The Book of Life

LISTEN TO THE PODCASTS:  ONE   |  TWO   |  THREE   |  FOUR     🕮    Book Expo America 2014 yielded up some great interviews for The Book of Life. Since I've got a big backlog of episodes waiting to be published, I decided to publish the remaining four Book Expo episodes in one go. Take a virtual visit to the show floor with this series of interviews with the authors and publishers of Jewish books for kids, teens and adults. The episodes you'll hear are: Presses with Alliterative Names Eva Wiseman Good ole Lerner/Kar-Ben! The Pat Boone Fan Club 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   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Here's an interview I've had in the queue for a long time: an interview with Ruchel Louis, Jewish author of Pulani: A Memoir of Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa . I met Ruchel at Book Expo America in 2010, and had a great time interviewing her while we sat waiting for the keynote address, Barbra Streisand, speaking about her book on interior design. I think Ruchel was the more interesting speaker! 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   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473 .

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    A double dip of interviews with Rona Arato , author of Mrs. Kaputnik's Pool Hall & Matzo Ball Emporium : Heidi interviews Rona at Book Expo America The Book of Life's Canadian Correspondent Anne Dublin interviews Rona at home in Toronto 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   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    I bumped into Ann Redisch Stampler at Book Expo 2010. Ann is the author of the Jewish folktale picture book The Rooster Prince of Breslov , which (a while after our interview) was named winner of the National Jewish Book Award 's 2010 Louis Posner Memorial Award for illustrated children's books. It was also named a 2011 Notable Children's Book of Jewish Content by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. Ann was a guest on The Book of Life in 2007 when she won the Sydney Taylor Honor Award for Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost . 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   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepo...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    One of the many interesting people I met at last year's Book Expo America was Carol de Giere, author of a biography of Jewish superstar composer Stephen Schwartz. Her book is entitled Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked . Carol shared interesting tidbits about her time backstage on Wicked and about the Jewish influences on Schwartz's work. Check out her website at caroldegiere.com . 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   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    I still have a number of interviews from Book Expo America 2010 in the queue, but I decided to post the interview with Debbie Levy today because it is her birthday! Thanks to Facebook for letting me know. Happy Birthday, Debbie! I met Debbie Levy and her mother Jutta at Book Expo America 2010, where we sat down in the cafe for an interview. Debbie is the author and Jutta is the subject of The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family and Farewells , based on Jutta's poesiealbum from the 1940's. A poesiealbum is a poetry album or autograph album, in which friends write each other little notes and poems. Debbie was touched by the writings of her mother as a young girl, and her mother's friends. To encourage readers to experience the poesiealbum tradition, she has created a participatory blog where people can submit their own entries to an online poesiealbum at ...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    Forthcoming books of from Judaic publishers discovered at Book Expo America 2010 in NYC! The Crown of Aleppo: The Mystery of the Oldest Hebrew Bible Codex by Hayim Tawil & Bernard Schneider, JPS Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices series by JPS Sara Finds a Mitzva by Rebeka Simhaee, Hachai The Aleph-Bais Trip on the Aleph-Bais Ship by Chani Altein, Hachai I'm God; You're Not: Observations on Organized Religion and Other Disguises of the Ego by Lawrence Kushner, Jewish Lights Sacred Treasure--The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic by Rabbi Mark Glickman, Jewish Lights Confronting Scandel: How Jews Can Respond When Jews Do Bad Things by Dr. Erica Brown, Jewish Lights Communities of Purpose, Lives of Meaning: Shaping American Judaism and Jewish Identity in the 21st Century by Barry Shrage, Jewish Lights How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious ...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    Recent and forthcoming children's and teen books of Jewish interest discovered at Book Expo America 2010 in NYC! Cry of the Giraffe by Judie Oron, Annick Press Hanukkah puzzles, and One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert, Blue Apple Books Annexed by Sharon Dogar, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt The Rooster Prince of Breslov by Anne Redisch Stampler, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden (reprint), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt The Grand Mosque of Paris by Karen Gray Ruelle, Holiday House The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah by Leslie Kimmelman, Holiday House The Story of Esther, A Purim Tale by Eric Kimmel, Holiday House (spring 2011) Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale by Barbara Diamond Goldin (reissue, new illustrations), Marshall Cavendish Restitution by Kathy Kacer, Second Story Press A Chanukah Noel by Sharon Jennings, Second Story Press Teaching guides for Holocaust...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    Forthcoming adult books of Jewish interest discovered at Book Expo America 2010 in NYC! Jews and Money: The Story of a Stereotype by Abraham Foxman, Palgrave Macmillan The Moses Expedition by Juan Gomez-Jurado, Atria Books I'd Bark But You Never Listen: An Illustrated Guide to the Jewish Dog by Harold Kimmel, Red Rock Press The Frozen Rabbi by Steve Stern, Algonquin Books Peep Show by Josh Braff, Algonquin Books A Curable Romantic by Joseph Skibell, Algonquin Books Muslim, Christian and Jew: Finding a Path to Peace Our Faiths Can Share by Dr. David Liepert, Faith of Life Publishing Unifying Truths of the World's Religions by C. David Lundberg, Heavenlight Press Living Fully, Dying Well: Reflecting on Death to Find Your Life's Meaning by Edward W. Bastian & Tina L. Staley, Sounds True Hebrew Illuminations by Adam Rhine, Sounds True America's Great Delis: Recipes and Traditions from Coast to ...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    An interview with Jacqueline Dembar Greene , author of the American Girl series on Rebecca Rubin ( click here for the books, the dolls, and the accessories, and click here for Rebecca games!), and the High Holidays picture book The Secret Shofar of Barcelona , illustrated by Doug Chayka. 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 fan page: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com !

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    The final installment of interviews with publishers and authors from the show floor at Book Expo America 2009 . This episode highlights Jewish books for kids and teens. Guardian Angel House by Kathy Clark from Second Story Press The White Space Between by Ami Sands Brodoff from Second Story Press Tell Me a Story, Tell Me the Truth by Gina Roitman from Second Story Press Shavua Tov by Michelle Abraham, illustrated by Ann Koffsky from URJ Press Baxter the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher by Laurel Snyder from Tricycle Press Hanukkah Lights by David Martin from Candlewick The House on the Roof by David Adler (being reprinted!) from Holiday House The Importance of Wings by Robin Friedman from Charlesbridge The Mysteries of Beethoven's Hair by Russell Martin from Charlesbridge How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Repution by Simone Elkeles from Flux The Tushy Book by Fran Manushkin from Feiwel and Friends The Rabbi and...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    More interviews from Book Expo America 2009 , this time with authors who've written Jewish books for adults. Plus, we find the Jewish angle on the National Book Award and the Books on the Nightstand blog and podcast. Yiddish Yoga by Lisa Grunberger Harold Augenbraum of the National Book Foundation What Happened to Anna K? by Irina Reyn Ostrich Feathers by Miriam Romm From Shmear to Eternity by Fred Kogos Michael Kindness of Books on the Nightstand 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 fan page: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com !

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    In these interviews from the show floor at Book Expo America 2009 , we ask publishers to tell us about their new Jewish interest books for adults. Sex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish: The Heeb Storytelling Collection by Shana Liebman from Grand Central Publishing Sipping from the Nile: My Exodus from Egypt by Jean Naggar from Stony Creek Press The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb from W.W. Norton All Other Nights: A Novel by Dara Horn from W.W. Norton The Jerusalem File by Joel Stone from Europa Editions One Step Ahead of Hitler: A Jewish Child's Journey Through France by Fred Gross from Mercer University Press Elie Wiesel: A Religious Biography by Frederick Downing from Mercer University Press Struggling with God: An Introduction to the Pentateuch (Mercer Student Guide) by Mark McEntire from Mercer University Press The Hebrew Tutor of Bel Air by Allan Appel from Coffee House Press German for Traveler...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    Interviews from the show floor at Book Expo America 2009 . In the spotlight: Jewish presses. Gefen Jewish Publication Society Kar-Ben Publishing Union for Reform Judaism 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 fan page: click here Twitter: @bookoflifepod Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com !

I will be attending Book Expo America , May 29-31, 2009 New York, NY to record material for The Book of Life podcast and to promote the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Jewish children's & teen literature. If YOU will be at Book Expo too, drop me a line at bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    Are you a member of the tribe? Which tribe? What is a tribe, anyway? We explore the notion of "tribe" with several guests: > Aaron Kula is director of the Klezmer Company Orchestra , the ensemble-in-residence of the library at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. We spoke to him about the KCO's CD Beyond the Tribes . Scroll down for a video that includes music from the CD and commentary from the orchestra. > Tiffany Shlain is a documentary filmmaker , director of the Moxie Institute , and founder of the Webby Awards . We spoke to her about her short film The Tribe , which " enlists pop icon Barbie to tackle the challenging issue of Jewish identity." Scroll down to watch a trailer for The Tribe, the entire 18-minute film, or a promotional video for Tiffany's next film Connected : A Declaration of Interdependence.   > Rafael Goldchain is a professional photographer. His installation Familial Groun...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    In this episode of The Book of Life, we talk to 2 Jews and get way more than 3 opinions! These two conversations are the last of the material recorded at Book Expo 2008 . > Kathy Bloomfield , owner of the former Jewish book fair company For Words, member of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee , and Outreach Program Ambassador for the Union for Reform Judaism's Northeast Council talks about her life as a Jew by choice, and how it affects her reading. > Laurel Snyder , author of secular books for kids and adults and editor of Half / Life: Jewish Tales from Interfaith Homes , talks about growing up interfaith, raising Jewish children in an interfaith home, and about how questions of Jewish identity affect her writing. SURVEY:   Do you prefer the regular half-hour shows that includes multiple interviews? Or would you rather have shorter, single-interview episodes? Post a comment, e-mail bookoflifepodcast@g...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    What's new in Jewish books for adults? Follow me around the 2008 Book Expo America conference to listen in on publishers and authors talking about their new and forthcoming titles! This series includes four episodes: In Part 1 we heard about Jewish pictures books. Part 2 was about Jewish books for older kids and teens. Part 3 featured Jewish literature for adults. This final episode in the series, Part 4, is about books (for all ages) relating to the Holocaust. Part 4 also includes a non-Holocaust-related palate cleanser: an interview with the Jewish Publication Society that was accidentally left out of Part 3 (sorry, JPS!). SURVEY: Next time we'll return to our regular format of more in-depth interviews, but I do want to know YOUR preferences. Do you prefer the regular half-hour shows that includes multiple interviews? Or would you rather have shorter, single-interview episodes? Post a comment, e-mail bookoflifepodcast@gmai...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    What's new in Jewish books for adults? Follow me around the 2008 Book Expo America conference to listen in on publishers and authors talking about their new and forthcoming titles! This series includes four episodes: In Part 1 we heard about Jewish pictures books. Part 2 was about Jewish books for older kids and teens. This is Part 3, and Part 4 will be about books (for all ages) relating to the Holocaust. Part 3, Jewish Books for Adults Coffee House Press Jealous Witness, Poems by Andrei Codrescu, with CD Maelstrom: Songs of Storm & Exile by the New Orleans Klezmer AllStars Harper Perennial Just Say Nu by Michael Wex Who by Fire by Diana Spechler Princeton Architectural Press I Am My Family: Photographic Memories and Fictions by Rafael Goldchain URJ Press (Union for Reform Judaism) The Torah: A Women's Commentary edited by Tamara Cohn Eskanazi and Andrea Weiss Gayla Gabriel, author Leaving with Love: Eternal Mess...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    What's new in Jewish books for older kids and teens? Follow me around the 2008 Book Expo America conference to listen in on publishers and authors talking about their new and forthcoming titles! This series includes four episodes: In Part 1 we heard about Jewish pictures books. Part 3 will be about adult books, and Part 4 will be about books (for all ages) relating to the Holocaust. Again, thanks to all the publishers who graciously agreed to be interviewed on the spot! By the way, many of these books have not yet been published, so you may not be able to find the individual titles online. I've provided links to the publishers so you can keep an eye on until the books become available! Part 2, Jewish Books for Kids & Teens: Jewish Kidlit Blogger Barbara Bietz Annick Press The Apprentice's Masterpiece, A Story of Medieval Spain by Melanie Little Roaring Brook Press Penina Levine Is a Potato Pancake by Rebecca O'Co...