In Jenna Rothberg’s picture book DELI DAYS (Scribble Kids Books, 2026), illustrated by Marta Pantaleo, a child helps their grandfather, Zeyde, in his deli every Sunday. While sharing recipes and life lessons, their heartwarming relationship mirrors the comfort of matzo ball soup. The graphic illustrations are perfect for young readers, and adults who grew up going to deli’s will connect to the sense of nostalgia the classic foods evoke. DELI DAYS is perfect as a read-aloud and will surely inspire family stories to be told. I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to chat with the author about this delicious book.

Welcome, Jenna!

DELI DAYS is such a joyful celebration of food and family, What inspired you to write the story?

Thank you so much! Deli Days was very much inspired by my memories of going to our neighborhood deli with my father as a child. Going to the deli was one of our favorite weekend activities, and much like the regulars in my book, we were ordering brisket and patinated plates piled high with pickles.

While I didn’t always know I wanted to write a picture book about a Jewish deli, as Zeyde tells our main character, “Delis and their history are part of us.” In 2020, my husband and I welcomed our first child. Like a lot of Jewish moms, I excessively researched everything, including information about early literacy. I knew reading with children was important, but I didn’t know why or how or if certain books were more effective. I started reading academic studies about early literacy and shared that information with my Pandemic era Zoom Mommy and Me group. My wonderful cohort encouraged me to start an Instagram to share what my son and I were reading and why we were reading it, so @kidlitbrain was also born. I was soon reading more than a thousand picture books a year… and none of them took place inside a place so many of us hold so dear: a deli. 

As a reader, writer, and educator, I often think about Dr. Rudine Bishop’s analogies of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. I hope Deli Days can be a mirror for the memories readers treasure from their own lives and a sliding glass door that invites readers of all backgrounds into Zeyde’s deli – and hopefully also into a deli near them – to experience the warmth, community, and delicious food.

I love the connection between the grandfather who runs the deli, and his grandchild. Can you share a bit about the storyline that encourages your main character to take initiative (even when mistakes happen!) while helping out at the deli?

The child in Deli Days spends Sundays with Zeyde, learning his recipes, taking orders, and helping deliver food and napkins to the regulars. When they take a spill while delivering a platter of cookies, Zeyde affirms that mistakes are okay because “what matters is what we do afterwards” and emphasizes the resilience of the Jewish diaspora. This conversation connects our main character to their Zeyde and to a Jewish history of strength and perseverance, and it inspires them to try again. In the end, after a successful delivery of a freshly constructed platter of cookies, Zeyde praises their effort, highlighting again that mistakes happen and that process – trying again –  matters more than perfection.

What were your thoughts when you first saw the illustrations by Marta Pantaleo?

When I first saw Marta’s illustrations, I was speechless! Marta’s illustrated main character actually looks like a mixture of both of my sons; it was incredible because she had never seen a photo of them before. Marta’s illustrations are evocative, expressive, and I’m obsessed with how she uses color. Her food illustrations make me hungry, which I think is crucial to a book about a deli. I’m so grateful for all of her hard work, talent, and genius brain.

The book includes a delightful illustrated glossary of deli foods. Was this your idea or a collaboration with the illustrator? 

I always wanted to include an illustrated glossary of deli foods as a way to make Deli Days a “sliding glass door” story. Food can often be a first exposure to an unfamiliar culture, so I hope that an illustrated glossary of deli foods will encourage all readers to feel welcome. I love how Marta represented the food in her illustrations!

What’s your favorite deli food?

This is such a tough question. My favorite deli entree really depends on my mood. For instance, when I’m craving comfort, nothing tastes better than a giant bowl of matzo ball soup. When I’m craving something savory, I lean towards pastrami and french fries. But my love for pickles is a constant. I will happily eat a 7AM pickle!

Thank you, Jenna!

Jenna Rothberg is a writer, reader, and educator. She deeply believes in compassion, humor, and curiosity — and that picture books have the ability to inspire all three. She lives in Los Angeles, California with her family and their chihuahua named Biggie. Deli Days is her debut picture book, and she is thrilled to share it with you.

Tagged Jenna Rothberg, Scribble Kids Books