The Book of Life

In a normal year, Jewish American/Canadian Heritage Month in May is about celebrating Jewish life in North America: Jewish history, achievements, and experiences. In 2024, with the precipitous rise in antisemitism, it seems more appropriate to focus on the relationship between North American Jews and our gentile neighbors. Throughout May 2024, I will be recommending picture books, middle grade, and young adult books that offer models for allyship between Jews and non-Jews. You'll read about beautiful friendships, moving solidarity, and growth in understanding. I hope that these books will inspire readers to make life imitate art. Welcome to a full month of Jewish children's literature celebrating American, Canadian, and worldwide allyship, available in bookstores, libraries, and online. Please share these books with your own network, especially with your friends who are not Jewish. Watch The Book of Life's social media on Facebook or Instagram for daily suggestions. At t

As Passover begins, I'd like to remind you that the Holiday Highlights lists created by the Association of Jewish Libraries are a terrific resource to help you find the very best Jewish holiday books for children. Since the program began in 2021, there have been thirteen Passover books recognized. These are the Passover books you should be buying, borrowing from the library, and giving as afikomen gifts! Learn more about Holiday Highlights on AJL's website or listen to my 2022 podcast episode about it. ALL HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS BOOKS FOR PASSOVER: The Four Questions by Lynne Sharon Schwartz, illustrated by Ori Sherman, Levine Querido, 2021, All ages – Spring 2021 | buy or borrow Animals celebrate at a seder; elegant. Meet the Matzah written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg, Viking, 2021, Ages 4-10 –  Spring 2021 | buy or borrow Anthropomorphic bread products retell the Exodus story; goofy. The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin, Neal Porter Books a

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     |    MEET APRIL     🕮    As you may remember, in December 2023 I participated in The Artists Against Antisemitism auction, which raised funds for Project Shema. Today we'll talk with April Powers, Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Project Shema, to learn more about their mission and how it can help us kidlit folks.  LEARN MORE: Project Shema Jewbian Princess "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism" article by Eric K. Ward Reading suggestions: The Source by James Michener, The Assignment by Liza Wiemer CREDITS: Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflife

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     |    PURCHASE OR BORROW THE BOOK     🕮   The Miracle Seed is Martin Lemelman's nonfiction graphic novel about how modern science brought the Judean date palm back to life after a thousand year extinction. We met in person at the local public library's recording studio to talk about his book, his art, and the truly amazing story of how seeds found at an archaeological dig at Masada in Israel were able to be germinated after centuries, and about the significance of the Judean date palm in Jewish history. LEARN MORE: Martin Lemelman's websites TwoCentComics.com and LemelmanArt.com The Arava Institute Graphic novel about Martin's mother: Mendel's Daughter Graphic memoir: Two Cents Plain: My Brooklyn Boyhood Book and film: The Tattooed Torah Another recent Israel-related interview: Noa Nimrodi on Not So Shy   CREDITS: Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by

BUY OR BORROW THE BOOK    |    BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE    |    AUTHOR WEBSITE     🕮    The Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour is taking place February 5-9, 2024. Today, one of the blog tour stops is here at The Book of Life! My guest is Noa Nimrodi, author of Not So Shy , a Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Middle Grade Category. Click here for a list of all books honored in 2024 . Publisher Kar-Ben says " Twelve-year-old Shai hates having to move to America. She's determined to find a way to get back home to Israel—until she starts opening up to new experiences and friendships." INTERVIEW HEIDI: Noa, welcome to The Book of Life! I understand that the character of Shai is based on a real person. Which parts of the story are based on reality and which parts did you invent? NOA: The book is a mix of truth and fiction. Shai’s character is loosely based on my middle daughter, Shai, who was 12 when we moved from Israel to San Diego, so the premise of the book is very much r

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     🕮    The winners of the 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, recognizing the best Jewish children's and young adult literature of the year, were announced on January 22, 2024 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Aviva Rosenberg is the current chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, and she joined us to discuss the 2024 winners of the award. LEARN  MORE: Sydney Taylor Book Awards ALA's Youth Media Awards (where the Sydney Taylors are announced) ALA's YouTube channel , where you can watch a recording of the announcement Heidi's unofficial 2024 Sydney Taylor shortlist Aviva's recommendation for an Israel-related book: The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman Aviva's Tikkun Olam suggestion: buy Israeli products! A helpful Facebook group is Israeli Shops to Purchase From    2024 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS Scroll down to see all the winning titles listed, with links to an