The Book of Life

I'm trying to create a comprehensive list of kidlit (picture book through YA) that showcases diversity within the Jewish community. Here is my working list; if you are aware of additional titles please post a comment or send me an email . I've also created a sortable LibraryThing list , but a few of my titles are missing from their database. I admit that I've approached this an in "Ashkenormative" way by using the label [Sephardic] but not [Ashkenazi]. Let me know if you think I should use both. And let me know if you think I should be using additional labels such as [Mizrahi].  Any opinions on the label [ Latinx ]? Is there anything else that you think I've mislabeled? Are there additional labels you think I should use? FYI, I have not read all of these books and can't vouch for them.  This list is alphabetical by author, with diversity subject headings in brackets after each entry. [Adoption] [Asian] [Asian/Jewish] [Black] [Black/Jewish] [Di...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    VISIT PJ OUR WAY     🕮    PJ Our Way is an initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation that gives free chapter books to Jewish families with middle grade readers. It's an outgrowth of PJ Library , which does the same thing with picture books for younger kids. I spoke to PJ Our Way Director Catriella Freedman, who told me all the in's and out's of the program, and explained to me why independent readers can't be treated in quite the same way as the little ones. LIBSYN FYI, The Book of Life's rss feed is now hosted by Libsyn instead of Hipcast, beginning with the "Almost a Minyan" episode on May 16, 2017. If you are not receiving new episodes in your feed, please resubscribe. Click LISTEN to subscribe.   CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel   Supported in part by: Association of Jewish Libraries   Theme music: The Fre...

The Jewish Women's Archive blog, Jewesses With Attitude , interviewed me about The Book of Life! They asked me about why I decided to start a podcast dedicated to Jewish literature and arts; why women storytellers have a harder time than men storytellers; and what The Book of Life and JWA’s podcast Can We Talk? have in common. CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Almost a Minyan by Lori S. Kline , illustrated by Susan Simon , is a picture book about a Jewish girl reaching the age where she can help her community pray. The book is traditional and groundbreaking at the same time, depicting an egalitarian, multiracial, observant Jewish community. I spoke to author Lori Kline and publisher Debra Winegarten of Sociosights Press together, by phone at Lori's house in Austin, Texas. Almost a Minyan is the Jewish Women's Archive Children's Book Pick for 2017. Share these discussion questions with the young readers in your life. Thanks to Patreon patrons Jennie Gates Beckman , Leah Berkowitz , Christine Ertl , and April Halprin Wayland , whose donations helped me purchase a new digital voice recorder for podcasting (a Zoom H4N, if you're wondering). Author Suzanne Nelson is still waiting to send you an autographed copy of Serendipity's F...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Even readers without kids will enjoy Marjorie Ingall 's parenting guide, Mamaleh Knows Best : What Jewish Mothers Do to Raise Successful, Creative, Empathetic, Independent Children . It's wise, funny, and universal. It's also the Book of the Month for May 2017 at the Jewish Women's Archive virtual book club . You can find the  discussion questions here  and join the conversation! Marjorie is a columnist at Tablet , an online magazine of Jewish culture and ideas, where I'm especially grateful for her excellent coverage of Jewish kidlit. I also want to draw your attention to Marjorie's blog SorryWatch , where she parses excellent and abysmal (mostly abysmal) apologies. FYI, autographed copies of Serendipity's Footsteps are still available to folks who become patrons of The Book of Life at Patreon . You can pledge as little as $1/month to qualify. ...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Kasper Mützenmacher's Cursed Hat by Keith Fentonmiller is a weird and wonderful novel that starts during WWII and takes many a strange detour from there. It's kind of hard to explain, but just trust me and read it, and hold on for a wild ride. The character of Kasper was inspired by Keith's grandfather Dr. Meryl Fenton, whom he called Papa. Here's a picture of Papa, with Keith's father as a little boy on the left, and on the right we see Keith Fentonmiller himself. 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...

From April 17-23, 2017, browse and read free excerpts from great books on the Penguin Random House website to trigger book donations to Save the Children . It costs you nothing but a few minutes of your time, which will be spent enjoying kids' and adult titles from a variety of genres. There are a few recognizably Jewish books in the mix: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, Delicious by Ruth Reichl, Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar, Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit, and the classic Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. And of course, there are plenty of excellent non-Jewish titles to choose from too. No matter what you read, you will be doing a mitzvah by participating! Click here to learn more about the project OR Click here to start reading!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Serendipity's Footsteps by Suzanne Nelson tells the interwoven stories of three girls across time and geography, and how they are connected serendipitously by a special pair of shoes. Suzanne Nelson won a Sydney Taylor Honor Award for the teen novel, and I interviewed her live at the 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Charleston, SC. SPECIAL OFFER : Become a patron of The Book of Life on Patreon.com for as little as $1/month and receive a free autographed copy of Serendipity's Footsteps , while supplies last! Click here to take advantage of this offer! For more fun, check out Suzanne's Pinterest boards for the characters Dalya, Pinny and Ray here !   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 ...

TAKE THE CHALLENGE      🕮    Writer , National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature , and MacArthur Genius Gene Luen Yang has thrown down an exciting challenge for April: diversify your reading list. As part of the national, month-long program  Reading Without Walls , Yang has called upon readers of all ages to expand the kinds of literature they read. The rules are as follows: If you're a regular at The Book of Life, you probably already read plenty of Jewish books, but even within that genre you can branch out. Read about Jews from another land or in another time, if you're a novel-lover try nonfiction, if you're a grownup read a children's book. If you take up the challenge, please share the news on social media using the hashtag #ReadingWithoutWalls. I'd love to have you comment here at The Book of Life about your reading choices!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    The (Unofficial) Hogwarts Haggadah is this year's #1 best-selling haggadah on Amazon. It was created with true fandom and great Jewish knowledge by Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, who also authored Morality for Muggles: Ethics in the Bible and the World of Harry Potter (as well as a number of Star Trek related articles at Tablet Magazine). I spoke to Rabbi Rosenberg by Skype, which seemed to have a basilisk in its walls - please consider the creepy hiss behind his voice to be part of the mystery and magic. During the interview, we talked about #Trypod, the campaign to get more people to try more podcasts. Rabbi Rosenber's #Trypod recommendation was Nice Jewish Fangirls , a podcast by his own daughter!  And check out my #Trypod recommendations here .  CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel   Supported in part by:...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    At the 2016 American Library Association convention, I met Steph Kent, co-founder of CallMeIshmael.com - a website where book lovers leave voicemails telling personal stories about their favorite books. I  recorded an interview with Steph on the show floor, and then later got back in touch to create " How Is This Book Different? ," a project sponsored jointly by Call Me Ishmael , the Association of Jewish Libraries , and the Jewish Book Council . YOU are invited to join in! Here's how: Call 774-325-0503 to leave a short voicemail Between March 27-April 4, 2017 With a personal story about any Jewish book that matters in your life Then go to CallMeIshmael.com to hear everyone's stories! HINT: Click here for tips on making your voicemail awesome. UPDATE: In 2020 Steph Kent and Logan Smalley published The Call Me Ishmael Phone Book: An Interactive Guide to Life-Ch...

March 2017 is #trypod month - a time to TRY a new POD cast, and to show your friends how to listen to podcasts if they don't yet know. The campaign was organized by NPR to encourage the one in five Americans who listen to podcasts to help their friends start a listening habit too. Use the hashtag #trypod as you share your story about why you listen and your suggestions of favorite shows. I listen to podcasts to be informed, to get a mood boost, and for professional development. But the big reason I listen to podcasts is to feel connected. When I have someone's voice in my ear, it's an intimate feeling, like they are speaking directly to me. These podcasters share my interests and concerns, and they make me feel connected to them as individuals, and to the issues being discussed. #trypod Here are a few of my favorites: To be informed, I listen to CodeSwitch , a podcast about race, A Way With Words , a show about language and how we use it, and the TED Radio Hour ,...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    March 20, 2017: #READ4REFUGEES #Read4Refugees is a world-wide read-in benefitting the charity RefugePoint , running now through March 31, 2017. Donate by March 20 to help the campaign earn a bonus $10,000. Here's the scoop: GoJaneGive.org/Read4Refugees March 27-April 4, 2017: HOW IS THIS BOOK DIFFERENT? You are invited to participate in How Is This Book Different? , a joint project of the Association of Jewish Libr aries , the Jewish Book Council , and Call Me Ishmael . Between March 27-April 4, 2017, call 774-325-0503 with a story about your a Jewish book that matters to your life ! April 24, 2017: TENT: CHILDREN'S LITERATURE Apply by April 24 to participate in an August 13-20, 2017 Jewish kidlit writers' retreat in Amherst, MA co-sponsored by the Yiddish Book Center and PJ Library. Click here for details and application.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮     Meira Drazin is the author of Honey and Me , a forthcoming middle grade novel from Scholastic. Even before she got that book deal, she won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for the unpublished work. She was at the 2016 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Charleston, SC to receive her award. We sat down with a few members of the award committee for a quick chat. INVITATION :  As you hear in th is podcast episode, you are invited to participate in How Is This Book Different? , a joint project of the Association of Jewish Libr aries , the Jewish Book Council , and Call Me Ish mael . Between March 27-April 4, 2017, call 774-325-0503 with a story about your a Jewish book that matters to your life ! 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   Face...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    UNORTHODOX WEBSITE     🕮    Unorthodox is a chatty and irreverent Jewish podcast from Tablet Magazine, and I'm a big fan. I was excited to see their live show at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, and was lucky to snag an interview after the show. Here are some links to topics we mentioned in our conversation: Unorthodox live show in West Palm Beach The one with the bad H olocaust joke from Morty's g randson T h e one with Jillian Keenan The one with David Duchovny The one with Tessa Kim The one with Harry Potter and the Sacred Tex t Call Me Ishmael: How Is This Book Different from All Other Books? 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  ...