It is a great honor for me to introduce award-winning Israeli author, Shoham Smith, to chat about her book Signs in the Well, illustrated by Vali Mintzi. The picture book about Rabbi Akiva was originally published in Hebrew in 2013.…
Welcome Sue Macy – The Book Rescuer
Last year I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Yiddish Book Center to attend the TENT program for children’s authors. I could barely contain my excitement when I heard about THE BOOK RESCUER by Sue Macy, illustrated by Stacy…
Welcome Chris Baron – All of Me
Chris Baron is the author of ALL OF ME, a middle-grade verse novel (Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, 2019). He tells the story of Ari, who faces many relatable challenges in his life including family, religious identity, friendships, and the struggle of…
Amalia Hoffman – The Brave Cyclist
Amalia Hoffman is an award-winning author and illustrator. I have long been a fan of her books and I’m excited to share her latest, THE BRAVE CYCLIST (Capstone Editions) beautifully illustrated by Chiara Fedele. Gino Bartali was a champion cyclist…
Susan Dubin – Katzele and the Silver Candlesticks
I first met Susan (Suzi) Dubin when she worked as a librarian at Valley Beth Shalom Day School in Encino, California. Suzie was well-known in the children’s book world as an ardent supporter of authors and illustrators, welcoming many into…
Association of Jewish Libraries – Author’s Lunch and More
Oh, what a lovely gathering! The AJL Conference this year was in Woodland Hills, California. The Author’s Lunch featured an inspiring keynote by Eugene Yelchin. The Sydney Taylor Book Award winners were spectacular, as always. So delighted to be part…
The Rabbi Slurps Spaghetti – Leslie Kimmelman
Leslie Kimmelman is the author of MANY books that kids and parents cherish. Her most recent picture book. The Rabbi Slurps Spaghetti (Apples and Honey Press) is a charming look at the real life of a beloved Rabbi. The characters…
Welcome Esty Schachter – Pickled Watermelon!
Esty Schachter is a writer, clinical social worker, book reviewer, and assistant librarian. Her newest book is a middle-grade novel, PICKLED WATERMELON (Kar-Ben). In the story, eleven-year-old Molly visits her family in Israel for the first time. Readers will experience…
Welcome Omer Hoffman – The Sages of Chelm and the Moon
Omer Hoffman, an award-winning artist, is the illustrator of THE SAGES OF CHELM AND THE MOON by Shlomo Abas (Green Bean Books). It’s a charming version of the classic tale. Omer’s art is a perfect pairing for the text. His…
Susan Lynn Meyer – Matzah Belowstairs
My friend Susan Lynn Meyer has a new picture book just in time for Passover! MATZAH BELOWSTAIRS (Kar-Ben) illustrated by Mette Engell is a delightful story about a charming little mouse family whose lives Belowstairs. They are eager to celebrate…