The Book of Life

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     🕮    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...

One of the hats I wear is that of reviewer for the PJ Library , a project that provides Jewish books for families with young children. I'm privileged to be on the book selection committee that determines which titles meet the project's unique goal, to introduce disconnected families to a taste of Judaism. The PJ Library's growth is having an exciting effect on the publishing industry too, by expanding the market for Jewish children's literature. I recently got ahold of a press release explaining this phenomenon, and though you all might find it interesting.   The PJ Library Creates Renaissance for Children's Book Publishing Industry SPRINGFIELD, MA, June 19, 2008 - Why are Simon & Schuster, Random House, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic and other top publishers listening intently to the opinions of a tiny group of Jewish educators? Because their decisions have directly triggered more than $1.5 million in children's book purchases in just two a...