I’m delighted to chat with Richard Michelson about his new book, FANNY’S BIG IDEA: HOW JEWISH BOOK WEEK WAS BORN (Rocky Pond Books, 2025), illustrated by Alyssa Russell. The book introduces readers to librarian Fanny Goldstein and her life’s work. Fanny’s many accomplishments, including the creation of Jewish Book Week (now Jewish Book Month) underscore the significance of public libraries and the essential role that librarians have in communities. The illustrations, depicting the historical Boston library setting, are warm and inviting. Fanny’s legacy deserves to be celebrated, and it’s a joy to learn more about her.
The book release coincides with the 100th Anniversary of Jewish Book Month November 13th – December 13th.
Welcome back, Richard!
Fanny Goldstein, a young immigrant from Russia, found comfort and community in the Boston public library. How did you first learn about Fanny Goldstein?
First of all, hello Barbara, It is always a pleasure to be on your wonderful blog!
I first heard the name Fanny Goldstein while attending the 2018 Fanny Goldstein Merit Award presentation at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual conference (were you there that year? I think you and I first met at an AJL conference). I had received my 2nd Sydney Taylor Gold Medal for The Language of Angels: A Story about the Reinvention of Hebrew. I noticed that many of my favorite librarians had previously won the award, and I was curious about the person the prize was named for. Considering how much Fanny had accomplished in her life, especially as a woman, an immigrant, and a Jew, I was surprised to learn how little information existed about Fanny. When an individual I admire has the courage to stand up for the rights of others, I become interested in how their childhood fueled the person they became. So, I decided to investigate.
In the process of doing research about Fanny Goldstein, were there any interesting anecdotes you discovered that didn’t make it into the book?
Fanny was an interesting person. She could be terse and tough, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, so there are a few incidents that didn’t make it into the book.
When Rabbi Felix Mendelsohn of Chicago claimed credit for starting Jewish Book Week Fanny didn’t complain because it was the idea –not the glory– that was important to her, and she thought more people would listen to a man, especially a rabbi. What she learned is that men often want the praise but aren’t interested in doing the day-to-day hard work; so she reclaimed her idea.
Fanny wrote to a friend: I am no longer angry. I am, instead over-whelmed with pity that a man supposedly trained as a rabbi … to interpret ethics and understanding, should …be so filled with pomp and arrogance and self-inflation so that he has to behave in a manner that would jeopardize the labors of another in Israel’s cause.
Alyssa Russell’s illustrations are charming and create the perfect setting for the text. They include dialogue bubbles that add to the story. Was this your idea or Alyssa Russell’s idea?
Can you believe that this is Alyssa’s first book?! She did an amazing job—and on short notice. My fabulous editor, Lauri Hornik, said she’d been looking for just the right project to introduce Alyssa to the world. As for the dialogue bubbles, neither Alyssa nor I can take credit. It was, Carolyn Yoder, who edited my book that came out earlier this month, What Louis Brandeis Knows: A Crusader for Social Justice Becomes a Supreme Court Justice. I was working on revision for both books at the same time and trying to deal with an excess of text on the page. Carolyn suggested dialogue bubbles, and while I did not end up using them for her book, they were perfect for this project!
As you describe in the back matter included in the book, Fanny’s idea of Jewish Book Week ultimately evolved into Jewish Book Month with the help of the Jewish Book Council. An illustration from FANNY’S BIG IDEA is on the poster celebrating the Jewish Book Council’s 100th year anniversary. How do you think Fanny would feel about her legacy? How do you feel being connected to her legacy today?
I think Fanny would have absolutely loved to see how her idea has expanded, and I think she would also be thrilled to see how the Jewish Book Council has grown. As for her legacy—I promise not to take any credit at all, less she haunt me from the grave as she did Rabbi Mendelsohn. The real work of carrying on her legacy is being done by you, and the Jewish librarians across the country.
Fanny’s love of books and commitment to her community exemplify the impact one person’s actions can have on others. What do you hope young readers take away from her story?
Exactly that—how one person’s actions can have impact on so many others. And I hope it encourages young girls to speak out, and all children to understand that they should be proud of their heritage and also be curious about how other people’s traditions. As Fanny said: The more you know about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.
Thank you, Richard!
Richard Michelson is the author of several picture books. He is also an accomplished poet and owns the R. Michelson Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts, which often features children’s book illustrations. Find out more at rmichelson.com.