Jewish Books for Children with Author Barbara Bietz

The Book of Life Podcast

2012-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

Listen here!

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour is Coming!

2012-01-26T14:40:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-12-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

"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

2011-08-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-01T13:57:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-26T16:36:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-04-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article about some late bloomers!

Graphic Novel Conference - April 3rd

2011-03-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-01-26T18:04:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-17T10:14:00.001-08:00

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

2010-12-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-09-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Margarita Engle in a multi-award winning author and poet. Her novel-in-verse, Tropical Secrets (Henry Holt) was honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen readers. The unusual topic of the plight of Holocaust refugees is told from the perspective of several characters, each with a distinct voice. Engle’s evocative language in this beautifully crafted story. The main character, Daniel, is a young refugee who hopes to find his parents, but his sense of despair and loneliness as he arrives in Cuba is overwhelming. This breathtaking book pays homage to refugees of Cuba and those who supported them. Not only will readers learn about a little discussed historical event, they will fully engage in a beautifully told story whose characters resonate long after the last page is read.

Margarita spoke passionately about her work when accepting her award at the Association of Jewish Libraries Convention. I'm delighted to share her thoughts about writing Tropical Secrets.

What inspired you to write Tropical Secrets?

I was moved by the image of refugee children traveling alone, without knowing what to expect. During the late 1930s, when German ships filled with Jewish refugees were turned away from New York and Toronto, they anchored in Havana Harbor. Despite turmoil and tragedy, most of the refugees were granted asylum. Cuban teenagers and American Quakers volunteered to teach them Spanish. I visualized music as common ground for young people who cannot yet speak the same language.

My personal connection to the story is found in my own family history. My father is an American artist of Ukrainian-Jewish ancestry. He traveled to Cuba after seeing National Geographic photos of my Cuban-Catholic mother's hometown, Trinidad de Cuba. They met on Valentine's Day, 1947, at a colonial palace in Trinidad that was being used as an art school (It is now El Museo Romántico, the Museum of Romantic Art., and the entire town of Trinidad, Cuba, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) Even though my parents could not speak the same language, they passed drawings back and forth to communicate. Sixty-two years later, they are still married, despite all the differences in their cultural and religious backgrounds. Love conquers all!

How did you learn about the history of Jewish refugees in Cuba?

A long time ago, I read about the St. Louis, a ship that, tragically, did not receive asylum. It was turned away from Cuba, and returned to Europe. Many of those refugees perished in concentration camps. Years later, Tropical Diaspora, a nonfiction study by Robert M. Levine, gave me a better understanding of that era in Cuba. I felt haunted by the image of a safe harbor, and the kindness of strangers. I chose to use fictional characters to depict a real historical period. I chose free verse because it allows me to distill complex situations down to their emotional essence. I also used free verse because it offers an uncrowded page, and I hoped that would be inviting to reluctant readers. I also hoped it would be inviting to family literacy programs, where the combination of fast, easy reading and a mature theme might be suitable for various ages.

Tell me a bit about the research required for writing the book.

Unlike my books set in earlier centuries, there was little need to dig through archives. Tropical Diaspora, along with the references listed in that volume's bibliography, provided abundant details, so for me, the real work was simply imagining. That's not as easy as it sounds. The early drafts had emotional gaps that were noticed by my perceptive editor, Reka Simonsen. She edited the manuscript very gently, by asking questions. How did this character feel when such-and-such happened? What were his memories? How did he suffer, even though he was a survivor? I realized that I had tried to protect my young characters from suffering. In some ways Tropical Secrets is a joyful story with a hopeful ending, but the element of pain and loss cannot be omitted. So for me, the real research was suffering along with my characters, by imagining their experiences.

In the process of your research did you learn anything that surprised you?

I was shocked to learn that Nazi spies had been sent to Cuba to stir up anti-Semitism, in a deliberate attempt to insure that refugee ships would be turned away. I was also amazed to learn that after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan, Cuba rounded up and imprisoned non-Jewish Germans on the island. This meant that the red J on a German Jew's passport suddenly served as protection against arrest. It seems like one of the clearest 'there-but-for-fortune' lessons anywhere in history, demonstrating how easily anyone can become a target, and how easily targets can change overnight, once the doors of hatred and fear are opened.

How did you feel when you learned that Tropical Secrets won the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers?

I was thrilled, and I still am! I am profoundly grateful, not only for the honor itself, but for the chance to meet so many wonderful librarians at the AJL conference in Seattle, where the award was presented. It was really one of the warmest, friendliest professional conferences I have ever attended. What an incredible experience

Margarita, congratulations on your STBA award! Thank you for sharing your fascinating writer's journey with us.

Robin Friedman - The Importance of Wings - Sydney Taylor Winner

2010-07-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from the Association of Jewish Libraries Convention in Seattle. One of the highlights of the convention is honoring the winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Robin Friedman is the winner of the Gold Medal for Older Readers. Her book, The Importance of Wings (Charlesbridge Publishing) is an engaging story of two sisters, Roxanne and Gayle. Their family has immigrated to Staten Island from Israel. Set in the 1980’s, the story offers a nostalgic slice of life for middle grade readers, and sheds light on the unique Israeli-American experience.

Robin is currently the special projects editor at the New Jersey Jewish News, and is the author of five books for young readers, including The Importance of Wings. Her young adult novel, Nothing was a 2009 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Importance of Wings and was excited to learn more about the story from Robin.

How autobiographical is The Importance of Wings?
Very autobiographical! I really did grow up on Staten Island in the 1980s. I have a younger sister; I hated gym, watched too much TV, and couldn’t get my hair to form wings. What was the fiction part? The Cursed House next door, Liat, and my mother spending time in Israel caring for a sister. Some of the scenes, however, such as playing with Legos in the basement, going to town to buy spice cakes, and trick-or-treating at Halloween dressed as cats are directly lifted from my childhood.

I have to say, it’s both enjoyable and terrifying to write that intimately. I have new respect for authors who write memoirs!

Have you heard from other Israelis that the experiences of Roxanne, Gayle, and Liat mirror their own?
Yes, especially the feeling-like-an-outsider part, which I’m sure resonates with many immigrants. Being poor, having parents who speak with thick accents, and not being familiar with American traditions are other common experiences.

Being from another country has made me very, very grateful for America, another common immigrant experience. Every Fourth of July, for example, I read the Declaration of Independence aloud, in its entirety, to my friends at our annual gathering. I majored in American history in college, and especially love anything having to do with the Revolutionary era.

Tell me a little bit about the haunted house in the story. Do you have any experiences with haunted houses?
The idea for the Cursed House actually came from listening to friends at a dinner party describe a house next door to them where strange events always seemed to be happening, including a night visit by armed FBI agents (which I used in my first chapter).

I carry a little notebook in my purse where I jot down ideas that I come across, and I remember writing “Cursed House” in my notebook that evening.

What's the best part about being an author of children's books?

The best part about being an author of children's books is the opportunity to share stories with kids who love books. This audience has impeccable taste, and I firmly believe that creating a good book for a child is much more demanding than creating one for an adult. Adults tend to settle for what is okay; kids hold out for something that captures them. Pleasing them is not only a worthy goal, but a humbling challenge.

Robin, thanks for inspiring readers (through your books and for reading the Declaration of Independence!) and congratulations on the success of The Importance of Wings.

Welcome Laurel Snyder and Baxter the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher

2010-06-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to introduce my friend, Laurel Snyder. Laurel is the author of three novels for children, Penny Dreadful, Any Which Wall and Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess (Random House) and two picture books, Inside the Slidy Diner and most recently, Baxter the Kosher Pig. (Tricycle). When she isn't scribbling madly, Laurel chases after her two small boys (Mose and Lewis) in Atlanta, GA. I couldn’t wait to talk to Laurel and learn more about her creation of Baxter the Pig who Wanted to be Kosher.

Tell me about Baxter the Pig who Wanted to be Kosher. What was your inspiration for Baxter?
Well, I hate to make it sound totally random and ridiculous, but I was standing at the preschool, waiting to pick up my kids, and the title "Baxter the Kosher Pig" just popped into my head for no good reason I can remember. I laughed out loud, and a friend asked why I was laughing. When I told her what had made me giggle, she said, "Oohhh, you should write that book!" My immediate response was, "No way! I can't write that!" But it stuck with me. Of course it took me a long time to wrangle out a story to match the title, and the title evolved too, but that was how it started...

Did you have a specific audience in mind for this story?
I didn't when I began. At first Baxter was just a goofy pig book. But as the story took shape, I realized that I was writing a book for families that might sometimes feel disconnected from the more traditional Jewish world. In my own life, those sorts of feelings have had to do with intermarriage, and living in non-Jewish neighborhoods. But I hope Baxter might speak to anyone that feels left out. Doesn't everyone sometimes feel left out? Baxter is all about Big Tent Judaism! He's an inclusivity pig.

The wonderful artwork for Baxter is featured at the Skirball Museum. What was your response when you first saw the illustrations for the book?
I nearly fell over. The art is nothing like what I'd imagined for the book, but it resonated immediately and totally wowed me. There's so much humor, and the art is so unusual. It's like-- R Crumb and Dr Seuss went to a deli with Henry Darger. Or something like that. I love the collage elements.

What do you love about being a writer of children's book?
What don't I love about it? I love that I get to use the creative parts of my brain so freely, every day! I love that I get to fail and redo and fail and redo, and yet it all feels productive. I love that I can travel around the country and meets families and kids. I love that I can work from home, as much or as little as makes sense for my family. I love being part of a community of writers. Lately (and this part is new) I love that it allows me a really expressive individual way to be part of Jewish life and Jewish education. Truly, I don't know how I got so lucky!

What is your favorite holiday?
Well, as a kid I always loved Passover, because the whole family got together, and there was so much formality and ritual. It really felt set apart from the rest of the year.

Laurel,thanks for stopping by. It's always great to chat with you.

The illustrations from Baxter the Pig who Wanted to be Kosher are currently on display at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles as part of the exhibit, Monsters and Miracles: A Journey through Jewish Picture Books. To learn more about Laurel, please visit her at http://laurelsnyder.com.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee Call for Submissions

2010-06-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

If you have a book published this year, please share the following with your publicity team so we can consider your book.

Sydney Taylor Book Award - Call for Submissions

If you are an author, editor, or publisher of Jewish books for children please submit your 2010 titles for consideration. For more information visit www.Jewishlibraries.org or e-mail Chair@SydneyTaylorBookAward.org

Association of Jewish Libraries Conference

2010-05-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Association of Jewish Libraries is gearing up for their annual convention. This year the big event will be held in Seattle - July 4 - 7. Among many other exciting sessions will be the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee discussing current Jewish books for children and presenting awards for the year.

If you would like to learn more, please visit the AJL Blog at www.jewishlibraries.org/blog

The Year of Goodbyes

2010-04-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

Debbie Levy is the author of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry books for young people. Her most recent title is The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family, and Farewells (Disney-Hyperion 2010). The book is based on her mother's personal poetry album and it a deeply moving account of teens growing up under the dark shadow of the Nazi era. Debbie spoke with me at length about the process of writing The Year of Goodbyes.

THE YEAR OF GOODBYES is based on your mother's "poesiealbum," which is described as an autograph album with personal messages from friends. When did you discover that your mother had kept her poesiealbum for so many years? Since writing the book have you discovered others who saved their poesiealbums ?

I can’t say with certainty when my mother first shared her poesiealbum with me. When I was growing up (in Silver Spring, Maryland), there wasn’t much talk in our family about my mother’s childhood in Nazi Germany. My sister and I knew about the Holocaust, of course; we knew parents and grandparents of other kids who had survived concentration camps. But my mother, her sister, and my grandmother really didn’t talk much about their own experiences. I think my mother felt it didn’t warrant discussion—not when others had suffered in the camps.

It wasn’t until after the death of my grandmother—my mother’s mother—in the mid 1980s that my mother shared her diary, which along with the poesiealbum is also excerpted in THE YEAR OF GOODBYES. And it was around that same time that she began talking a little bit more about her childhood. I think this came about in connection with the grassroots efforts that led to the establishment of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Like many others, she and my late father participated in the fundraising for the museum; that caused her to open up more about her experience living in Germany in the 1930s during the rise of Nazism. Sometime after that, I became aware of the existence of the poesiealbum—but I didn’t examine it closely until years later.

Here’s what happened: I wrote an article, which covered a small corner of the larger story covered in the book. The article was published in The Washington Post in November 1998. Among its readers were a couple of women who had been classmates with my mother in Hamburg, Germany in the 1930s. Remember, they’re all in their seventies by this time. Many phone calls later, in 2000 my mother and six of her girlfriends from the Jewish School for Girls in Hamburg, Germany reunited for the first time in more than 60 years in Silver Spring, Maryland.

My mother brought out her poesiealbum to share with the “girls”—two of them had written in it. This was when I got my first good look at the poesiealbum. Without even knowing what the entries in it said—they’re in German and Polish and French—I was moved by this beat-up little book full of handwriting and drawings. I studied it, got it translated, and it became clear to me that it needed to be a central element in a book about my other’s story. So, as you know, nearly every chapter in The Year of Goodbyes begins with one of the handwritten entries from the poesiealbum.

As for other survivors’ poesiealbums, one of my mother’s former Hamburg classmates, who now lives in New York, has shared her own poesiealbum with me. In it, she has an entry written by my mother as a girl!

I'm sure it is striking for today's tweens to discover that twelve year olds in Nazi Germany had the same feeling and as emotions that kids experience today. What has the response been from young readers?

The book is so new that I haven’t heard from many young readers yet, so I only have a couple of anecdotes. I’m told by a friend that her daughter said to her mother after reading it: “Mom, we’re very lucky.” Also, this same girl said that Jutta and her friends reminded her of her own friends. Someone else sent me a book report a girl wrote right after reading THE YEAR OF GOODBYES, in which she said that one reason she found the book so interesting was because she hadn’t previously read anything with such details about the lives of people during this time.

The book is peppered with some unique artwork which appears to be vintage valentines or paper dolls. Can you tell me a bit about the inclusion of these pieces?

Those are reproductions of oblaten—colorful, die-cut, and often embossed stickers that European girls collected and traded in the 1930s (and before). I’m calling them “stickers,” but that’s something of a misnomer because they didn’t actually have adhesive on their reverse sides—you would apply glue and affix them to the pages. Girls used the oblaten to decorate poesiealbum pages. The images that are scattered throughout THE YEAR OF GOODBYES come from my mother’s cache of oblaten—which she brought with her to the U.S. from Hamburg when she and her family fled in November 1938. A few years ago, she and I found them tucked in an old envelope. Collectors today call these tiny works of art “scraps.”

The bakers among your readers may also know oblaten as also a type of thin, wafer-like cookie. No, the girls were not putting cookies in their poesiealbums!

The follow-up of Jutta's friends brings her story full circle. How difficult was the research required to complete your manuscript?

The research was difficult in two ways—it was, as you can understand, often extremely sad, and it was also challenging. Of the 30 people who make an appearance in my book, half were killed by the Nazis or their collaborators in the Holocaust.

As for the challenging aspect of the research: There is no one-stop resource that a researcher can go to for definitive information on people who were killed in, or survived, the Holocaust. Databases maintained by Yad Vashem (the Holocaust research center and museum in Jerusalem) and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (in Washington, D.C.) are extremely useful, and I used them both. They have their limitations, however, and sometime include incorrect information—after all, they are based on reports and testimony filed by individuals, and human error can creep in. I also consulted various books and documents that the Holocaust Museum makes available to the public, such as memorial books published by various German entities. I used an array of directories and sources to track down survivors, or the survivors of survivors. Internet research was invaluable in this respect.

Even today, 65 years after the liberation of Europe from Nazi conquest, information is still dribbling out about Holocaust victims. For example, for years our family believed that my mother’s cousin Manja died in Auschwitz concentration camp, based on reports by other family members who survived that camp. But my research led me to a Page of Testimony in Yad Vashem’s database—a statement filed by another witness—who said Manja died in the Lodz Ghetto.

Then, as my book was about to go to press, I received word from a researcher at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. She had been searching for me in a huge recently opened archive which had been held in Germany since the end of the war. It’s called the International Tracing Service. She found German government records of Manja’s transfer from Auschwitz to Stutthof concentration camp in September 1944. This was late in the war. She had survived a long time! For an instant, I was hopeful there might be some good news. But the next document was a death certificate from Stutthof; stating that Manja died on January 7, 1945 from “complete body weakness.” I was already reconciled to thinking that that this young woman perished in a concentration camp. But to think of her surviving Auschwitz (where her mother died) and then being shipped hundreds of miles north to Stutthof was very difficult. And to think of Manja surviving until January 1945, with the end of the war only four months away—heartbreaking. Manja was 25 when she died in 1945—6 years older than my mother.

What was the most interesting part of writing THE YEAR OF GOODBYES?

I’m sorry, I can’t choose just one thing. I have to mention:

· Countless hours of interviewing and talking with my mother, and examining her keepsakes.

· Listening to my mother’s six classmates from Hamburg’s Jewish School for Girls at their reunions starting in 2000.

· Tracking down information about my mother’s Parisian cousin Guy Gotthelf, who wrote in her poesiealbum in November 1938. I started with a simple Google search on his name, which yielded a map showing Rue Guy Gotthelf (Guy Gotthelf Street) in Yerres, France. Of course, I had to find out whether this was “our” Guy.

· Finding the connections between what my mother’s friends wrote in her poesiealbum and what was going on around them in Hamburg and Germany as they wrote.

Debbie, thank you for sharing so much about your research and writing process for The Year of Goodbyes. It is a special book that is sure to be meaningful to young readers. To learn more about Debbie and her books, please visit: http://www.debbielevybooks.com/

Secrets of a Jewish Mother

2010-04-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Jewish mother is traditionally the heart of the family. How has modern life changed the role of mothers in Jewish families? Despite technological advances, shifting social norms, and changing fashions, the soul of a Jewish mother remains strong from generation to generation.

In the newly released book, Secrets of a Jewish Mother (Dutton, 2010) a family of women share their inner thoughts about love, live, and being a Jewish mother. Jill Zarin, Lisa Wexler, and their mother Gloria Kamin candidly discuss the issues that matter to Jewish families. The authors are known from the Bravo TV show The Real Housewives of New York City, but each is a successful businesswoman in her own field and more importantly, a Jewish Mother.

Wearing their hearts on their sleeves, each of the women weigh in on some difficult topics, including inter-faith dating, difficult in-laws, and divorce. The book is full of Jewish wisdom and a bit of schmaltz. Reading Secrets of a Jewish Mother is like a sitting around the kitchen table with a pot of coffee and a chocolate bobka, listening to advice from old friends. I was thrilled the authors could take time from their busy schedules to answer a few questions about their book.

Lisa, in Secrets of a Jewish Mother your personal anecdotes are both revealing and inspiring. I admire you all for sharing your stories so candidly. What was the writing process like with three unique perspectives?

We came up with a structure for the book that allowed us to integrate stories from each of us. We called it "context, framework, action". The context were the chapter summaries and conclusions, the framework was the stories and the action was the "ask yourself" piece.

I came up with the idea for the book and led the writing process. I circulated drafts of each chapter in the context form, then asked Mom and Jill for their stories to flesh out what we were trying to say. Thanks to the beauty of email, the process went quite smoothly. I am very pleased that you can hear three voices in the book.

Gloria, my own grandmother used to say “Little children, little problems, big children big problems.” Now that your children are grown, does the worry lessen or multiply? Does a Jewish mother ever exhale?

Your grandmother and I have a lot in common. In fact, my husband Sol is fond of saying that as well. I consider my daughters to be my daughters until the day I die. Period. And their children are an extension of me as well. So the worry does not lessen at all. Sometimes it multiplies as their lives become more complex and the demands upon them increase. I worry about their economic well-being, their health and the parenting challenges they face. As we said in the book, worry is the default setting in the brain of the Jewish mother.

Lisa, you have had two high-powered careers, as an attorney and a radio host. How does your role as a Jewish mother affect your professional interactions?

I have always considered myself an ambassador for the Jewish people in anything and everything I have done. Maybe this was because I grew up in the Five Towns, from where I had to always fight against the "JAP" stereotype. I always felt I was being judged both on the face of my own personality, and as a Jewish woman.

As a Jewish mother, common to most mothers, my main priority is my children and family. I look at my life as a wheel, trying to balance career, family, friends and community. When one piece of the wheel takes up too much space, it is time to scale back.

In terms of my professional interactions, I hope that I bring to them to values I learned from my own parents, namely, to speak up, whether it be for myself or anyone else. I advocate for clients, I speak up against injustice where I see it, and I am certainly there to inquire, investigate and advocate for my children.

Jill, As a recognizable personality do you feel an added responsibility of representing Jewish mothers?

Yes and No. I don't claim to know it all and in fact I say that in the book. I just try to be a good person and be the best I can be.

Finally, I asked the authors if they have any favorite Jewish children’s books and both Lisa and Jill mentioned the All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor!

Jill, Lisa, and Gloria, it's been a pleasure. Thank you for celebrating Jewish Mothers everywhere!

To learn more about The Secrets of a Jewish Mother, please visit:http://secretsofajewishmother.com/

Welcome Debby Waldman

2010-04-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to introduce author Debby Waldman. Debby's first picture book, A Sack Full of Feathers, a charming retelling of a Jewish folktale, was published by Orca in 2006. She is also the author of WOW: World’s Outstanding Women Athletes (Sports Illustrated for Kids Books, 1998). Her picture book, Clever Rachel (Orca), was published in the fall of 2009. Her third picture book, Room Enough for Daisy, written with Rita Feutl, will be published in 2011. Debby’s articles and reviews have appeared in a variety of publications including People, Parents, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Publishers Weekly, American Baby, Chatelaine, Glamour, and The Washington Post.

Debby is married and has two children. Her daughter, who is hard-of-hearing, inspired her to co-write Your Child’s Hearing Loss: What Parents Need to Know (Perigee, 2005) with audiology professor Dr. Jackson Roush. An updated version, Your Child’s Hearing Loss: A Guide for Parents, was published in the fall of 2009 by Plural Publishing. Debby was born and raised in Utica, NY, and now lives in Edmonton, Alberta. When not working on one of her many writing projects, she enjoys reading, cycling, baking, attempting to make nutritionally balanced meals for her family, and ferrying her children to music lessons and sports activities.

Your picture books are based on Jewish folktales. What appeals to you about these traditional stories?

They’re solid stories. The fact that they’ve been around for so long means that they’re timeless. Maybe some of the superficial details change: setting, character names and occupations, clothing -- but the gist of the story and the message stay the same. I also enjoy the challenge of finding a new way to tell the story while retaining the message.

What were the challenges you faced in retelling the stories?

In some ways it’s the same with any story -- figuring out the right way to tell it. A Sack Full of Feathers was easier than Clever Rachel, in part because I didn’t change the story that much: like the other versions, mine was about someone with a big mouth who has to learn that just because you know something (or think you do) doesn’t mean you should be blabbering about it to the entire world. Unlike the other versions I had seen, my blabbermouth was a boy, Yankel. As it turns out, that made it a perfect fit for Orca, which publishes children’s books where the main characters are children.

At some level, I modeled Yankel after myself. I love telling stories: I like entertaining people and I know how tempting it is to make the story bigger and more exciting because that’s what people seem to want to hear. But my background is journalism and I’m very careful to get my facts straight. My biggest fear as a writer is that I might misinform people. Yankel wasn’t thinking about the consequences, of the harm that could be caused by his highly inaccurate tales. He had to learn that lesson.

Rewriting Clever Rachel was a bigger challenge. A woman who knows a lot about books for Jewish children told me about the folk tale and said she’d like to see it rewritten for kids. I read some versions and did not like the message that leapt out at me: a woman agrees to marry an arrogant jerk who tells her that if she disagrees with him, he’s going to kick her out of his mansion and send her back to her father’s inn. I thought, “What kind of woman would agree to THAT?” But I figured if this person who knew a lot about books for Jewish children liked the story there had to be some merit to it.

I wrote so many drafts. In the worst one, Rachel was a clever young teen who used riddles to help her family escape from the Nazis. I looked at it and thought, “This is ridiculous. This is not a picture book.” Then I asked myself, “Why does this girl like riddles so much?” And when I answered that question -- because it’s how her dad put her to bed when she was little -- I had my story. It kind of wrote itself. It was amazing. I felt as if I’d turned the story on its ear. I kept the important message -- that the best way to solve problems is to cooperate -- and some of the original riddles, but I made it more palatable or, at least, more palatable to me.
My next picture book is also based on a Jewish folk tale -- the one about the man who thinks his house is too small until the rabbi tells him to bring first one animal and then another and another inside. It’s called Room Enough for Daisy, and I wrote it with Rita Feutl, a fellow writer and friend here in Edmonton. We were talking about folk tales one day and it turned out we both knew that one, but she knew the Ukrainian version (no rabbi) and I knew the Jewish version (rabbi). She had a great idea for rewriting it with a current twist and I said, “You should write it!” and she said “You should write it!” and I said “You should write it!” and she said, “You should write it!” and I said, “We should write it together!” and we did, and it’s been magical. Orca is going to publish it in 2011. Cindy Revell, who illustrated Sack and Rachel, is going to illustrate. It’s got some wonderful messages -- Mitzvah Day, recycling, decluttering. And it’s fun.

How did you become a children's writer?

A friend of mine from my synagogue here in Edmonton wanted to write a Passover story based on her daughter’s ambivalent relationship with the concept of Elijah. This was about fifteen or sixteen years ago. I was writing articles, essays, and reviews for magazines, and she asked if maybe we could write a picture book together. I’d never written a picture book but I thought, “Well, this could be interesting. And fun.” It was both, although the story never did get published. We sure got lots of nice rejection letters, though. I’d still like to have it published, but that’s another story. After that I decided I wanted to write another picture book. I knew a wonderful writer in town who wrote picture books based on folk tales from his native Africa. I thought to myself, “There are some great Jewish folk tales. I think I’ll try a Jewish folk tale.” The story about the feathers appealed to me because of the gossip-accuracy issues. I’m working on a couple more Jewish-themed picture books. Neither of them are based on folk tales, but one is set in Olkinik, the ancestral village of my dad’s family, and the place where I set both Sack and Rachel. In fact, Yankel is going to make another appearance.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

That I have the freedom to write what I want, and that there are people who want to publish it, and other people who want to read it. How wonderful is that? How blessed am I? (Very and very, to answer my questions.) I also enjoy visiting schools and libraries and community centres, reading my stories, and talking to people about writing.

I wish I’d met more writers when I was growing up. I wish I’d met even one! But they were mythical creatures as far as I was concerned because I never laid eyes on one until I was a young adult. I remember the first writer I interviewed when I was working as a newspaper reporter. Her name was Hannah Pakula and I was prepared to be thoroughly intimidated by her because her husband had directed the movie, “All the President’s Men,” AND she had written a massively researched biography, The Last Romantic, about Queen Marie of Roumania. But Hannah was wonderful -- warm, friendly and encouraging. Talking to her was like talking to a friend. She made me believe I could be a writer, but a few decades had to pass before I felt comfortable calling myself that.

For a long time I felt that if I called myself a writer I was being pretentious. I called myself a freelance writer. That didn’t sound quite as pretentious. My first book was a work-for-hire about women athletes, for Sports Illustrated for Kids Books. It was fun to research and write, but I had a hard time thinking of it as a “real” book because it was about the size of a comic book and none of the stories inside were more than 400 words. I think it had more photos than words. In 2003 I co-wrote a book for parents of children who are hard of hearing (my 14-year-old daughter has worn hearing aids since she was three and I wrote the book to help myself and my husband and other parents in our situation). I consider that my first real book, but because it wasn’t a novel and would never have been considered a candidate for, say Oprah’s Book Club, I still had trouble thinking of myself as a writer.

I remember the first time I saw myself identified, in print, as an author -- it was at the end of a book review I’d written for my local newspaper. I thought, “That’s misleading! I’m not an author!” and then it occurred to me, “I guess I am.” By that time I’d had three books published, so I decided it was probably okay to think of myself not only as a writer, but also an author.

What is your favorite children's book?

Well, I don’t have just one. Growing up my favorite book was The Outsiders, by SE Hinton. I read that book so often during junior high and high school that I practically rubbed the print off the pages. In junior high I also discovered Night, by Elie Wiesel. Those two books made me want to become a writer. But I also loved the All of a Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor, Harriet the Spy, Lisa Bright and Dark and Edgar Allen by John Neufeld, the Karen series by Marie Killilea, and any biography. I read every biography in my elementary school library. I still love biographies. (Right now I am reading Open, Andre Agassi’s autobiography. It’s very hard to put down.)

As for picture books, when I was little I remember liking The Carrot Seed, Curious George, and Make Way for Ducklings. My favorite picture book for the past couple of years has been Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis. I absolutely adore that book. I think it is the most wonderful rendition of a folk tale. It makes me laugh and think every time I read it. I also quite like Raisel’s Riddle by Erica Silverman, Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, and all of the Frances books by Russell and Lillian Hoban.

Debby, thank so much for taking the time to share so much about your creative process! To learn more about Debby, please visit her web site at debbywaldman.com.

The Kayak by Debbie Spring

2010-04-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

Debbie Spring, author of The Righteous Smuggler has just released a new book, The Kayak. If you are looking for a meaningful middle grade novel, here a bit of info:

Being involved in sports took Teresa’s mind off the demands that teens typically face, but after she was hit by a car while jogging, she realized that fate can strike at any time and that what happens next defines a person. Living her life in a wheelchair limits Teresa’s choices profoundly. Smothered by her parents, she finds personal power, peace, and independence only by kayaking. On the water she is in control of her life, capable, connected. In her kayak her anger, disappointment, and embarrassment give way to confidence, and the return to land always weighs heavily on her.

Welcome Menno Metselaar - The Anne Frank House

2010-03-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures from the Archives of the Anne Frank House by Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol, translated by Arnold J. Pomerans was chosen as a Sydney Taylor Honor book for Older Readers.

Anne Frank is an iconic figure in Jewish history. Millions of young people have read her diary and her words have provided insights about WWII and the Holocaust that no other text can provide. Anne Frank – Her Life in Pictures and Words is an outstanding accompaniment to The Diary of Ann Frank. With never before seen photos, the bits and pieces of Ann’s life are reconstructed like a jigsaw puzzle, offering readers an up close view of Anne’s life before and during the war. Follow-up about Anne, her family and friends bring Anne’s tragic story full circle. The book also described the process of bringing the diary to life through the eyes of Anne’s father, the only surviving family member. I am pleased to introduce the co-author of Anne Frank – Her Life in Words and Pictures, Menno Metselaar who spoke with me about the Anne Frank book as well as other works produced by the Anne Frank House.

Menno is the Senior Project Developer in the Department of Education and Public Presentations of the Anne Frank House. The Anne Frank House was founded on May 3, 1957. Three years later, the museum opened its doors. Besides managing the museum, the Anne Frank House develops educational products and activities to promote tolerance and mutual respect in society.

Anne Frank Her Life in Words and Pictures is a unique collection of personal photos and items. Can you tell me how you were able to collect all the materials to make this book come to life?

We are very fortunate that Otto Frank was a passionate photographer and that the photo albums of the Frank family survived. Another thing is that the Frank family not only wrote a lot of letters, but also kept them. We really have to count ourselves extremely lucky that we have such an important and vast and unique collection to work with for our educational publications, websites and exhibitions. Especially if you keep in mind that we only have a handful of photographs and documents related to the Van Pels family, which by the way is really unfortunate.

What were some of the challenges you faced when researching Anne Frank?

Our main challenge is and will always be to find new ways to present Anne's story and the historical context to new generations. As we move forward in time this challenge will become bigger and bigger, as young people will have less and less 'automatic links' to that period in history through their own family members or family history.

A Family Secret/The Search – Sydney Taylor Notable books for 2010 - present stories about the Holocaust in a graphic novel format. Did Eric Heuvel submit the completed project to you or was it a collaboration?

No, the scripts, both of A Family Secret and of The Search were the result of a close cooperation between the Anne Frank House and Eric Heuvel, and in both cases there were a lot of other natonal and international experts involved to see to it that the historical details were correct.

Did you think this genre would fill a unique niche?

No, as a matter of fact we were hesitant at the beginning. Is a 'comic book' about such a difficult and sensitive subject such a good idea? We had that feeling when we started with A Family Secret (about The Netherlands and World War II) and we had the same feeling when we started with The Search (about the Holocaust). We feared that readers would feel that it trivialized World War II and the Holocaust. But our fears were unfounded. Both books were very well received and are now widely used in schools. Teachers do appreciate the educational possibilities that these books and the accompanying educational materials offer.

Menno – thank you for taking the time to talk about your work and all you do for the Anne Frank House.

To learn about other projects by the Ann Frank House, please visit: http://www.annefrank.org/

The Rabbi is Back in Town!

2010-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce the newest Rabbi Harvey book by my friend, Steve Sheinkin

Rabbi Harvey vs. the Wisdom Kid

Harvey’s first book-length adventure—and toughest challenge

In his colorful career on the Rocky Mountain frontier, Rabbi Harvey has matched wits with a variety of villains—most notably the sweet-faced “Bad Bubbe” Bloom, and the self-proclaimed genius “Big Milt” Wasserman. In this exciting new volume, these two formidable foes team up to try to rid the West of Rabbi Harvey once and for all. The key to their evil scheme: Bad Bubbe’s darling son, Rabbi “Wisdom Kid” Rubin, newly arrived from back East. He’s young. He’s clever. He’s eager to take Harvey’s place. But is he fast enough on the draw—the wisdom draw, that is—to take the town from Rabbi Harvey?

The hilarious, action-packed plot draws on classic Jewish folktales, Talmudic teachings and the timeless wisdom of the wise men of Chelm. As always, Rabbi Harvey protects his town and delivers justice, wielding only the weapons of wisdom, wit and a bit of trickery. He also gets a bit of help from Abigail, the town’s quick-thinking school teacher—a woman, it appears, who just may have captured his heart.

For more info about Steve and his books, please visit www.RabbiHarvey.com

Honoring Sid Fleischman

2010-03-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

I was saddened today to hear of the passing of Sid Fleishman. Sid was a gifted writer and his contributions to children's literature will continue to enlighten generations of children. More importantly, Sid was a kind and generous man. I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Sid. To honor him, I am re-posting the interview with a heavy heart. Sid, may your memory be a blessing.

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 Dean Schnider - Hachi: A Dog's Tale

2010-03-16T10:59:00.001-07:00

If you have a dog or love a dog, you won’t want to miss Hachi: A Dog's Tale, now available on DVD. The remarkable true story about a dog named Hachiko took place in Japan in the 1920's but was updated to modern day America in this movie. Starring Richard Gere, this is a wonderful film for the family. Be sure to check out the preview at the end of the interview.

I am excited to introduce Dean Schnider, the co-producer of Hachi: A Dog's Tale. Dean is the young visionary who sought to bring the story to the screen. His ambitions as a producer started at the age of 12 when he saw JAWS and read the quote by William James, "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life.” I’m pleased that Dean was able to chat with me about his experience as a producer of this special film.

What drew you to the script of Hachi: A Dog's Tale?

I was actually drawn to the story of Hachiko before the script. I heard about the famous dog who waited for 9 years for his master at the train station and thought it was the most powerful, simple and universal story of friendship, loyalty and love, that I thought it would make a great film. I, and the other producers, found a writer to adapt the story into a script and after several dozen versions of the script; we ultimately made the film we all wanted to make.

What is a producer's creative process like?

A producer is a visionary who gets excited by a story and dedicates his life to get that story told to millions of people. That story can be traced back to a book, an original idea, a remake of an old movie, a board game, a short story, a true story or anything at all for that matter. One person told me that being a producer is like getting punched in the face every day. The reason is, producers are always in an uphill battle to identify a great story, control and protect that story, find the ideal writer to scribe the tale and director to bring it to life. On top of that, there are daily actor issues, scheduling problems, budget restraints, legal concerns, hidden agendas and investors looking for a return. With so many moving parts, there are inevitably a series of daily problems which present themselves and it is typically up to the producer to solve them. Hence, it is the "Rocky" trait of determination, the ability to take a punch, and guts that is necessary to produce.

What was the greatest challenge you faced in the creation of the movie?

Every day was a challenge for the most part but the biggest challenge was ensuring that the story you wanted to tell from the beginning gets told. Because new writers come on the scene, a director has his vision, big actors have their comments and egos, other producers may see things differently, the financier has certain needs, the budget plays a role, the locations change things, all of which have an impact on the script and ultimately the story. So, from the beginning when I pitched the story to the production companies and studios to giving notes on the various cuts of the film, it was always a challenging game of give and take to ensure that the story is told to the audience and you don't cause a mutiny in doing so. Ultimately, it is a collaborative effort and when the team has the same vision, that is always the best foundation to build upon.

Hachi has received terrific reviews worldwide. What do you think is the universal appeal of the story?

The fact that the dog Hachi, is more than a dog. Hachi is symbolic of your dog, your pet, your best friend, your sibling, your mom, your ex-wife, and your boyfriend. I actually initially pitched the movie as E.T meets EIGHT BELOW. It is a timeless story of friendship and love and loyalty that is innate in all humans. The story of waiting for one's master for so many years and ultimately having an impact on the community is so powerful yet also so simple that it resonates with the young, the old, and every race, color and creed. The themes are universal and the fact that the story itself has been so popular for over 80 years in Japan and that it is taught to students around the world shows that there is lasting power and appeal to a story that speaks to us on a human level and makes us yearn for something greater in life.

Dean, thanks so much for giving us insight into your creative process as a producer. Wishing you continued success!

Check out a preview of Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Fern Schumer Chapman - Is it Day or Night?

2010-03-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

Please welcome author Fern Schumer Chapman. Junior Library Guild has selected her new book, Is It Night or Day? (March 2010), as a spring title. In a starred review, Booklist called the work ''powerful and eloquent,'' adding, ''as with the best writing, the specifics about life as a young immigrant are universal.'' A prequel to Chapman's first book Motherland, the new book explores a little-known program which rescued some 1,200 youngsters from the Holocaust. Chapman's first book received honors including Barnes & Noble Discover Title, BookSense 76 pick. The Illinois Association of Teachers of English named Chapman the "Illinois Author of the Year 2004."

I’m so pleased that Fern was able to talk with me about her work and the fascinating story about her own family.

Your new book, Is it Day or Night? is a prequel to Motherland. Can you share a bit about your creative process and how that affected the writing - and sequencing - of your books?

My mother came from a small German town of 2,000 people and only two Jewish families. Her family had lived in that town since 1721. When she was only 12 years old, my grandparents sensed the growing anti-Semitism in Germany and sent my mother to this country all by herself. Eventually, her parents were killed in concentration camps. My mother coped with her losses by never talking about her past.

Finally, for a variety of reasons, my mother decided she wanted to return to her town in 1991, and I went with her on the trip. Everyone in the town remembered her and, when we returned, each resident was confronted with his or her sense of responsibility for the past. In addition, my mother began to open up about her childhood and I began to understand her. Motherland captures these experiences.

When I wrote the book, I didn’t know anything about the program that brought my mother to America. Neither did she. But after the publication of the book, I learned about a small American rescue operation organized by Lutherans, Quakers and Jewish organizations that brought ten children at a time from Europe to America on cruise ships. Between 1934 and 1944, this organization brought over about 100 children a year, saving about a thousand children. My mother was one of what is now known as the “One Thousand Children.”

Readers of Motherland had many questions about my mother’s child immigration experience and, as I gained answers, I realized that I could write a prequel and capture this untold chapter of history.

Consequently, I wrote Is It Night or Day? Through the prism of one girl's story, readers of this book experience my mother’s bewildered efforts to assimilate in America, her struggle against constant feelings of abandonment and isolation, and the daunting work necessary to rebuild a life in the face of unspeakable loss -- challenges for every child immigrant.

Now that both are published, which one should be read first?

Both books stand alone so a reader can pick up either one or both. Motherland is a memoir that examines the legacy of the Holocaust, but Is It Night or Day? is a work of historical fiction. I have imagined my mother’s voice and recounted some of her experiences along with some of the other “One Thousand Children.” Since I told the story from my mother’s 12-year-old perspective, it can be read by adults and young adults.

Both books are based on your mother's experiences. How much did you rely on her accounts and how much research did you do on your own?

Motherland captures the experiences on two trips to Germany and it is based upon my perceptions and my mother’s accounts of her early life. Both books required research to understand the historical and psychological aspects of these experiences. However, there is very little material available about the “One Thousand Children” so that presented its own challenge. A book of diaries and letters by the “One Thousand Children” called Don’t Wave Goodbye was invaluable.

What are some fun facts about you?

Hmmm…I am a research hound. I deeply believe knowledge is power. As a journalist, I taught myself to gather as much information as possible before writing about any subject. And I don’t let any of that research go to waste. I use leftover material in my blog at www.fernschumerchapman.com/blog.

Fern, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your writing process. I wish you continued success with your books!

Welcome Barbara Reid - Fox Walked Alone

2010-03-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Barbara Reid is the author/illustrator of FOX WALKED AONE (Albert Whitman and Company) a visually stunning story of Noah’s ark. FOX WALKED ALONE is a Sydney Taylor Notable book for 2010. Barbara’s unique Plasticine art provides wonderful visual images for her stories. I’m delighted that Barbara could chat with me about her work. Barbara lives with her family in Toronto

What was your inspiration for Fox Walked Alone?

I find the possibilities for interpretation of the story or the ark almost limitless. One day I was daydreaming about what motivates animal behaviour in general, and the question flashed through my mind: whatever possessed the animals to get on the ark? I pictured individual animals all over the world, pricking up their ears and sniffing the breeze to receive the urgent message-get going! I settled on the Fox as the main character because he is a skeptic, and an outsider and had the most potential for growth during the story. Also his orange coat, white whiskers and elegant black stockings gave him star power!

As an author/illustrator do you have a story idea first or do ideas come as visual images?

As an author/illustrator my first ideas are generally images or pivotal scenes that are the inspiration for the book. After that, I write the manuscript to go with the little movie in my head. For Fox Walked Alone, as the story followed the animals on their journey I made sketches and storyboards of various characters and scenery. Once the manuscript is finished, I draw the final roughs. From the roughs I construct the plasticine art.

The use of Plasticine in unusual for children's book illustrations. Can you explain the process and why you chose this medium for Fox Walked Alone?

I have been creating picture book illustrations with plasticine for more that 25 years, and playing with it since I was a child. It is an extremely expressive medium, perfect for detail, and every book creates new ways of working with it and new problems to solve. And it is FUN! For Fox, it was a joy to create the desert colours, the changing sky and the textures and expressions of the animals, and especially creating the bird's eye view of the ruined city. I meet hundreds of fellow plasticine artists when I visit schools, and many students send me pictures of their artwork in this medium. I share some of their inspiring work on my website.

What is the best thing about being an author/illustrator?

The best thing about being a children's author/illustrator is visiting a library and finding one of my books sharing a shelf with books that I loved as a child, as well as new books by authors I admire. It's an honour and a thrill to be in such good company.

What is one fun fact about you?

I do most of my thinking while walking our dog, Ruby. She is a terrier, and some of her large ego shows up in the personality of Fox.

Barbara, thank you so much for sharing your creative process! For more information, as well as some how-to videos, please visit Barbara’s amazing website: www.barbarareid.ca

Annual Western Regional Conference: Jewish Literature for Children

2010-02-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

CELEBRATE JEWISH BOOKS FOR CHILDREN!

ANNUAL WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE : JEWISH LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN

Sunday, April 18, 2010, 9:00 am to 3:00

"MONSTERS AND MIRACLES: A JOURNEY THROUGH JEWISH PICTURE BOOKS"
Skirball exhibit - panel discussion - silent auction - book sale - autographing by local authors. Continental Breakfast; Lunch. Manuscript consultation available.
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 - (310) 440-4500 AND American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Dr., Bel Air, CA 90077 - (888) 853-6763

AJLSC members - $45 (includes lunch)
Co-sponsored by Sinai Temple Blumenthal Library, Association of Jewish Libraries, AJLSC, and the Ostrow Community Library at the American Jewish University.
For more information please visit www.ajlsc.org

Writing Classes in Oak Park

2010-02-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

Begining February 22nd, I will be teaching Writing Books for Children on on Monday nights at the Oak Park Community Center.

Feel free to e-mail me at BarbaraBietz@aol.com for more information or visit www.rsrpd.org.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - Welcome Jago!

2010-02-04T01:07:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-25T12:07:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS - 2010

2010-01-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-12-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-12-15T09:14:00.001-08:00

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!

2009-12-09T10:28:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-12T14:34:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

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

http://jewishheritagecontest.com

Welcome Zachary Shapiro

2009-10-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T10:05:00.001-07:00

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.

April Halprin Wayland's New Year at the Pier!

2009-08-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-08-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-14T18:37:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-12T20:45:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-30T14:23:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

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!"

2009-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

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/