The Book of Life

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT    |    BUY / BORROW THE BOOK     🕮    A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell is a lovely meditation on the natural landscape of Israel, written and illustrated by Miri Leshem-Pelly. Miri's voice is calm and dreamy, and I could hear birds chirping and dogs barking in the background as she spoke. Our conversation was both fun and serious. We talked about art, nature, books, Instagram challenges... and also about the war in Israel and its impact on humans and animals. LEARN MORE: Buy or borrow A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell Miri Leshem-Pelly's website Miri's Instagram Activity Guide for A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell Ravensburger jigsaw puzzle with Miri's art Tikkun olam suggestion: support the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel Reading recommendations: o All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine o A Hoopoe Says Oop by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh o Fast Asleep in a Little Vil...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     🕮    Like so many of you, I am devastated by the suffering and loss of life in Israel and in Gaza, inflicted by the terrorism of Hamas, so I'm interrupting our regular schedule to bring you additional content related to the war in Israel and Gaza. This conversation with Yael Levy , Chava Pinchuck , and Marjorie Gann is about the need for children's literature related to Israel and the challenges that make it hard to get that literature published.  LEARN MORE ABOUT PUBLISHING AND ISRAEL: "Publishers Against the People of the Book" in The Washington Examiner Backstory of Once More With Chutzpah , "This moving tale about an Israel youth trip sparked outrage before it even came out" in Kveller Lists of biased books and recommended books from CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis Annotated Bibliography of Children's and YA Books o...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    READ THE TRANSCRIPT     |    DONATE TO MAGEN DAVID ADOM     🕮    On October 7, 2023, the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, the terrorist group Hamas launched a brutal attack against Israel, murdering and kidnapping civilians young and old as well as striking military targets on multiple fronts. At the time of writing, Israel is at war. With Israel on my mind and in my heart, I went back and listened to Tammar Stein's 2017 interview on The Book of Life about her middle grade novel, The Six-Day Hero , which is about the 1967 Six-Day War. I thought you might like to hear it too. FYI, in 2020 Tammar published a companion book, Beni's War , about the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Both books are excellent.  I left the original "tune in next time" teaser on the end of the recording because I found it moving. It was Fawzia Gilani-Williams, author of Yaffa and Fatima,...

WATCH THE VIDEO     |    LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮   The Last Shepherd by Evil Sun Productions is a Hebrew-language indie comedy adventure scifi fantasy film with elements of Jewish mysticism and kabbalah, made in Israel. To summarize, "A geeky programmer and his rebellious co-worker are taken by a mysterious biblical figure on a cross country adventure, trying to stop an ancient evil force, while being chased by government agents." At the time of my interview with the filmmakers back in August 2017, the movie was not available outside of Israel. Excitingly, the film is now available to be viewed on YouTube! Check it out here: PODCAST INTERVIEW ON "THE LAST SHEPHERD" FROM AUGUST 2017

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    WATCH THE VIDEO      🕮    The Last Shepherd by Evil Sun Productions is a Hebrew-language indie comedy adventure scifi fantasy film with elements of Jewish mysticism and kabbalah, made in Israel. To summarize, "A geeky programmer and his rebellious co-worker are taken by a mysterious biblical figure on a cross country adventure, trying to stop an ancient evil force, while being chased by government agents."  Back in January 2016, I Skyped with actors Uri Lifshitz and Roni Weissman, writer Gai Bosco, and post production manager Dovi Shraga. Then I sat on the interview, waiting for the film to become available in North America. It hasn't happened yet, but I got tired of waiting. Instead, I'm hoping listeners will be proactive in helping to get the film more widely distributed. If this interview piques your interest, please request that your local Jewish film festival or your...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    In the picture book The Language of Angels: A Story about the Reinvention of Hebrew , author Rich Michelson tells the true story of how an ancient tongue became a modern one.  I met with Rich at R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he displays the art of many illustrators including Karla Gudeon, his partner on Language of Angels .   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   support The Book of Life by becoming a patron at Patreon.com/bookoflife    Photo: Rich Michelson displays Karla Gudeon's art in his gallery Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gm...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |   BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Yaffa and Fatima, Shalom, Salaam by Muslim author Fawzia Gilani-Williams takes an old Jewish folktale and turns it into a story of cross-cultural friendship. I spoke to Fawzia by Skype at her home in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Here are a few of the websites and books Fawzia mentioned during our conversation: DiscoverIslam.com 1001inventions.com Find some of Fawzia's own stories at IslamicTimelessTales.com   What Islam Is All About by Yahiya Emerick The Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam by Yahiya Emerick   Islam: Its Meaning and Message by Khurshid Ahmad 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 Support The...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    I almost didn't read The Six-Day Hero because I usually don't like war stories. But I'm glad I tried it because once I started, I couldn't put it down.  I also got interested because another podcast guest, Catriella Freedman , had mentioned to me that this book was vetted by the kids of PJ Our Way, and that their feedback affected the final book.  So for several reasons, I was eager to talk to author Tammar Stein . 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   Support The Book of Life by becoming a patron at Patreon.com/bookoflife !   Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    BUY THE BOOK     |    VISIT MCBD WEBSITE     🕮    Today, January 27, 2017, is Multicultural Children's Book Day, a celebration of diversity in kidlit. Check out multiculturalchildrensbookday.com to find diversity booklists for kids , a kindness kit for teachers, and giveaways of diverse books. And be sure to search for the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to find links to multicultural children's book reviews and reading suggestions. In the spirit of the Day's hashtag, #ReadYourWorld , I'm posting a recording of Leslie Kimmelman 's talk at the 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Charleston, SC. Leslie spoke about her picture book, Everybody Says Shalom , which was a 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Younger Readers category. This charming book showcases friendly diversity in an Israeli setting. Enjoy , and shalom! CREDITS: Produced by: Feldma...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK    |   VISIT MCBD WEBSITE     🕮    Today, January 27, 2016, is Multicultural Children's Book Day, a celebration of diversity in kidlit. Check out multiculturalchildrensbookday.com to find diversity booklists for kids and a Linky where you can suggest resources yourself (perhaps Jewish resources). And be sure to Google #ReadYourWorld to find links to multicultural children's book reviews and reading suggestions. In the spirit of the Day's hashtag, #ReadYourWorld , I'm posting my interview with Laura Gehl about the picture book Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel , a story that showcases the diversity of Israel's geography and people (including anthropomorphic animals among humans), and imagines a world in which friendliness prevails. I met Laura at the 2015 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Silver Spring, MD.   CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Childr...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Wherever You Go is a finely interwoven novel of three American lives and the unexpected ways they touch each other in the landscape of Israel. I recorded this interview with author Joan Leegant when she visited Boca Raton, Florida for a Jewish Book Network event at the Levis JCC. For more information about the book, visit Joan's website at  www.joanleegant.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     🕮    Author Lesley Simpson offered to interview herself, and I couldn't pass that up! She talks about Yuvi's Candy Tree (Kar-Ben, 2011), a picture book on Ethiopian Jews fleeing to Israel based on the true story of Yuvi Tashome. With its strong Exodus themes, it makes a great tie-in to Passover; it's also a universal immigration story and a good illustration of the diversity of the Jewish family. 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 FREEFALL / JODIE'S HANUKKAH DIG      🕮    I met up with author Anna Levine last year at the 2009 Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Chicago, IL, where she was a guest presenter and an award-winner! During a late night gathering of book lovers, I pulled her aside to discuss her YA novel Freefall and her picture book Jodie's Hanukkah Dig , both set in Israel. Both books received recognition from the Association of Jewish Libraries in 2009, Freefall as a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, and Jodie's Hanukkah Dig as a Notable Book. 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...

The "Friday Finds" meme is hosted by MizB at the Should Be Reading blog. She asks "What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!" I just had to participate because this very Friday morning I found a wonderful new book awaiting me in a package on my desk in the library: First Rain by Charlotte Herman, illustrated by Kathryn Mitter (Albert Whitman). It's a simple, straightforward story about a little girl whose family makes aliyah (moves to Israel). Through the exchange of letters with the Grandma she left behind, we learn a little bit about Israel, a little Hebrew vocabulary, and a little about dealing with moving. It's not preachy, it's a good match with its intended audience of 1st through 4th graders in terms of emotion and writing style, and the illustrations are clean, detailed, and give a good sense of place. As is appropriate for the audience, politics are NOT included. There are few pict...

Remember back in November 2009 when I posted my interview with author Simone Elkeles and kidlit expert June Cummins , talking about the "kvetchfessional" style of YA chicklit? Simone has now produced a very fun book trailer video for her newest title in the "How to Ruin" series, How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation . Enjoy!

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     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Marc Aronson is an editor, a publisher, and an author of historical nonfiction for young people. He writes the "Nonfiction Matters" column in School Library Journal , and also hosts the Nonfiction Matters blog on the SLJ website. I met up with Marc at the 2008 School Library Journal Leadership Summit in Hollywood, Florida to talk about his latest and perhaps most controversial book, Unsettled: The Problem of Loving Israel . We had such an interesting conversation that I hardly edited the recording at all. I hope you'll find meeting Marc as fascinating as I did. Please feel free to join our conversation by posting comments here on The Book of Life website. CREDITS: Our background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band. Books and CD's mentioned on the show may be borrowed from the Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel . Your feedback is appr...

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...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    The Book of Life celebrates Israel's 60th birthday with a musical extravaganza! > Composer Yuval Ron talks about the music he created for the Oscar-winning short film West Bank Story > Fran Manushkin discusses her book Come, Let Us Be Joyful: The Story of Hava Nagila > We learn about the 60 @ 60 concert tour with music promoter Michael Dorf , who tells us about the best in new Israeli pop music, including: Yael Naim (you know her from the MacBook Air ad ) Idan Raichel Habanot Nechama David Broza Rami Kleinstein Matisyahu Paul Shaffer John Zorn Noa CREDITS: Special thanks to Vaskez for the techno version of Hava Nagila , to John Zorn for permission to use the track "Nekashim" from the CD The Dreamers , and to Habanot Nechama for permission to use the track "So Far." Our regular background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band. Books, DVD's and CD's mention...