The Book of Life

VIEW HANUKKAH BOOKLIST     🕮    Over at "People of the Books" (the blog of the Association of Jewish Libraries), they've posted a list of recommended Hanukkah books for children .  NEW BOOKS There are brand new books listed, like one I'm especially excited about: Honeyky Hanukkah by Woody Guthrie, illustrated by Dave Horowitz, and accompanied by a Klezmatics CD. I interviewed Nora Gurthrie in 2006 about the Klezmatics CD Happy Joyous Hanukkah based on Woody's work, and I interviewed Dave Horowitz in 2007 about his hilarious picture book Five Little Gefiltes . I'm thrilled to see them come together to create this new picture book! OLD BOOKS The AJL post also lists Hanukkah-themed books that have been recognized by the Sydney Taylor Book Award as gold or silver medalists or with a Notable Book designation. The Sydney Taylor Book Award has been in business since 1968, so there have been quite a few Hanukkah-related winners over the years. 

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    In honor of Veteran's Day and to show our appreciation for those who strive to keep us safe, let's hear this interview with author Neal Bascomb about The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi . The young adult book, which was based on Bascomb's adult title Hunting Eichman , won the 2014 Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Teen Readers Category. CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel   Supported in part by: Association of Jewish Libraries   Theme music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band   Facebook: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast  Twitter: @bookoflifepod   Photo: Neal Bascomb at the 2014 Association of Jewish Libraries Conference Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY GOTTIKA / SHIMMY SHAMBONE      🕮    At the  Seminar on Jewish Story 2014 , not only the presenters were authors. I met a few writers in the audience too, and interviewed them during the lunch break. Here are my interviews with authors Helaine Becker and Yael Zoldan . These two authors represent the breadth of what can a Jewish children's book can be. Helaine has recently come out with Gottika , a universal fantasy novel with Jewish roots (think Golem), and Yael's new picture book is Shimmy Shambone Will Not Take a Bath , a story written for an Orthodox audience but with a protagonist any child can relate to. CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel   Supported in part by: Association of Jewish Libraries   Theme music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band   Facebook: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast  Twitter: @bookoflifepod   Photo: Helaine Becker shows the cover of Gottika on h