaded by the ghost of Pharaoh into stealing the Passover wine from Reb Elias' kosher liquor store. I based the book on a 1919 Yiddish newspaper article I discovered about the botched robbery of my great-grandfather’s kosher liquor store in St. Louis. I hoped Sean would think the story was funny (two crooks leave with less than they came with) and consider turning it into a musical with some of my dad's original music. I also sent Sean stories I had written about my dad, including "Chicken Bone Man," narrated by my dad's dog Jerry, which was an F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contest winner. “Chicken Bone Man” is the story of a little Jewish boy in Memphis who dreams of becoming a blues piano player. Sean liked the fact that the stories were about real people. He was able to get funding and commissioned a playwright, lyricist, and composer to create the musical Shlemiel Crooks based on both books. Our original idea was to incorporate my dad's music into the play, but in the end, only one of his songs was used: "Chicken Bone Man."

How important is music in your life?

My father Berl Olswanger was a professional musician. I grew up listening to him practice the scales on the piano almost two hours every day. If he took a vacation, or he was sick, he made up the time. When I heard him practice, I felt as though everything in my world was right. The sound of the scales soothed me. My father had a dance band and sometimes they rehearsed in our home, so I got to hear that music also. I felt lucky to have original music in my life, to know musicians, and especially to have a parent who made a living in an unconventional way. He taught me by his example that it was possible to live outside the box.

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

I discovered that it's fun to let go and allow other artists to take my work and play with it. Sean, the playwright, the lyricist, the composer, and the actors have made my books into something bigger than I envisioned. So, it's also humbling.

How can your fans see the show?

People who'd like to see the musical can get information and buy tickets online.

http://kaufman-center.org/merkin-concert-hall/event/poppy-seed-players-shlemiel-crooks/
This year's performance takes places on Sunday, April 10, 2011—and it's what the Kaufman Center is calling a "World Premiere." I understand that there are still good seats left. A book signing will follow the performance, and every child who attends will receive a free "Shlemiel Crooks" book plate. Although this will be the only performance at Merkin Hall this year, the Kaufman Center has already decided to present the play again next year.

You have another new adventure in your life. Can you tell me a bit about being a Book Coach?

Aspiring authors have SCBWI, writers groups,bookstore owners and librarians they can turn to, also friends and family, but do they have one professional who can follow their career, and offer advice and support along the way? It's true that a literary agent should be able to do that, but as an agent myself, I know there's just not enough time. Also, as an agent, you want authors to come to you with a certain level of expertise and professionalism. You don't want to have to spend hours on the phone talking to them about decisions they need to make, like what is it they want to accomplish as writers, or what do they want their writing legacy to be? And there are more practical decisions to make: What if they have one book published and can't get their second book published? What if they can't get an agent? So, I think there's room for another professional in the world of writing children's books, a book coach. As a coach, I bring my experience as a literary agent and writer to the table. My hope is to work with a select group of writers over time, follow their careers, help them make decisions about how to accomplish their goals, and ultimately help them succeed.

What are some fun facts about you?

Every night at sunset, I put nuts on my window ledge and watch the cardinals come. Sometimes, depending on the season, as many as twenty cardinals come. They are beautiful, exquisite creatures. I am left-handed. I grew up in Memphis. I once dropped out of college to live on a kibbutz in Israel. I became a vegetarian at the age of 15 and a vegan just last year. I married late, at the age of 55, to an Italian Jew who is an inspiration to me because of his passion for life. He's quick to laugh. He's also a wonderful cook. I have another book coming out later this year from New South Books,the publisher of Shlemiel Crooks. It’s for older readers and has a Holocaust theme.

Anna, Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with me. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors!

Writers - Finding Success Late in Life

Here is an interesting article about some late bloomers!

Graphic Novel Conference - April 3rd

10:00AM to 3:00PM - SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011
Featured Speakers:
Sid Jacobson was editor in chief at Harvey Comics, where he created Richie Rich, and was the executive editor at Marvel Comics. His collaborations with illustrator Ernie Colon include the fascinating 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, and the new illustrated biography of Anne Frank entitled, Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography.
William J. Rubin is the executive editor of Nachshon Press and the chief architect of the National Jewish Book Award winner, Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel.
Barry Deutsch is the 2011 Sydney Taylor Award winner for Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword.
Anastasia Betts is a well-known education professional with an expertise in graphic literature.
10:00 AM
Registration and Bagels
10:30 AM
Questions and Answers about graphic literature with authors Sid Jacobson, Barry Deutsch and William Rubin
12:00 PM
Buffet Lunch with special presentation by Sydney Taylor Award winner Barry Deutsch
1:15 PM
History of graphic literature for children with Anastasia Betts
2:30 PM
Literature marketplace and autographing by local children's literature authors

Manuscript consultations available
Conference will be held at American Jewish University,
15600 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles

THE DEADLINE FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS IS MARCH 28
Sponsored by Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library, Association of Jewish Libraries, AJLSC, and American Jewish University
For reservations and information call Susan Dubin at (818) 886-6415, send email to Lisa Silverman at lsilverman@sinaitemple.org or return this to the address below:

Name___________________ Address________________________City/State/Zip_______________
Phone___________________Email_________________________Institution____________________

______$55 (includes lunch)______ AJL member $45 (includes lunch)____ $45 Manuscript consult

Make check payable to: Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library
Mail to:
Jewish Literature for Children Conference
Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library
10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024

The 2011 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour

The Sydney Taylor Book Award 2011 Blog Tour takes place from February 6-11, 2011. Award winning authors and illustrators will be featured on popular blogs.

Do you want to meet the authors and illustrators? Check out the details here:

The 2011 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour

SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD ANNOUNCED!

THE 2011 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS
ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:
Gathering Sparks by Howard Schwartz with illustrations by Kristina Swarner
(Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
(Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams)
The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:
The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
(Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)
Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Younger Readers:
Modeh Ani: A Good Morning Book by Sarah Gershman with illustrations by Kristina Swarner
(EKS Publishing)
Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser with illustrations by Claire A. Nivola
(Houghton Mifflin Books for Children)
Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale by Barbara Diamond Goldin with illustrations by Jaime Zollars
(Marshall Cavendish Children)

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Older Readers:
Resistance by Carla Jablonski with illustrations by Leland Purvis
(First Second, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
One Is Not a Lonely Number by Evelyn Krieger
(YM Books)
Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer
(Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)
Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Teen Readers:
Hush by Eishes Chayil
(Walker & Company, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing)
Once by Morris Gleitzman
(Henry Holt and Company)
Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman
(Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.)
Notable Books for Younger Readers:
Engineer Ari and the Sukkah Express by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Shahar Kober
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Feivel's Flying Horses by Heidi Smith Hyde with illustrations by Johanna van der Sterre
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Miriam in the Desert by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah by Leslie Kimmelman with illustrations by Paul Meisel
(Holiday House)
Say Hello, Lily by Deborah Lakritz with illustrations by Martha Aviles
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Beautiful Yetta, The Yiddish Chicken by Daniel Pinkwater with illustrations by Jill Pinkwater
(Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan)
A Tale of Two Seders by Mindy Avra Portnoy with illustrations by Valeria Cis
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Jackie's Gift by Sharon Robinson with illustrations by E.B. Lewis
(The Viking Press, an imprint of Penguin)
Zishe the Strong Man by Robert Rubenstein with illustrations by Woody Miller
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Sara Finds a Mitzva by Rebeka Simhaee with illustrations by Michael Weber
(Hachai Publishing)
Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by David Goldin
(Tricycle Press, an imprint of The Crown Trade Group/Random House)
The Rooster Prince of Breslov by Ann Stampler with illustrations by Eugene Yelchin
(Clarion, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Dear Tree by Doba Rivka Weber with illustrations by Phyllis Saroff
(Hachai Publishing)
Notable Books for Older Readers:
Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
(Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan)
Kings and Carpenters: One Hundred Bible Land Jobs You Might Have Praised or Panned
by Laurie Coulter with illustrations by Mary Newbigging
(Annick Press)
Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon
with illustrations by Craig Orback
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
The Orphan Rescue by Anne Dublin with illustrations by Qin Leng
(Second Story Press)
The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy
(Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
Sharing Our Homeland: Palestinian and Jewish Children at Summer Peace Camp by Trisha Marx
with photographs by Cindy Karp
(Lee & Low Books)
Mitzvah the Mutt by Sylvia Rouss with illustrations by Martha Rast
(Yaldah Publishing)
Notable Books for Teen Readers:
An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank by Elaine Marie Alphin
(Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner)
Annexed by Sharon Dogar
(Houghton Mifflin Books for Children)
Inconvenient by Margie Gelbwasser
(Flux, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.)
Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon
(Hill and Wang)
Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff
(Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan)
Under a Red Sky: Memoir of a Childhood in Communist Romania by Haya Leah Molnar
(Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan)
Cry of the Giraffe by Judie Oron
(Annick Press)

Welcome Howard Schwartz - Gathering Sparks

Howard Schwartz is a folklorist, mythologist, and author of numerous Jewish books for adults and children. His recent picture book,Gathering Sparks,explores the origins of tikkun olam in a sweet story of a grandfather and his grandchild with stunning light-filled illustrations by Kristina Swarner. I'm honored that Howard shared insights about his work and the creation of Gathering Sparks.

You have written numerous books for adults and children. Is there a distinct difference in your writing process for each genre?

Not really. In both cases I start with a story that I find compelling, that I keep thinking about. The primary difference in my approach to adult and children's stories is that I prefer to find stories about children for the children's books. Those are exceptionally hard to find. I don’t mind if a few adult words make their way into a children’s story. I never want to write down to children. They’re a lot smarter than we might think.

Your newest book, Gathering Sparks, was inspired by a sixteenth century teaching. Can you share a bit about the original work and how you adapted it for your story?

For many years I have loved the teaching of the Ari, as Rabbi Isaac Luria of Safed is known, about the shattering of the vessels and the gathering of the sparks. I have written many poems about it over the years, I’ve often included it up in my talks, and I often refer to it in my adult books, such as Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism. I love the idea that everyone can contribute to tikkun olam, repairing the world, and that everyone's contribution is essential. I finally asked myself how I could convey this mystical teaching to children. This led to Gathering Sparks. The key was a tradition that the stars were created when the holy vessels shattered. In the book the child asks where the stars came from, and this leads the Grandfather to explain the Ari's teachings about gathering the sparks.

The illustrations by Kristina Swarner are lovely. Do her images capture the story as you imagined?

Absolutely. I've been in love with Kristina's artwork since she illustrated my book Before You Were Born. There is something mysterious and luminous in her artwork, but also childlike. It's a rare and wonderful combination.

What is the best part about being a writer?

As a folklorist, the primary stages of writing are the research and the retelling. I love both stages. Research is exciting because you never know what you’ll find. Retelling requires that I fuse my imagination with the tradition, and that we work together. This is also quite exciting. So I love the whole process. Naturally, I also love it when the book comes out. It's so gratifying, and the appreciation for the books I receive from others means a lot to me.

What is your favorite holiday?

Shabbat. It comes once a week instead of once a year and it always brings a sense of holiness. I agree with Ahad Ha'am’s saying that "More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel.”

Gathering Sparks is a timeless story that has great appeal to children, parents, and grandparents. To learn more about Howard Schwartz and his work, please visit www.umsl.edu/~schwartzh/

3,548 Library Lovers Celebrate Jewish Library Snapshot Day

My friends Heidi and Etta organized a wonderful event to honor Jewish Libraries. Check out this inspiring video!




Read about Snapshot Day here:

3,548 Library Lovers Celebrate Jewish Library Snapshot Day

King Solomon and the Bee

For many years children have been charmed by the adaptation of the classic tale of King Solomon and an oh-so-smart bee, in the book King Solomon and the Bee, in which the clever bee helps King Solomon solve a riddle posed by the Queen of Sheba. The book by Dalia Hardof Renberg, illustrated by Ruth Heller, was originally published in 1994 by HarperCollins. To the delight of teachers and librarians, a paperback edition of King Solomon and the Bee was recently published by Interlink Publishing. Dalia is also the author of The Complete Family Guide to Jewish Holidays and another children's picture book, Hello, Clouds. I’m thrilled that Dalia was able to answer a few questions about her classic book.

What inspired you to write King Solomon and the Bee?

I always liked the story. One day,I wanted to tell my first grandchild, Aaron, some Israeli and Jewish children’s stories. I was mentally collecting such stories, when I remembered, all of a sudden, the Bee story. After looking around and not finding it in English for children, I did some research, including about the rights to the story, and concluded that I should write a children's version.

I wrote it on speculation and showed it to my editor at HarperCollins, who liked it very much. Knowing that I’m an artistic type, she allowed me to participate in the search for an illustrator, which, of course, is unusual. Most editors don’t like to involve the writer until the very end. When she asked how I felt about Ruth Heller, I was delighted.

The book is newly released in paperback. Can you share a bit about this process?

Publishers have a formula to which I am not privy. The essence of it is that a certain number of books have to be sold in a certain time frame. If the sales don’t reach the desirable number, publishers don’t come out with a paperback edition. This was the case, anyway, many years ago when my editor left HarperCollins, and the book became an orphan. In spite of the fact that the book got good reviews, there was not anybody to push it. Since there were not enough sales, the book was cancelled. For years, I wanted to revive it but could not until I heard about The PJ Library. At a conference for writers who write about Jewish subjects, I heard a lot about their great program of publishing and giving free books to Jewish families. I submitted the book, and it was accepted. They ordered copies of a special edition, but I made sure that the publisher would print more copies of the regular edition for the general public.

What is the best part of being an author of children’s books?

I get the most pleasure when I see the children’s responses in person. Hearing a child using his/her imagination while looking at clouds after hearing my story ”Hello, Clouds!” is very rewarding. Hearing a child asking questions about Jewish holidays after being read to, or after using my “Complete Family Guide to Jewish Holidays” is heartwarming. So is a child telling me a riddle that the queen should have asked the king. Watching children’s delight when hearing the cheeky little bee talking to Solomon is really amusing.

What is your favorite holiday?

It might surprise you, but it is a somewhat minor, obscure holiday: La’g Ba’omer. It is not mentioned in the Bible, and, therefore there is speculation about its origin. Whatever the facts, as children in Israel we celebrated it in ways that left me with sweet memories. On the eve of the holiday, we children walked in a parade (organized by youth movements), holding torches which we made that afternoon. We ended up in a field where a huge bone fire was created. After that we danced the Hora and other dances around it. Later, when the fire subsided somewhat, we baked potatoes in it. Each child had a stick with a nail at the end to pick up the hot potatoes. We did not have marshmallows in those days. This kind of celebration was repeated in empty fields all over the country.
The next day, instead of school, we went on a picnic with the teachers. We brought with us hard boiled eggs, which we had decorated in school or at home, and played many relay games and shot things with bows and arrows, which we made from tree branches.

Dalia, thanks for stopping by to share the buzz about your book!

Adventures in Latkeland

Today I welcome Karen Fisman, the author of Adventures in Latkaland and Problems in Purimville, the second book in the Jacob and Sarah series.

Somewhere in her distant past, Karen was an equities analyst and wrote a whole bunch of stuff for grownups. After her children were born, she realized that it was much more fun to write for kids. And that’s what she has been doing ever since. Karen lives in Toronto with her husband, two kids and a shnoodle named Cocoa.

What was the inspiration for Adventures in Latkaland?

It most definitely came from my children, JJ and Rach, now aged 9 and 10, both avid readers and story listeners. Several years ago, we all went to see the Nutcracker Suite Ballet. Rach loved the ballet, JJ not so much. But he did enjoy one part – the battle scene with the mouse king and the cannon.On returning home after the ballet, JJ looked thoughtful.

“Mom,” he asked, “Why aren’t there any Hanukkah stories with a really good battle?”

“JJ,” I reminded him, “a pretty big part of the real Hanukkah story is about a battle between the Macabees and the enormous army of King Antiochus.”

“I know that,” he replied, in an aggrieved tone. “But I mean a made up story about Hanukkah.”

As it happened, that year we were struggling to find a new Hanukkah story that really captured our interest and imagination. So when JJ put forward the request for a Hanukkah story that fit his parameters, I decided to write one. For JJ, the story had to have a “really good battle” and for Rach, it needed humour and potato latkes. And that is how An Adventure in Latkaland was born.

What is the best part of being a writer?

For me, the very best part of being a writer is searching for ideas for new stories. Whether by reading folk tales, delving into historical events, or brainstorming with my children, I love that light bulb moment that comes when I know I’ve found the seedling for a new story.

Can you tell me about your new Purim book?

My new book, Problems in Purimville, follows Jacob and Sarah, the Latkaland heroes, on a very different adventure – this time in the muddled up land of Purimville, where the children have to solve a rather puzzling mystery. The story is full of the many elements that make Purim so much fun like hamantashen, costumes, and extremely noisy graggers. I’ve written the book in the same short chapter format and there are wonderful, colourful illustrations at the start of each chapter.

I tried to pick up on the comical elements of the Book of Esther, as wonderfully described in the JPS commentary by Adele Berlin.

What is your favorite Hanukkah tradition?

My favourite family Hanukkah tradition revolves around potato latkes. When my kids were in nursery school, I volunteered one Hanukkah to come in and make potato latkes. Once the potato grating was completed, I found myself staring at bowls of soggy, water saturated potato and a classroom full of nursery aged kids, anxious to eat delicious, crispy latkes. So I got the kids to work, and together, handful by handful, we squeezed a great deal of water out of those potatoes. After that, I fried the squeezed, grated potatoes into absolutely delicious latkes. Ever since then, each Hanukkah, my kids and I make potato latkes together using the fun, hand squeezing potato technique. And then, of course, we enjoy the latkes!

To learn more about Karen and her books, please visit www.jorabooks.com

The Rooster Prince of Breslov is here!

I am thrilled to welcome my dear friend, Ann Stampler. Ann is a multi-award winning children's author. Fans of all ages adore her folktales, including one of my personal favorites, Something for Nothing. Ann is a gifted story teller and her books will delight readers for generations to come. Her newest release, The Rooster Prince of Breslov is a wonderful tale of a prince who thinks he is a rooster and his relationship with a very clever teacher.

How did you develop your interest in folktales?
I come from a family that loves stories. Telling stories, reading stories, listening to stories, demanding to be told stories -- these were all important parts of my childhood. I will never forget sitting with relatives as they shared tales with me, or my father’s bedtime stories and the books he read me. But I especially loved, and continue to love, folktales. For me, they were a way to connect to my family’s history and Eastern European roots.

I also came to respect folklore as a special way to learn about and understand other cultures, such as the Native American tales that came from the different regions of America where I’ve lived. I wasn’t half as interested in the facts and figures, I wanted to know the stories, and I always found those stories captivating.

What challenges did you face when writing The Rooster Prince of Breslov?
I always feel a tremendous sense of stewardship when I turn a folktale into a book. It’s like a baby; a wonderful gift that you try very, very hard not to mess up. The Rooster Prince is a very popular story, and there is a fine line between telling your own particular, unique version and not straying too far from the bones of the traditional tale. Also, as careful as I wanted to be to create something with literary merit, I didn’t want to lose the story’s hilarious, earthy humor, or its lively pace. And I wanted the beautiful message to come through without being too heavy handed.

What is the best part of being a children's book writer?
The best part is the actual writing of the books. I love writing. I love sitting there with a fresh pad of paper and a pen and writing sentences, moving words and sentences and paragraphs around, spreading out pages on the floor so I can look at the entire text of the picture book. I love watching typed pages take shape on my computer screen and then being able to play with the text so easily. My picture book writing process is very visual, so I like closing my eyes and seeing my characters play out the action of the story. And I read the stories aloud to myself over and over as I write them to make sure that the sentences work and the rhythms are right, so I enjoy the auditory aspect of writing for children as well.

With folk tales, it is a real joy to share stories with the deep values and messages that the tales carry to a new generation of children, to stimulate their imaginations and creativity. I experienced the stories as a gift when they were given to me, and it is a pleasure to be able to pass on and share that gift.

What is your favorite children's book?
I have many favorite children’s books as an adult, but as a child, my favorite picture book was Thidwck the Big Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss, and my favorite novel was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.

Ann, thanks for stopping by. I wish you all the best with The Rooster Prince of Breslov!

To learn more about my friend Ann, please visit http://annredischstampler.com/

My New Adventure

This month I began a new adventure as the director at Chyten Education in Westlake Village. It is a dream to be surrounded by so many people who are passionate about education.

Coming soon - more interviews with some of my favorite authors!

Beautiful Blogger Award!

Jewish Books for Children just received a Beautiful Blogger Award from The Book of Life! It is an honor to be recognized by Heidi Estrin, who is such a wonderful resource in our community. To claim the award, I have to share seven little-known facts about my blog and about my blog and pass the award on to seven other blogs I admire!

Seven Little-Known Facts about Jewish Books for Children

1. I was inspired to create Jewish Books for Children after attending a wonderful SCBWI in Santa Barbara retreat where I learned how to create a blog.
2. My first author interview was with Michelle Markel who was gracious enough to participate.
3. While attending a session on social media with Heidi Estrin and Mark Blevis at the AJL Convention in Chicago, I was shocked and surprised to see my blog used as an example.
4. I love interviewing authors because they often reveal the “story behind the story.”
5. I am proud to interview authors from secular to religious. There is strength in diversity.
6. One of the great highlights of my blogging career was meeting and interviewing the late Sid Fleischman. His kindness and generosity were both inspiring and humbling.
7. Children’s book authors and librarian are among the kindest people on the planet. I have made lasting friendships with the wonderful people I have interviewed.

Seven Blogs that Deserve a Beautiful Blogger Award

Tales from the Rushmore Kid http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/
Tina Nichols Coury is a children’s book author and also a book trailer expert. Her blog is a feast for children’s book writers and illustrators. Interviews, video, reviews, art, writing tips, and more - Tina does it all!

The Writer’s Inner Journey writersinnerjourney.com
Meredith Resnick shares insights into the writing life. Her five question interviews are insightful and thought provoking. Meredith reaches the core of a writer’s soul. She is a writer’s writer.

Scribblers on the Roof http://www.jscribes.com/
Kelly Hartog’s wonderful blog is like a slice of Jewish literary life. She has created a sense of community by offering interviews, stories, and more. She accepts submissions, giving new and established writers the opportunity to share their work. There is something for everyone at Scribblers on the Roof!

The Cat and the Fiddle http://www.michellemarkel.blogspot.com/
Michelle Markel, children’s book author, offers interviews, reviews, and more on her blog. Michelle’s insights are interesting and well worth reading. This blog is a great resource for parents and teachers.

School Visits Expert http://www.schoolvisitexperts.com/
Children’s book author Alexis O’Neill is well known in children’s literature circles for her outstanding school presentations. Schools from all over the country request Alexis to visit their students. In her blog, Alexis shares some of the finer points of creating successful school visits. This blog is particularly helpful for teachers and librarians seeking an excellent program for their schools.

Jewish Celebrating with Sylvia Rouss sylviarouss.blogspot.com

Syliva Rouss, creator of the Sammy Spider series, shares her experiences as an author and teacher. Her insights are delightful and will be especially enjoyed by teachers, librarians, and parents of young readers.

Gotta Book gottabook.blogspot.com
Greg Pincus is one of the first (possibly THE first) bloggers who appeared on the children’s literature scene. Greg is an incredible poet and graciously shares his work and musing about children’s literature. Greg is beyond generous with his knowledge and expertise. Without his support, I may not have had the courage to jump into the blogsphere and I am forever grateful!