The Book of Life

The scene: Book Expo America in the sprawling Los Angeles Convention Center ME: Hi, I'm Heidi Estrin from the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and The Book of Life podcast. Do you have any new Judaic titles I should know about? FRIENDLY PUBLISHING PERSON: Oh yes, let me show you this exciting book on our fall list... ME: Do you mind if I record you for my podcast while you tell me about the book? FRIENDLY PUBLISHING PERSON: Record ME???? NOW??? Wait, maybe I can get my colleague over here to do it.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's remarkable how much fear can be inspired by a tiny little handheld microphone, especially one with cute Mickey Mouse ears. But seriously, I really want to thank the many brave souls who spoke to me about their wonderful new books at BEA, and to reassure them that I will be editing the audio before I post it. Everyone sounded great in the first place, and I'll polish it up so we'll all sound even better, not to worry...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    I will be attending Book Expo America 2008 in Los Angeles, CA to record material for The Book of Life podcast and to promote the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Jewish children's literature. If YOU will be at Book Expo too, drop me a line at bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com ! (If we meet up, I'll even give you a shiny gold Sydney Taylor Book Award lapel pin! As always, background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band. And also as always, The Book of Life is a production of the Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel , with additional support from the Association of Jewish Libraries .

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...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮   The Book of Life takes you on a virtual trip around the world for Passover! > Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks discusses People of the Book , her fictional history of the Sarajevo Haggadah . > Basya Schechter talks about her band Pharaoh's Daughter , which mixes world music and psychedelic rock with Middle Eastern sounds. > Author Ilana Kurshan describes her compilation of translations, Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights? The Four Questions Around the World . > If you like Ilana's book, you may also like 300 Ways to Ask the Four Questions from Zulu to Abkhaz by Murray Spiegel and Rickey Stein. It comes with a CD and a DVD to demonstrate the translations!   NEWS: In our next episode we'll celebrate Israel@60! Don't miss it! CREDITS: Thanks to Dan Krimm for permission to use Ma Nishtana - The Blues Version ! Our regular background music is provided by The Freilachm...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      > Author Amy Meltzer discusses her picture book A Mezuzah on the Door , an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book and PJ Library selection > Author Eric Kimmel shares mezuzah memories > Author Sarah Gershman and illustrator Kristina Swarner talk about their Sydney Taylor Book Award winning picture book, The Bedtime Sh'ma: A Good Night Book . This book was also a National Jewish Book Award Finalist , and is a PJ Library selection. > Author Maggie Anton shares mezuzah memories Special background music for this episode is provided by The Bedtime Sh'ma Companion CD and by Cantor Jeff Klepper's "Mezuzah" song on the CD Shiron L'Yeladim . Our regular 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 .

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    The Book of Life hosted a live, call-in show on February 7, 2008 with special guest Pamela Ehrenberg, author of Ethan, Suspended . Our discussion topic was "what makes a book Jewish?" This recording of the call-in show has been edited for clarity and sound quality, but is essentially the same show heard by those who listened live on the big day. Many of those who called in are well-known as authors or bloggers. Follow these links to learn more about the voices you hear on this episode (listed alphabetically): > Maggie Anton, author of the series Rashi's Daughters > Barbara Bietz , author of Like a Maccabee , and blogger at Barbara's Book Blog > Marie Cloutier, blogger at The Boston Bibliophile > June Cummins , Associate Professor of English & Comparative Literature at San Diego State University > Andi Davidson, past member of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee > Pamela Ehren...

The Book of Life's experimental live call-in show was held yesterday, and it was a success! A number of people called to share opinions about our featured book, Ethan, Suspended , and about what defines a Jewish book. The show was recorded, and I'm editing it now; soon it will be added to the regular podcast line-up. I apologize in advance for the sound quality. My own voice sounds kind of broken up, while other callers came through loud and clear. I may, in fact, try re-recording my own comments if I can get it to integrate with the rest of the conversation. Many of our callers were well-known figures within the Judaic literary community, so I will provide links in the show notes to lead you back to some of their special projects (blogs, books, and so on). Thanks so much to everyone who called and to everyone who listened live, and thanks again to featured guest author Pamela Ehrenberg!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    In this special "Bells & Whistles" edition of The Book of Life, host Heidi Estrin gives instructions for accessing the live Book of Life call-in show being held on Thursday, February 7, 2008, 3-4pm EST. The theme of the February 7 program is "Funny, That Book Doesn't Look Jewish" and our guest will be Pamela Ehrenberg, author of the middle-grade novel Ethan, Suspended . We'll take calls about Ethan, Suspended , and about what makes a book Jewish in general. What follows is a transcript of the podcast, for those of you who prefer written to auditory instructions: On Thursday February 7, 2008 from 3 to 4 pm eastern standard time, The Book of Life will host a live call-in show using the Talkshoe service. The show is entitled "Funny, That Book Doesn't Look Jewish." Our special guest will be Pamela Ehrenberg, author of the middle grade novel Ethan, Suspended , and our discussion topic will be what make...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    This January 2008 episode offers themes of empowerment with these interviews: > Raz Godelnik, founder of Eco-Libris , planting a tree for each book you read > Chana Rothman , whose debut album We Can Rise shows off her "female-fronted earthy groove" > Linda Silver, creator of The Jewish Values Finder, a database and book identifying values in Jewish children's books > Rachel Kamin, chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, describing the 2008 winners of this award for Jewish lit for kids and teens NEWS: February 7, 2008, 3-4pm EST The Book of Life will host a live call-in show on the theme "Funny, That Book Doesn't Look Jewish!" Pam Ehrenberg , author of the middle-grade novel Ethan, Suspended , will be our guest, and we'll take calls for YOU, the audience! Please join us by calling in - instructions for particpating will appear on our web site: www.bookoflifepodcast.com CR...

The winners of the 2008 Sydney Taylor Book Awards for the best in Jewish literature for children and teens have just been announced! Rachel Kamin, award committee chair, will be our guest on the January episode of The Book of Life. While you are waiting for that interview, please enjoy this video announcement of the awards! More info at www.SydneyTaylorBookAwards.org or www.SydneyTaylorBookAward.blogspot.com .

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    OK, here's your big, last-night-of-Hanukkah present: an embeddable flash player so you can enjoy The Book of Life on your own web page, blog, or social network! And to go with it, I've uploaded a bonus episode, "Meet Markus!" This is a live, unedited talk recorded at the independent bookstore Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida with Markus Zusak , author of The Book Thief . Let me tell you a little more about the new podcast player widget, provided by Big Contact (btw, I must tell you that they have excellent customer service! They were a huge help to me when I ran into trouble setting up this player!). The player you see here is just an image ... for the real player, please look on the sidebar to your right. ----> (If you're not viewing this post at www.bookoflifepodcast.com , you can see the player here.) You can scroll down the list of episodes and click on any title to play that show. The littl...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    This episode marks the 2nd year anniversary of The Book of Life! In this show, we celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah . > Illustrator Ann Koffsky describes her snowflake " Jerusalem of Peace ," created for Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure . We also learn about her illustrations for My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel by Michelle Shapiro Abraham, and her new Joyfully Jewish 2008 calendar . > Author Sarah Marwil Lamstein and illustrator Neil Waldman discuss their picture book Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale . > Kenny Ellis , cantor and performer, riffs on his CD Hanukkah Swings! You can also check out Kenny's MySpace page, and download "Swingin' Dreidel" as a ringtone. > Author Barbara Bietz talks about her chapter book Like a Maccabee , as well as her kidlit blog and her new position on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee , where she'll help choose the best Judaic children's books of...

Barbara Bietz, kidlit blogger, incoming member of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, and author of Like a Maccabee , interviewed me for her blog! Click here to read the interview. Turn about is fair play, so I'll be interviewing Barbara for the December 2007 episode of The Book of Life. Her entertaining chapter book is about Hanukkah, family... and soccer. (Who knew?) Keep up with Barbara Bietz at http://www.barbarabietz.com/ or at barbarabbookblog.blogspot.com .

As you may know, in addition to hosting The Book of Life I am also a Judaica children's librarian. I was so pleased when MyJewishLearning.com asked me to write an article for their web page about Contemporary Jewish Youth Literature! The article discusses recent trends in Judaic literature for kids and teens. Click here to read the article , and please post a comment to let me know what you think, or to suggest additional titles! ~ Heidi

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    In this episode of The Book of Life, a show about Jewish people and the books we read, we celebrate Thanksgiving with a special bonus episode! > We hear from Todd Herzog , a Jewish musician/singer/songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona. Todd's spiritual pop music has a thankful quality about it that fits in well with Thanksgiving. Also check out Todd's MySpace page . > We meet Maryann Kovalski, illustrator of the award-winning picture book Rivka's First Thanksgiving by Elsa Okon Rael. > We learn about the Library Blogathon at the Feldman Children's Library (home base of The Book of Life). If you are a fan of books and libraries, you need to check out this blog! Available beginning November 21, 2007. > Throughout the show we send shout-outs to various listeners who have sent in their comments and feedback to The Book of Life during the year. Do YOU have something to say? Be sure to email us at bo...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    In this episode of The Book of Life, a show about Jewish people and the books we read, we celebrate traditional radio and the new media revolution of podcasting and blogging that was born from it. > We interview Harold Augenbraum , director of the National Book Foundation , about the Foundation's choice of Terry Gross, host of NPR's Fresh Air , for the 2007 Literarian Award . > We talk to David & Susan Siegel about the history of Jews in radio. They are the authors of Radio and the Jews : The Untold Story of How Radio Influenced America's Image of Jews, 1920's - 1950's . > We meet literary blogger and synagogue librarian Marie Cloutier at the Podcast & New Media Expo . Marie's blog is The Boston Bibliophile . NEWS: Be sure to check back later in November 2007 for our Thanksgiving Special podcast! This bonus episode will include interviews with musician Todd Herzog and with Maryann Kovalski ...

Today is Blog Action Day , when bloggers across the world will write posts related to a single issue: the environment. The idea is to raise awareness across the spectrum of readers about the importance of considering the environment. In that spirit, I offer you some Jewish titles with an environmental slant. Annotations are from the Jewish Valuesfinder . Enjoy! > Behold the Trees by Sue Alexander, Scholastic, 2001 Recalling the history of Eretz Yisrael from Canaanite times to the founding of the modern state, this beautifully designed book has splendid illustrations that mirror the rise, trials, and achievements of the Jewish people as reflected by Israel's trees. > This is the World That God Made by Rhonda Gowler Greene, Eerdmans, 2002 Dazzling color illustrations, full of curves and movement, are the highlight of this retelling of the Creation story. The text is patterned after "This Is the House That Jack Built" and the language is spare and simp...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    In this episode of The Book of Life, a show about Jewish people and the books we read, we celebrate classic Jewish children's books ! > The All-of-a-Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor, about five sisters growing up on the Lower East Side at the turn of the last century, helped to create the genre of Jewish children's literature. We speak with Sydney's daughter, Jo Taylor Marshall, to get the inside scoop. Related info: > The Sydney Taylor Book Award > The Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award > The All-of-a-Kind Family Companion (a reader's guide) > Author Michelle Edwards talks about her picture book, Chicken Man , which takes place on an Israeli kibbutz. Good news: Chicken Man will be back in print in January 2008, reissued by New South Books ! > We discuss The Rabbi and the 29 Witches by Marilyn Hirsh with her editor, Margery Cuyler (who is also a children's book author). Publisher M...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      🕮    In this episode of The Book of Life, a show about Jewish people and the books we read, we view the world through new eyes at this season of the Jewish New Year. > We speak to Mordicai Gerstein , author of The White Ram , a picture book midrash about the sacrifice of Isaac. The White Ram won the National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Honor Award. > We hear from Rabbi Cary A. Friedman , author of Wisdom from the Batcave , about how Batman can teach each of us to live a super, heroic life. > Musician Yoshie Fruchter describes his CD Beyond the Book , which provides a look into the subconscious of our biblical ancestors. > Brynn Olenberg Sugarman tells of her picture book Rebecca's Journey Home , which is based on her own daughter's adoption. This book won a Sydney Taylor Honor Award. NEWS: > Don't forget to inscribe yourself in The Book of Life's High Holidays "Book of Life!" ...

Please inscribe yourself in The Book of Life's "Book of Life" by signing our interactive guestbook! Why get inscribed? > It will give Heidi a lot of naches . > It will help Book of Life listeners get to know each other. > You can let us know about your favorite Judaic book, CD, or website. > If you are an author, musician, etc. you can let us know about YOUR book, CD, or website! And if you're too shy to upload your own photo, just use an image of a book or CD you want to recommend, or a screenshot of your website! Remember, you can also link to a YouTube video! ~ Shanah Tovah from Heidi, your Book of Life host!