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 when WWII changed the lives of so many. Bartali risked his own safety to deliver documents that would help…
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 author and illustrators, welcoming many into her library to share their work with her students. Suzi has served on book award committees, and was the President…
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 of this incredible community!
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 are delightful and Sharon Davey’s art helps bring the sweet, playful story to life. Tell me about the inspiration for…
Photo by Samantha Liddick 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 the uniqueness of Israel as Molly explores the country’s history and her own family’s connection to…
Omer Hoffman, 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 illustrations reflect a traditional folktale style mixed with a bit of whimsy. Yet some of the illustrations, particularly a double page…
My friend Susan Lynn Meyer (previously interviewed for her novel Black Radishes) has a new picture book just in time for Passover! MATZAH BELOWSTAIRS (Kar-Ben) is a delightful story about a charming little mouse family whose lives Belowstairs. They are eager to celebrate Passover, just like the Winkler family who lives Abovestairs. But Miriam Mouse is struggling to forage for…
Ann Koffsky divides her time among numerous projects, as an author, illustrator, editor, and art designer – she does it all! Ann recently shared her artistic process on social media as she worked on a beautiful series of paintings. These lovely works would later become the art for a new picture book, CREATION COLORS (Apples & Honey Press). From painting…
Tracy Newman is the author of more than 10 Jewish books for young readers, most of them about celebrating holidays. Her newest book, AROUND THE PASSOVER TABLE (Albert Whitman & Company) is delightful picture book that takes readers through the entire seder with lyrical rhyming text. The illustrations by Adriana Santos depict a loving, relatable family. AROUND THE PASSOVER TABLE…
It’s always wonderful to hear about new publishers that are passionate about bringing meaningful stories to life for young readers. Green Bean Books, based in London, is a new, independent publishing company. They have select titles available, including translated works from some of Israel’s “best loved authors and illustrators.” I find it fascinating to view the publishing process from through…