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, il ..read more

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" articl ..read more

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 signifi ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

  For the last two years I've done an unofficial shortlist of potential Sydney Taylor Book Award winners. These seem to be particularly popular posts, so I'm doing it again! As y'all know, I'm a former member and chair of the Association of Jewish Libraries' Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, and a cofounder of The Sydney Taylor Shmooze mock award blog, so I have a deep and abiding interest in seeking out the best Jewish kidlit of the year. I'm not actually making predictions about what will win; rather, I'm telling you that these are books that I think deserve your attention (with the ..read more

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT    |    SUPPORT ARTISTS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM     ?    Artists Against Antisemitism is a new organization formed to give creatives of all kinds a way to fight hate. Their very first action is to hold an auction, happening December 15-22, 2023. The auction will benefit Project Shema, which trains and supports the Jewish community and allies to understand and address contemporary antisemitism, especially on college campuses. Debbie Reed Fischer, one of the ..read more

Jewish Book Month takes place during the 30 days leading up to Hanukkah, which this year began on December 7, 2023. Because we are all in dire need of some Jewish joy right now, I posted on social media about  books that brings me #JewishJoy each day from November 7 all the way to the end of Hanukkah on December 15. Here are all the titles I included. Each title is linked to a past interview, book review, or other information about the book. November 7, 2023 A HAT FOR MRS GOLDMAN by Michelle Edwards, a literally warm and fuzzy picture book about little Sophia who learns to knit from her ..read more

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT    |    PURCHASE OR BORROW THE BOOK     ?    In September 2023, I zoomed with Elissa Brent Weissman from across the world, to record an interview about her new picture book, Hanukkah Upside Down. It's the story of a cousin in New York and a cousin in New Zealand, and how they connect during this wintertime AND summertime holiday.  LEARN MORE: Elissa Brent Weissman's website Illustrator Omer Hoffman's website BONUS HANUKKAH FUN: #JewishJoy posts I ..read more

BUY THE BOOK AND/OR THE MUG   The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Lisa Brown, was published by McSweeney's in 2007, and is being reissued this year along with a latke-embellished color-changing mug. This sardonic story tickles my funny bone every time, so I am celebrating its return by interviewing illustrator Lisa Brown and author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket). Enjoy, and Happy Hanukkah! LISA BROWN'S WEBSITE    |    LEMONY SNICKET'S WEBSITE    |    DANIEL HANDLER'S WEBSITE  Heidi ..read more