Set in 1973, Deborah’s middle grade novel THINGS THAT SHIMMER (Kar-Ben, 2024) follows Melanie, a middle schooler desperate to join the cool clique in school while also dealing with her mother’s PTSD. But when she befriends a new student, Dorit,…
Author: BarbaraBietz
Interview with author Ariana Mizrahi and illustrator Siona Benjamin of THE BLUE BUTTERFLY OF COCHIN
THE BLUE BUTTERFLY OF COCHIN (Kalaniot, 2024) by Ariana Mizrahi, illustrated by Siona Benjamin, follows Leah, who immigrates from her beloved home in India to Israel. Along the way, she is escorted by a lovely blue butterfly who gives her…
Interview with author Lesléa Newman and illustrator Susan Gal of JOYFUL SONG
It is my pleasure to welcome author Lesléa Newman and illustrator Susan Gal. In their picture book, JOYFUL SONG: A NAMING STORY (Levine Querido, 2024), Zachary eagerly awaits his sister’s baby naming ceremony. Along with his moms, he excitedly invites…
Interview with Alan Silberberg, author/illustrator of P IS FOR PASTRAMI
Laced with humor and heart, Alan Silberberg‘s alphabet board book P IS FOR PASTRAMI: The ABCs of Jewish Food (Viking, 2024) is a fun-filled, delicious exploration of Jewish cuisine. Charming anthropomorphic food illustrations and clever, quippy dialogue bubbles will engage…
Interview with Phil and Lily Rosenthal, authors of JUST TRY IT!
In father-daughter team Phil and Lily Rosenthal’s new picture book JUST TRY IT! (Simon & Schuster, 2024), illustrated by Luke Flowers, Dad Phil is an adventurous eater, while his young daughter Lil is picky, sticking to only a couple of…
Interview with Rebecca Gardyn Levington, author of AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO? A PASSOVER HIDE-AND-SEEK ADVENTURE
In Rebecca Gardyn Levington’s picture book AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO? A PASSOVER HIDE-AND-SEEK ADVENTURE (Rocky Pond Books, 2023) illustrated by Noa Kelner, youngsters at a seder turn a home upside down trying to find the elusive afikoman. The illustrations are…
Interview with Julie Carpenter, author of HARRY AND THE HIGHWIRE: HOUDINI’S FIRST AMAZING ACT
Julie Carpenter’s picture book HARRY AND THE HIGHWIRE: HOUDINI’S FIRST AMAZING ACT (Green Bean Books, 2024), beautifully illustrated by Laura Catalán, is a delightful story about young Harry Houdini, before he was known as a famous escape artist. The book…
Interview with Barbara Krasner, author of FACING THE ENEMY
Barbara Krasner‘s new verse YA novel FACING THE ENEMY: HOW A NAZI YOUTH CAMP IN AMERICA TESTED A FRIENDSHIP (Calkins Creek, 2024) follows teens Benjy and Tommy through the demise of their friendship when Tommy attends a Nazi youth camp.…
Jewish Book Carnival – February 2024
Welcome to the February 2024 Jewish Book Carnival. I hope you have a chance to check out these interesting links. Thanks for visiting Jewish Books for Kids…and More! The Jewish Book Carnival is a monthly roundup of Jewish literary links…
Interview with Rachelle Burk, author of SPACE TORAH: ASTRONAUT JEFFREY HOFFMAN’S COSMIC MITZVAH
Rachelle Burk’s picture book biography SPACE TORAH: ASTRONAUT JEFFREY HOFFMAN’S COSMIC MITZVAH (Intergalactic Afikoman, 2024), illustrated by Craig Orback, tells the story of Jewish astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman, who took meaningful religious items with him on the space shuttle. The book…