Afleveringen

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/12/cheering-on-jewish-books-hanukkah-gift.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/o0Yx3uuZxPHcUStwWsJbUa7xkmY?utm_source=copy_url

    HANDOUT: https://tinyURL.com/CheeringJewishBooks

    VIDEO WITH SLIDES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSBTYGDhCl4&t=2s

    For Hanukkah 2024, I got you a Jewish Book Advocacy Kit! Let me explain.

    My local public library invited me to give an online talk in honor of Jewish Book Month. As I thought about what to say, I remembered great advice from my friend, author Liza Wiemer, about all the small simple things that anyone can do to support Jewish literature - and bingo, I had my topic.

    Here's an edited recording of that talk I gave, with practical, actionable tips, and suggestions for Jewish books you'll love. If you'd like to see my slideshow, you can watch the same talk on YouTube. And be sure to check out this very useful presentation handout.

    For even more books you'll love, check out my annual unofficial Sydney Taylor Book Award shortlist to see what I think is the best Jewish kidlit of 2024!

    Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Happy Reading!

    CREDITS:

    Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate

    Your feedback is welcome! Please write to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-very-december-25th-hanukkah.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/UWPCM0P5Hpt6NgXH36TIfIelswY?utm_source=copy_url

    Happy Hanukkah! Christmas and Hanukkah overlap this year, with Hanukkah beginning on December 25, so it's a good time to think about the juxtaposition of these two holidays. Hanukkah is a minor holiday but its proximity to Christmas brings it extra attention. Let's talk about that!

    GUESTS:

    Henry Herz, editor of The Festival of Lights: 16 Hanukkah Stories Joanne Levy, Festival contributor and co-author of Let It Glow Erica Perl, Festival contributor and author of The Ninth Night of Hanukkah

    LEARN MORE:

    Henry Herz's website | buy or borrow The Festival of Lights Joanne Levy's website | buy or borrow Let It Glow Erica Perl's website, Instagram | buy or borrow The Ninth Night of Hanukkah Reading (and gifting) recommendations:
    Joanne suggests The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket, and Red and Green and Blue and White by Lee Wind. Erica suggests Meet the Latkes, Latke's First Hanukkah, and P is for Pastrami by Alan Silberberg, The Greatest by Veera Hiranandani, and What Jewish Looks Like by Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard

    CREDITS:

    Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate

    Your feedback is welcome! Please write to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

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    Klik hier om de feed te vernieuwen.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/jewish-book-month.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/EHJzDppX2El7s3XjfPnLd-PqW4I?utm_source=copy_url

    Here's a bonus episode for you, in honor of Jewish Book Month, which is marking its 99th year.

    Arielle Landau, the program coordinator at the Jewish Book Council, joins me to talk about the Council's special campaign to Celebrate Jewish Books, and how YOU can participate!

    Watch my Instagram @BookOfLifePodcast and Facebook for daily Jewish Book Month recommendations, November 24-December 24, 2024. In light of the state of the world, this year's theme is books that model ACTIVISM.

    LEARN MORE:

    Jewish Book Month Celebrate Jewish Books Campaign "Cheering On Jewish Books" video by Heidi with practical tips for supporting Jewish lit Article by Heidi in The Forward about Jewish Book Month Arielle's favorite campaign partners:
    The Yiddish Book Center One Table The Book of Life Lehrhouse

    CREDITS:

    Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate

    Your feedback is welcome! Please write to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/creature-double-feature-part-i-deke.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/9oU8bBDsH32kp0wvR50fWFGLTF0?utm_source=copy_url

    For the month of November 2024, we've got a 2-part series, CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE: ANTISEMITISM AND THE SUPERNATURAL. Our first guest is Deke Moulton, author of Don't Want to Be Your Monster (about Jewish vampires) and Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf (about Jewish werewolves).

    These middle grade fantasy novels go beyond simple adventures with supernatural heroes. I love how they both delve deeply into the very nature of prejudice. I love how they both imagine worlds in which kids defeat hate. AND they are also fun, fast paced magical adventure stories.

    Creature Double Feature Part II is an interview with Emi Watanabe Cohen about her dragon and golem middle grade novels, The Lost Ryū and Golemcrafters, which make great companions to Deke's books.

    LEARN MORE:

    Creature Double Feature Part II with Emi Watanabe Cohen Deke's website DekeMoulton.com and Instagram @dekewritesstuff Buy / borrow Don't Want to Be Your Monster Buy/ borrow Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf Tikkun Olam: donate to Wolfhaven, and learn about keystone species Background on Jewish werewolves in sacred texts Star Trek reference to the yetzer hatov and yetzer hara in The Enemy Within Deke's reading recommendations:
    - Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
    - Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
    - Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin
    - ...and a reading rec from Heidi: Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero List of Jewish fantasy titles featured on past podcast episodes NOVEMBER EVENTS
    JEWISH JOY READING PARTY
    Auction November 13-20, 2024
    Bid at The Artists Against Antisemitism 2nd annual Auction
    to have me host a private virtual event for you and your friends
    BID HERE!

    CHEERING ON JEWISH BOOKS
    November 20, 2024 at 7pm ET
    Free online talk about supporting Jewish literature
    PRE-REGISTER HERE!
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/creature-double-feature-part-ii-emi.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/LlqEguYzidUDn_uqBHgEK5B1QKY?utm_source=copy_url

    For the month of November 2024, we've got a 2-part series, CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE: ANTISEMITISM AND THE SUPERNATURAL. Our guest for Part II is Japanese American Jewish author Emi Watanabe Cohen. Her debut novel was The Lost Ryū (about dragons), and her sophomore novel is Golemcrafters (about golems, of course).

    I loved The Lost Ryū so much that I volunteered to review it for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze blog, because I wanted to point out a moment of allyship that touched my soul. Then, along came Golemcrafters. I must admit I was wary at first, because golems are kind of overdone, but this book drew me in even more than The Lost Ryū, with how much it mirrored my own emotional response to antisemitism. Both of these books are like hands reaching out to hold yours. I highly recommend that you reach back, and read both books yourself.

    Creature Double Feature Part I features an interview with Deke Moulton about her vampire and werewolf middle grade novels, Don't Want to Be Your Monster and Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf, which make great companions to Emi's books.

    LEARN MORE:

    Creature Double Feature Part I with Deke Moulton Emi's website EmiCohenWrites.com Buy / borrow The Lost Ryū Buy / borrow Golemcrafters Emi's reading recommendations:
    Don't Want to Be Your Monster and Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton Wrath Becomes Her and The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb The Golem Redux: From Prague to Post-Holocaust Fiction by Elizabeth R. Baer NOVEMBER EVENTS
    JEWISH JOY READING PARTY
    Auction November 13-20, 2024
    Bid at The Artists Against Antisemitism 2nd annual Auction
    to have me host a private virtual event for you and your friends
    BID HERE!

    CHEERING ON JEWISH BOOKS
    November 20, 2024 at 7pm ET
    Free online talk about supporting Jewish literature
    PRE-REGISTER HERE!
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/festive-friends-part-i-teshuvah-and.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/x1-e3vOomTqZOrPvQPzePL4ZOKQ

    In honor of this holiday-packed month, I've got a 2-part series for you. I'm calling it Festive Friends, because each episode features a pair of friends talking about books relevant to our fall holidays.

    Here in Part I, the Festive Friends are Gayle Forman, author of Not Nothing, and Marjorie Ingall, author of Getting to Sorry. While neither of these books are explicitly about Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, they are both about teshuvah, growth, and the art of apology, perfect for this season. I invited this duo not only because of their excellent books but because of their Big BFF Energy, which is a joy to behold.

    This is Gayle's first appearance on the podcast, but Marjorie has been a frequent guest. Her past appearances include: Enough with the Holocaust Books for Children! (2015), Mamaleh Knows Best (2017), A Field Guide to Jewish Kidlit (2019), and The Mitzvah of Voting (2020 & 2024).

    In Part II, available now, you'll hear from Erica Lyons and Christina Matula, friends and co-authors of the picture book Mixed-Up Mooncakes, about a Chinese Jewish family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and Sukkot.

    LEARN MORE:

    Festive Friends Part II with Erica Lyons and Christina Matula Gayle Forman's website Marjorie Ingalls' website, and SorryWatch Buy Not Nothing Buy Getting to Sorry Reading Recommendations: Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales, I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff, A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban, the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, Lily's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Gayle volunteers with TheStatesProject.org and AuthorsAgainstBookBans.com Gayle's interview at The Horn Book (has a spoiler, read after finishing the book) Heidi's "Jewish Joy with Ruth Behar" guest post on Multicultural Kid Blogs Learn about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (October 2-4, 2024) Learn about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (October 11-12, 2024

    ENTER THE DRAWING

    Post a review of The Book of Life or Nice Jewish Books, or BOTH, on social media or on any podcast player such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Take screenshots of your reviews and email the images to [email protected]. You'll be entered into a drawing for a special tote bag with the logo of The Book of Life on one side and Nice Jewish Books on the other. Every review you send is an entry in the drawing, and multiple entries are allowed. The deadline to email us is October 24th, 2024, the beginning of the ultimate Jewish celebration of reading, Simchat Torah. Your posts will help our podcasts find more listeners, and help more readers find great Jewish books!

    "JEWISH JOY" SERIES ON MULTICULTURAL KID BLOGS

    I am pleased to announce that Multicultural Kid Blogs has invited me to do a "Jewish Joy" series of interviews with diverse Jewish authors. The first one features Ruth Behar, who was on the podcast in May 2024 to talk about her novel Across So Many Seas.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/festive-friends-part-ii-asian-jewish.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/xKGzqMhNsej4ALLe6F7e2wBfNJg

    October 2024 is packed with Jewish holidays, so we've got a 2-part series for you to celebrate: Holiday Friends. In each episode, we hear from a pair of friends about their books that will help us celebrate the Jewish holidays. In Festive Friends Part I we heard from Gayle Forman, author of Not Nothing, and Marjorie Ingall, author of Getting to Sorry.

    Here in Festive Friends Part II, we meet Erica Lyons and Christina Matula. Lately, Kids of mixed heritage have finally been getting their mirror books, and a great example is Erica and Christina's new picture book Mixed-Up Mooncakes, about a Chinese Jewish family celebrating the Mid Autumn Festival and Sukkot. I love the cozy atmosphere of this book, with its double harvest festival fun; and I love the comfortable way in which the Chinese and Jewish cultures are mixed together both literally and figuratively in the story.

    LEARN MORE:

    Festive Friends Part I with Gayle Forman and Marjorie Ingall Erica Lyons' website Christina Matula's website Buy Mixed-Up Mooncakes Reading recommendations: Erica suggests Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup by Pamela Mayer and the Holly-Mei series by Christina Matula. Christina suggests The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung. Heidi's "Jewish Joy with Ruth Behar" guest post on Multicultural Kid Blogs Learn about the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 17, 2024) Learn about Sukkot (October 16-23, 2024)

    ENTER THE DRAWING

    Post a review of The Book of Life or Nice Jewish Books, or BOTH, on social media or on any podcast player such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Take screenshots of your reviews and email the images to [email protected]. You'll be entered into a drawing for a special tote bag with the logo of The Book of Life on one side and Nice Jewish Books on the other. Every review you send is an entry in the drawing, and multiple entries are allowed. The deadline to email us is October 24th, 2024, the beginning of the ultimate Jewish celebration of reading, Simchat Torah. Your posts will help our podcasts find more listeners, and help more readers find great Jewish books!

    "JEWISH JOY" SERIES ON MULTICULTURAL KID BLOGS

    I am pleased to announce that Multicultural Kid Blogs has invited me to do a "Jewish Joy" series of interviews with diverse Jewish authors. The first one features Ruth Behar, who was on the podcast in May 2024 to talk about her novel Across So Many Seas.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/09/our-jewish-emotional-support-books.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/LVQ-f8Gwpfw2LLKvE4Y7TGOzHes?utm_source=copy_url

    At the Association of Jewish Libraries 2024 annual conference in San Diego, CA, I met up with Sheryl Stahl, host of our sister podcast, Nice Jewish Books. Inspired by the cartoon seen here, Sheryl and I interviewed our friends and colleagues about their Jewish "emotional support books" and the results turned into this podcast episode (cross-posted on Nice Jewish Books). We got a very wide variety responses, listed in the Show Notes in case you'd like to read any of the books that are so meaningful to your fellow Jewish book-lovers.

    ENTER THE DRAWING

    Need a tote bag to carry around your emotional support books? Enter our drawing!

    Post a review of The Book of Life or Nice Jewish Books, or BOTH, on social media or on any podcast player such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Take screenshots of your reviews and email the images to [email protected]. You'll be entered into a drawing for a special tote bag with the logo of The Book of Life on one side and Nice Jewish Books on the other. Every review you send is an entry in the drawing, and multiple entries are allowed. The deadline to email us is October 24th, 2024, the beginning of the ultimate Jewish celebration of reading, Simchat Torah.

    Or, if you'd like to order a tote bag right now, we've got you covered:

    The Book of Life tote

    Nice Jewish Books tote

    Ella & Henny & Sarah & Charlotte & Gertie tote

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-mitzvah-of-voting-edited-encore.html

    TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/ql3_Vi81NBwkvNT97SKZiyh8_yM?utm_source=copy_url

    Four years ago in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, I ran a 3-part series called The Mitzvah of Voting. Here we are in 2024 in a presidential election year again and defending our democracy is more important than ever! Here's an edited encore presentation of that 2020 podcast, with all three parts combined and streamlined. You'll hear inspiring words and calls to action from some of your favorite authors, recorded in 2020 but as relevant as ever. We cap it off with Sarah Aroeste's Ladino song "Gracia" (English lyrics below), a tribute to the medieval Sephardic heroine, Doña Gracia Nasi who lived in the 1500's and saved hundreds of Jews from the Inquisition. The theme of the song is that activists of the past inspire us to activism in our own time. I hope you will be inspired to VOTE!

    RESOURCES SUGGESTED BY GUESTS:

    Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Jews for Racial and Economic Justice The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society VoteRiders.org Become a poll worker Add your Representative and Senators to your cell phone and call regularly on issues you care about Confirm your voter registration at Vote.org The Matthew Shepard Foundation Reclaim Our Vote Doña Gracia Nasi

    GUESTS: (See show notes for links to their websites and books)

    Marjorie Ingall Linda Epstein Jeff Gottesfeld Leslie Kimmelman Susan Kusel Tziporah Cohen Elissa Brent Weissman Lee Wind Barbara Bietz Jane Breskin Zalben Jacqueline Jules Anne-Marie Asner Gail Carson Levine Lesléa Newman Evan Wolkenstein Sue Macy Sarah Aroeste

    ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF GRACIA:

    You give us grace
    You give us life
    You give us promise
    You give us bravery
    You give us strength
    You give us defiance

    You give us command
    You give us voice
    You give us inspiration
    You give us esteem
    You give us value
    You give us admiration

    Chorus:
    Because of you we have the
    Honor, fight, effect;
    Because of you we stand with
    Power, height, respect

    Some have the deeds, some have the fame–
    You have both and the same.

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-state-of-middle-grade.html

    I love middle grade books! But what defines a middle grade book? What are the challenges to publishing for this age group? What is the state of middle grade literature today? To learn more, I invited 2 experts on the genre:

    ~ Librarian Karen Jensen, author of "Treatise on the State of Middle Grade and Young Adult Publishing Today" and creator of the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog on School Library Journal's website

    ~ Chris Baron, author of Jewish middle grade fiction and founding member of the Facebook group For the Love of Middle Grade

    LEARN MORE:

    Transcript of the episode Chris Baron's website Chris's books: All of Me | The Magical Imperfect | The Gray | The Secret of the Dragon Gems | On All Other Nights Teen Librarian Toolbox's "Mind the Middle" Project
    Karen's Treatise on the State of MG and YA Publishing Today Author support groups: For the Love of Middle Grade | Mighty Middle Grade Authors | Middle Grade Authorcade Evaluating Jewish Representation in Children's Literature: A Guide for Libraries Authors promoting middle grade: Rick Riordan Presents | Dav Pilkey's Little Free Libraries | James Patterson's imprint | Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jason Reynolds Karen's middle grade reading recommendation: A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd Chris's middle grade reading recommendation: Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero Podcast recommendation: Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong


  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/07/espionage-secrets-suspense-holocaust.html

    Two incredible authors, Adam Gidwitz and Steve Sheinkin, joined me to talk about their most recent books, Max in the House of Spies and Impossible Escape. As many listeners know, I tend to avoid Holocaust books because I've kind of overdosed on them during a long career of working with Jewish children's literature... but both of these books are SO good that I couldn't ignore them. Max in the House of Spies is middle grade historical fantasy fiction and Impossible Escape is young adult nonfiction. They are very different books, but they also make a great pairing... as do Adam and Steve, who are friends in real life. Impossible Escape was a 2024 Sydney Taylor Honor Book (young adult category). It remains to be seen whether Max in the House of Spies will become an award winner, but it seems likely to me!

    LEARN MORE:

    Transcript of interview Adam Gidwitz's website Steve Sheinkin's website Adam recommends An Account Rendered by Melita Maschmann, and Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, a documentary film and book by Mark Jonathan Harris and Deborah Oppenheimer Adam's podcast Grim, Grimmer, Grimmest Steve's YouTube show Author-Fan Face-Off Adam's Sydney Taylor Book Award winner (middle grade category): The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog | 2017 podcast interview about Inquisitor's Tale

    ANNOUNCEMENT: The Book of Life is now available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@bookoflifepodcast

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/06/joyful-song-with-leslea-newman-susan-gal.html

    Joyful Song: A Naming Story is Lesléa Newman's newest picture book, and once again she's paired up with the amazing Susan Gal. This dynamic duo brought us Here Is the World in 2014 and Welcoming Elijah in 2020. Their new 2024 book is about a baby naming at synagogue, and about the diverse and loving community that welcomes the little girl into the world. The two-mom family makes it a great book for Pride Month, too.

    LEARN MORE:

    Transcript of interview Lesléa Newman's website Susan Gal's website Susan's other Jewish book, The Tower of Life by Chana Stiefel Roller Coaster Rabbit, the Disney film Susan worked on Heidi's Jewish kidlit wish list Lesléa's past appearances on The Book of Life:
    Welcoming Elijah, 2020 Social Justice and Jewish Children's Books, 2018 Ketzel and Mom, 2016 Here Is the World, 2015

    JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, Friends & Allies Edition: May 2024 daily reading recommendations

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/05/ruth-behar-on-across-so-many-seas.html

    Lucky Broken Girl, Letters from Cuba, Tia Fortuna's New Home, and now, Across So Many Seas. Award winning author Ruth Behar keeps finding new ways to share her Sephardic and Ashkenazi Cuban Jewish heritage with us, and it's fresh and fascinating every time.

    In her latest sweeping middle grade novel, Across So Many Seas, she introduces us to four generations of a Sephardic family, from the Spanish Inquisition to modern times. Like the Ladino song woven into the story of each of the 12 year old protagonists, this book is a poignant and powerful ode to sorrow and connection and joy. LEARN MORE: Transcript of interview Ruth Behar's website Playlist of music from Across So Many Seas Educator's Guide to Across So Many Seas Buy Across So Many Seas Ruth's tikkun olam suggestion: The American Ladino League Ruth's Sephardic reading recommendations:
    * board book Mazal Bueno by past podcast guest Sarah Aroeste
    * graphic novel We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga
    * novel Kantika by Elizabeth Graver
    * nonfiction One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World by Michael Frank Ruth's documentary film Adio Kerida - rent for $3.99 on Vimeo

    JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: See daily reading recommendations!

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/04/project-shema.html

    As you may remember, in December 2023 I participated in The Artists Against Antisemitism auction, which raised funds for Project Shema. Today we'll talk with April Powers, Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Project Shema, to learn more about their mission and how it can help us kidlit folks.

    LEARN MORE:

    Transcript of interview Project Shema Jewbian Princess "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism" article by Eric K. Ward Reading suggestions: The Source by James Michener, The Assignment by Liza Wiemer
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-miracle-seed.html The Miracle Seed is Martin Lemelman's nonfiction graphic novel about how modern science brought the Judean date palm back to life after a thousand year extinction. We met in person at the local public library's recording studio to talk about his book, his art, and the truly amazing story of how seeds found at an archaeological dig at Masada in Israel were able to be germinated after centuries, and about the significance of the Judean date palm in Jewish history. LEARN MORE: Martin Lemelman's websites TwoCentComics.com and LemelmanArt.com The Arava Institute Graphic novel about Martin's mother: Mendel's Daughter Graphic memoir: Two Cents Plain: My Brooklyn Boyhood Book and film: The Tattooed Torah Another recent Israel-related interview: Noa Nimrodi on Not So Shy

  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-2024-sydney-taylor-book-awards.html

    The winners of the 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, recognizing the best Jewish children's and young adult literature of the year, were announced on January 22, 2024 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Aviva Rosenberg is the current chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, and she joined us to discuss the 2024 winners of the award.

    LEARN MORE:

    Sydney Taylor Book Awards ALA's Youth Media Awards (where the Sydney Taylors are announced) ALA's YouTube channel, where you can watch a recording of the announcement Heidi's unofficial 2024 Sydney Taylor shortlist Aviva's recommendation for an Israel-related book: The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman Aviva's Tikkun Olam suggestion: buy Israeli products! A helpful Facebook group is Israeli Shops to Purchase From Read the Transcript
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-artists-against-antisemitism-auction.html

    The Artists Against Antisemitism is a new organization formed to give creatives of all kinds a way to fight anti-Jewish hate. Their very first action is to hold an auction, happening December 15-22, 2023. The auction will benefit Project Shema, which trains and supports the Jewish community and allies to understand and address contemporary antisemitism, especially on college campuses. EVEN IF YOU MISS THE AUCTION - you can still help!

    Debbie Reed Fischer, one of the founding members of Artists Against Antisemitism, joined me to tell us all about it.

    LEARN MORE:

    Bid in the auction: bit.ly/KeepTheLightGoing23 TheArtistsAgainstAntisemitism.com ProjectShema.org Debbie Reed Fischer's website Read the transcript
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/12/hanukkah-upside-down.html

    In September 2023, I zoomed with Elissa Brent Weissman from across the world, to record an interview about her new picture book, Hanukkah Upside Down. It's the story of a cousin in New York and a cousin in New Zealand, and how they connect during this wintertime AND summertime holiday.

    LEARN MORE:

    Read the transcript Buy or borrow Hanukkah Upside Down Elissa Brent Weissman's website Illustrator Omer Hoffman's website

    BONUS HANUKKAH FUN:

    #JewishJoy posts Interview: The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming Hanukkah Book Bingo
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/11/two-tribes.html

    Emily Bowen Cohen is a Jewish member of the Muscogee Nation. Her debut graphic novel, Two Tribes, explores the complexities that come with having a dual identity. I can't think of a better book to read in November, which is both Jewish Book Month and Native American Heritage Month.

    LEARN MORE:

    Read the transcript Buy or borrow Two Tribes Emily Bowen Cohen's website and Instagram Emily's Tikkun Olam suggestion: Be'chol Lashon Emily's Israel book suggestion: Lon-Lon's Big Night by Miri Leshem-Pelly Heartdrum imprint at HarperCollins Jewish Book Month Native American Heritage Month
  • SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/10/we-need-israel-books.html

    Like so many of you, I am devastated by the suffering and loss of life in Israel and in Gaza, inflicted by the terrorism of Hamas, so I'm interrupting our regular schedule to bring you additional content related to the war in Israel and Gaza. This conversation with Yael Levy, Chava Pinchuck, and Marjorie Gann is about the need for children's literature related to Israel and the challenges that make it hard to get that literature published. A transcript can be found here.

    Please click on the SHOW NOTES to find extensive links for these topics:

    Learn More About Publishing and Israel Books Recommended by Guests Books NOT Recommended Books & Projects by Guests Organizations Accepting Donations Learn More About the War