The Book of Life

2013 Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee with winning authors and illustrators The Sydney Taylor Book Award is like the Newbery Medal of Jewish children's literature. As past Chair of the award committee, I am excited to announce that there will soon be three openings for Jewish kidlit lovers. To learn how to apply for a position on this prestigious committee, please read this announcement from current Chair Aimee Lurie:  Dear Friends:  Three positions on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee will be available beginning January 1, 2014. Applicants should be members of AJL, familiar with the scope of Judaic children’s literature, experienced in writing critical reviews, willing and able to read and review over 120 books during the course of a year, and able to meet deadlines.  Committee members are expected to attend annual conventions and to participate in committee-sponsored events, including speaking at the Committee’s annual presentation. The...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Deborah Heiligman 's first teen novel INTENTIONS won the 2013 Sydney Taylor Book Award. It is a powerful portrayal of faith betrayed, and how one heals from such betrayal. In this podcast, Deborah speaks about her inspiration for the story, and the doubts she experienced as she brought it to 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   Facebook: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast  Twitter: @bookoflifepod   Photo: Deborah Heiligman (center) at the 2013 AJL Conference in Houston, TX, with her son Benjamin and her friend, AJL member Elinor Grumet. 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 WOODEN SWORD / HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREE     🕮    The publisher Albert Whitman & Company comes out with a Jewish picture book or two almost every year. Here's a show-floor interview from the 2012 American Library Association conference with Marketing Director Michelle Bayuk about two of their recent Jewish-interest picture books:   The Wooden Sword: a Jewish folktale from Afghanistan by Ann Redisch Stampler (which has since won a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Older Readers category) Happy Birthday, Tree: A Tu B'shevat Story by Madelyn Rosenberg (also author of The Schmutzy Family , a 2013 AJL Notable Book for Younger Readers) 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...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    I discovered Sheri Sinykin 's touching picture book Zayde Comes to Live at the American Library Association conference in 2012, and was pleased when it won a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor Award. It's a beautifully written story of a young girl coming to terms with her grandfather's impending death. Be sure to have tissues handy when you read it! I interviewed Sheri by Skype and was later lucky to be able to meet her at the 2013 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Houston, Texas. In the picture above, taken at AJL, she holds her award certificate and a picture created in her honor by her grandchildren! The book is illustrated by Kristina Swarner , who has received Sydney Taylor Book Awards in the past for The Bedtime Sh'ma (2008), Gathering Sparks (2011). CREDITS: Produced by: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel   Supported in part...

Everybody loves Top Ten lists, so I was pleased to be invited to host a blog tour stop for Super Pop!  Author Dan Harmon claims that Top Ten lists are not just fun, they can be used for self improvement. He has organized his lists into helpful categories such as "Be More Interesting" and "Find Happiness."  The countdown lists within those categories have unusual themes such as "Find Your Calling: All-Consuming Hobbies for Your Consideration" and "Sleep with the Fishes: The Ten Best Places to Find Your Spirit Animal." The lists are populated by books, movies, TV shows, comics, podcasts, video games and songs - anything "that people can reasonably expect to consume for fun." Harmon annotates each entry with a paragraph or so that is sometimes snarky, sometimes witty, and always entertaining. I don't always agree with his choices; for instance, "Drink the Kool-Aid: Touchstones for Quirky, Like-Minded People" includes St...

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013 The Book of Life will be a blog tour stop for  Super Pop! Pop Culture Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It Through the Holidays by Daniel Harmon (published by Zest Books, June 2013, $16.99; ISBN 9781936976362). It was short notice but I couldn't resist the chance to participate because the book looks like so much fun. Here's the description sent to me by Zest Books: As David Letterman demonstrates on the Late Show , top ten lists are really funny. And we know lists are a great way to get organized, get things done, and streamline life’s many tasks. But now, pop culture expert Daniel Harmon takes a totally new approach to list making in his new book Super Pop! and organizes 500 movies, songs, video games, and books into top ten lists that not only have the power to entertain, but also to help create a new and better you! To put a Jewish spin on the theme of Top Ten lists, I'd like to invite you to help me br...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOK      🕮    At the ALA conference in 2012, I interviewed the folks at Holiday House about the hilarious Shabbat picture book, The Schmutzy Family by Madelyn Rosenberg . This family embraces the messiness of life, but also knows the peace of orderliness. 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.

Welcome to the May 2013 Jewish Book Carnival ! The Jewish Book Carnival is a monthly online event in which bloggers who blog about Jewish books share highlights from their own blogs. You'll find links to Jewish sites across the blogosphere, featuring interviews, book reviews, ruminations and more.  The Jewish Book Carnival usually posts on the 15th of the month; this month in observance of Shavuot we have delayed posting until the 16th. And now, on to the links! The Jewish Book Council sent in a link from their blog,  The Prosen People , featuring an  interview with Naomi Alderman, author of  The Liars' Gospel . The Association of Jewish Libraries blog, People of the Books , shared this interview with Austin Ratner, author of Land of the Living . Kathe Pinchuck at Life is Like a Library shares her excitement about   Leadership in the Wilderness: Authority & Anarchy in the Book of Numbers   by Dr. Erica Brown. On My Machberet , Eri...