Shows
The Children's Book Podcast20 Years of the Book of Life Podcast with Heidi RabinowitzHeidi Rabinowitz, host of The Book of Life, looks back on two decades of creating a podcast about Jewish kidlit (mostly). Subscribe to the Book of Life podcast wherever podcasts are found, or go to jewishbooks.blogspot.com, Sign up for Heidi’s substack by visiting bookoflifepodcast.substack.com. For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). Our music is by...2025-02-1835 min
The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Finn & Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time LoopSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/finn-and-ezras-bar-mitzvah-time-loop.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/FR6MxDDT0mG1gxfhcfN-6KoLAHA?utm_source=copy_url Finn & Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy is a 2025 Sydney Taylor Honor Book, and I'm thrilled to interview my friend Josh as part of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour. February 10-14, 2025, winning authors and illustrators will be interviewed on various blogs, podcasts, and Bookstagram accounts, and of course the interviews will remain available for you to enjoy at any time. Check BookOfLifePodcast.com for links. Be su...2025-02-1128 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)2025 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Revealed!SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-2025-sydney-taylor-book-awards.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/g5yluS6SsAbhu4hkoKy62TZUgac?utm_source=copy_url The winners of the 2025 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, recognizing the best Jewish children's and young adult literature of the year, were announced on January 27, 2025 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Aviva Rosenberg is the current chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, and she joined us to discuss the 2025 winners of the award. LEARN MORE: Sydney Taylor Book Awards ALA's YouTube channel, where you can watch a re...2025-01-2746 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Celebrate Jewish Book Month 2024SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/jewish-book-month.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/EHJzDppX2El7s3XjfPnLd-PqW4I?utm_source=copy_url Here's a bonus episode for you, in honor of Jewish Book Month, which is marking its 99th year. Arielle Landau, the program coordinator at the Jewish Book Council, joins me to talk about the Council's special campaign to Celebrate Jewish Books, and how YOU can participate! Watch my Instagram @BookOfLifePodcast and Facebook for daily Jewish Book Month recommendations, November 24-December 24, 2024. In light of the state of the w...2024-11-2413 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Festive Friends Part II: Asian Jewish Kidlit with Mixed-Up MooncakesSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/festive-friends-part-ii-asian-jewish.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/xKGzqMhNsej4ALLe6F7e2wBfNJg October 2024 is packed with Jewish holidays, so we've got a 2-part series for you to celebrate: Holiday Friends. In each episode, we hear from a pair of friends about their books that will help us celebrate the Jewish holidays. In Festive Friends Part I we heard from Gayle Forman, author of Not Nothing, and Marjorie Ingall, author of Getting to Sorry. Here in Festive Friends Part II, we meet Erica Lyons and Christina...2024-10-0139 min
Nice Jewish BooksJewish Emotional Support Books: a conversation with Heidi Rabinowitz and AJL conference attendeesHeidi Rabinowitz and I both saw a cartoon from the New Yorker in which one spouse was trying to move a pile of tottering books off the other spouses night-stand. The other spouse yelled in alarm (something like) "don't move those - they are my emotional support books!" We were inspired to ask our fellow attendees at the 2024 Association of Jewish Libraries conference to speak about their emotional support books! Follow along with the transcript. Enter the drawing for your own personal emotional support book bag! Share a review on social media (such a...2024-08-3137 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Joyful Song: Lesléa Newman & Susan GalSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/06/joyful-song-with-leslea-newman-susan-gal.html Joyful Song: A Naming Story is Lesléa Newman's newest picture book, and once again she's paired up with the amazing Susan Gal. This dynamic duo brought us Here Is the World in 2014 and Welcoming Elijah in 2020. Their new 2024 book is about a baby naming at synagogue, and about the diverse and loving community that welcomes the little girl into the world. The two-mom family makes it a great book for Pride Month, too. LEARN MORE: Transcript of interview Lesléa Newman's website Susan Gal's website Su...2024-06-0254 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, RevealedSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-2024-sydney-taylor-book-awards.html The winners of the 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, recognizing the best Jewish children's and young adult literature of the year, were announced on January 22, 2024 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Aviva Rosenberg is the current chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, and she joined us to discuss the 2024 winners of the award. LEARN MORE: Sydney Taylor Book Awards ALA's Youth Media Awards (where the Sydney Taylors are announced) ALA's YouTube channel, where you can watch a recording of the announcement H...2024-01-2240 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Sky Full of SongSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-sky-full-of-song.html When I read Susan Lynn Meyer's middle grade novel, A Sky Full of Song, I was swept away by her descriptions of the North Dakota prairie and really touched by the characters' struggles with prejudice, assimilation, and identity. This story is one of those in which the specific is also the universal. It showcases a quintessential American experience and at he same time, a very Jewish experience. I thought it would be a perfect interview to bring to you this May for Jewish American Heritage Month. Click on SHOW NO...2023-05-0137 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Place at the TableVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-place-at-table.html for full show notes, or look for "A Place at the Table" posted September 6, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. Muslim author Saadia Faruqui and Jewish author Laura Shovan joined me to talk about their jointly written middle grade contemporary novel, A Place at the Table. This is a book about immigration, about friendship, and it will make you hungry. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-09-0737 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Video Episode: Artist Patricia PortilloVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/08/video-episode-artist-patricia-portillo.html for full show notes, or look for "Video Episode: Artist Patricia Portillo" posted August 25, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. Multi-talented mensch Patricia Portillo is an artist who works with fiber, clay, and other materials. She is also a voice artist and professional opera singer, and she dabbles in the culinary arts. She rendered The Book of Life's dancing man logo as a crocheted doll so we are interviewing her to learn more about her crafting abilities. Today's episode is available as a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G...2020-08-2540 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)No VacancyVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/08/no-vacancy.html for full show notes, or look for "No Vacancy" posted August 9, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. No Vacancy is Tziporah Cohen's debut middle grade novel. It's a story of friendship across boundaries, the importance of community as a bulwark against prejudice... and a Virgin Mary sighting. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-08-0923 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Bubbes and the ZaidesVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-bubbes-and-zaides.html for full show notes, or look for "The Bubbes and the Zaides" posted July 19, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. We hear from David Raphael, co-founder of the Jewish Grandparents Network, and we enjoy the audiobook Bubbe & Zaide, written and voiced by Anne-Marie Asner along with the famous actor Ed Asner as Zaide. For links to more resources, including our guests' Boosting Black Voices reading recommendations, visit https://bookoflifepodcast.com. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2020-07-2023 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Through the Window: Lee WindPlease visit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/06/through-window-lee-wind.html for extensive show notes with lots of great links, or look for "Through the Window: Lee Wind" posted June 28, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. Lee Wind is the author of Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill and blogs at I'm Here, I'm Queer, What the Hell Do I Read? He is Heidi's partner in the Through the Window diversity exchange program sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2020-06-2958 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Ceiling Made of EggshellsVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-ceiling-made-of-eggshells.html for full show notes, or look for "A Ceiling Made of Eggshells" posted May 17, 2020 at BookofLifePodcast.com. Gail Carson Levine is the author of more than 20 book for young readers and adult writers, including the Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted, which was made into a major motion picture. Her new middle grade book A Ceiling Made of Eggshells is a historical novel about a Jewish family during the Spanish Inquisition, based on Gail's own family history. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call o...2020-05-1726 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Parenting on a PrayerVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/parenting-on-prayer-books-in-time-of.html for full show notes. Author Amy Grossblatt Pessah discusses her guide Parenting on a Prayer: Ancient Jewish Secrets for Raising Modern Children on the "Books in the Time of Coronavirus" series on The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2020-04-3012 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Gluskin Family HistoryVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/gluskin-family-history-strategies-and.html for full show notes. David B. Levy shares his family genealogical work Gluskin Family History, published through Lulu on "Books in the Time of Coronavirus," a special series from The Book of Life. This is volume 7 in his series of ten books on librarianship and Jewish topics. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2020-04-2722 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Beyond the Ghetto GatesVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/beyond-ghetto-gates-books-in-time-of.html for full show notes. Michelle Cameron shares her adult historical novel, Beyond the Ghetto Gates, published by She Writes Press on the Books in the Time of Coronavirus special series on The Book of Life Podcast. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-04-2306 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: All the Horrors of WarVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/all-horrors-of-war-books-in-time-of.html for full show notes. Bernice Lerner shares her family history, All the Horrors of War: A Jewish Girl, A British Doctor, and the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen, published by Johns Hopkins University Press on "Books in the Time of Coronavirus" special series on The Book of Life, www.bookoflifepodcast.com. Plus a shout-out to Dianne Siekmann for becoming a Book of Life supporter on https://www.patreon.com/bookoflife. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2020-04-2007 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: BirthrightVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/birthright-books-in-time-of-coronavirus.html for full show notes. Erika Dreifus shares her poetry collection Birthright, published by Kelsay Books on the Books in the Time of Coronavirus special series from The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-04-1406 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Hebrew Roots, Jewish RoutesVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/hebrew-roots-jewish-routes-books-in.html for full show notes. Jeremy Benstein shares his nonfiction adult book Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World, published by Behrman House, on the Books in the Time of Coronavirus special series from The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-04-1210 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: You Are Not What We ExpectedVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/you-are-not-what-we-expected-books-in.html for full show notes. Sidura Ludwig shares her adult short story collection, You Are Not What We Expected, from House of Anansi Press on the Books in the Time of Coronavirus special series on The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-04-0613 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Welcoming ElijahVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/welcoming-elijah-books-in-time-of.html for full show notes. Lesléa Newman shares her picture book Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail from Charlesbridge on the "Books in the Time of Coronavirus" special series on The Book of Life Podcast. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-04-0204 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Books in the Time of Coronavirus: Worse and Worse on Noah's ArkVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/worse-and-worse-on-noahs-ark-books-in.html for full show notes. Leslie Kimmelman shares her picture book Worse and Worse on Noah's Ark from Apples & Honey Press on the "Books in the Time of Coronavirus" special series on The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-03-3006 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)No Entry (Books in the Time of Coronavirus)Visit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/no-entry-books-in-time-of-coronavirus.html for full show notes. The first episode in this special series features Gila Green, author of No Entry, a novel for youth about elephant poaching in South Africa, starring a Jewish eco-heroine, on "Books in the Time of Coronavirus" is a special series on The Book of Life. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-03-2607 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Family MeetingVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/family-meeting.html for full show notes. This Book of Life "Family Meeting" will fill you in on lots of information about the show that you may have been missing, as well as other Jewish kidlit-related projects that host Heidi wants you to know about. Be sure to follow all the links at https://bookoflifepodcast.com to get the full details. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-03-2311 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)No Steps BehindVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/no-steps-behind.html for full show notes. No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan by Jeff Gottesfeld, illustrated by Shiella Witanto, is a picture book biography about a Russian-Austrian-Jewish woman who grew up in Japan and became an architect of the country's post-WWII constitution, enshrining it with more women's rights than are in the US constitution. The author shares with us this fascinating slice of history. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-02-2427 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award WinnersVisit https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-2020-sydney-taylor-book-awards.html for extensive show notes. The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's and teen literature each year. I spoke with committee chair Rebecca Levitan to learn about the 2020 winners. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2020-01-2720 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Bisl YiddishSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-bisl-yiddish-bikher-fur-kinder.html This virtual panel on Yiddish-related kidlit includes Sue Macy, author of The Book Rescuer, Debbie Levy, author of Yiddish Saves the Day, and Valerie Estelle Frankel, author of Chelm for the Holidays. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-24732020-01-1330 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Hanukkah with Noshy Boy & FriendsSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/12/world-premiere-hanukkah-with-noshy-boy.html ANNOUNCING: The World Premiere of the audiobook version of Hanukkah with Noshy Boy & Friends by Anne-Marie Asner, voiced by Anne-Marie Asner and Ed Asner (yes, that Ed Asner!), on The Book of Life Podcast! Plus, we've got an interview with Anne-Marie about the story's creation. Noshy Boy, Schmutzy Girl, Kvetchy Boy, and their other friends are characters in a series from Matzah Ball Books, which shares Yiddish terminology and culture with young children through humor. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com o...2019-12-1522 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Field Guide to Jewish KidlitSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-field-guide-to-jewish-kidlit.html On The Book of Life, we talk a lot about Jewish kidlit. But where do you go to find Jewish children's books? In this episode, Marjorie Ingall joins me to talk about how to discover and how to access the best Jewish kidlit. Marjorie is a columnist at Tablet Magazine and is well-known for her year-end "best of Jewish kidlit" lists, and she's the author of Mamaleh Knows Best: What Jewish Mothers Do to Raise Successful, Creative, Empathetic, Independent Children, which was featured on The Book of Life in A...2019-12-0239 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 100 Most Jewish FoodsSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-100-most-jewish-foods.html The 100 Most Jewish Foods, a Highly Debatable List, started as a fun interactive feature on the website of Tablet Magazine, and then grew up to be a book. We've got an interview for you with the book's editor, Alana Newhouse, by The Book of Life's Canadian Correspondent, Anne Dublin. B'tay avon...good appetite! Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-11-1818 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Honeycake, a Jewish Magazine for 2-6 Year OldsSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/honeycake-magazine.html Honeycake Magazine is a new Jewish magazine for kids ages 2 to 6. Creator Anna Caplan guest posted on The Book of Life about the magazine in May 2019. Now here's our podcast interview, in which I spoke to Anna about her inspiration for Honeycake and her plans for its future. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-11-0330 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Nancy Churnin, Biography QueenSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/nancy-churnin-biography-queen.html We are in a golden age of picture book biographies, and one prolific biographer is Nancy Churnin. She's got half a dozen bios out and more on the way, and each one is inspiring in its own way. Nancy attended the 2019 Association of Jewish Libraries conference to take part in the author luncheon, where she represented her Jewish interest books, Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing, and Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Anne Frank. I was happy to...2019-10-1535 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Bonus: Let's Play Superfight!SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/09/bonus-episode-superfight.html In May 2019 I posted an interview with Jonathan Auxier, the author of Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster. In our interview we talked about the book, of course, but we also talked about our favorite board games. I met Jonathan at the 2019 Association of Jewish Libraries conference where he'd come to accept his Sydney Taylor Book Award, and we got to play one of those games together along with a roomful of other authors, illustrators, and librarians. Here's your chance to listen in a...2019-09-2408 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Live Show!SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-book-of-life-live-show.html At the 2019 Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Los Angeles, California, we recorded a Book of Life live show. My guests were Joni Sussman of KarBen Publishing, and author/illustrator/musician Barney Saltzberg. We discussed picture book illustration while recording our conversation in front of a live audience of Judaica librarians. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-09-1648 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Sister Religion/Sister KidlitSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/08/sister-religionsister-kidlit.html Sadaf Siddique and Gauri Manglick are the co-creators of Kitaab World, a website that promotes South Asian children's books. Within their website, they created a campaign called Counter Islamophobia Through Stories, (similar to the Love Your Neighbor campaign that I worked on to help bring Jewish books to ALL readers), and they even turned their campaign into a book called Muslims in Story. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-08-2528 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Notes from a Young ReaderSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/08/notes-from-young-reader.html Young Aria is a voracious reader. In this interview, she shares a few of her favorite titles: All Kinds of Strong by Sharon Reiss Baker Zishe the Strongman by Robert Rubinstein Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story by Lesléa Newman The Harriet Hamsterbone series Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.2019-08-0816 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)A Cage Without BarsSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-cage-without-bars.html Anne Dublin is a Toronto-based author and retired synagogue librarian. She is the Canadian Correspondent for The Book of Life Podcast, performing many of our interviews with Canadian creatives. She's also the author of A Cage Without Bars, a historical middle grade novel that tells the little-known tale of Jewish children kidnapped after the expulsion from Spain and enslaved on the island of São Tomé, off the coast of West Africa. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at...2019-07-1016 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving BackSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/06/simple-acts-busy-familys-guide-to.html Natalie Silverstein is the New York volunteer coordinator of Doing Good Together, an organization that empowers families to raise caring, engaged children. She wrote Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back to give parents practical ideas for incorporating service and the spirit of giving into family life. The podcast Kidlit These Days honors Jewish American Heritage Month by interviewing friend-of-The-Book-of-Life Lesléa Newman, and by including Jewish kidlit reading recommendations from yours truly, Heidi Rabinowitz. Listen at https://bookriot.com/listen/honoring-jewish-american-heritage/ Your feed...2019-06-1321 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Craig Taubman & Mostly KosherSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/craig-taubman-mostly-kosher.html Craig Taubman is a long-time star in the world of American Jewish rock and roll, and the founder of the Pico Union Project. Mostly Kosher is an up and coming Gypsy Rock Klezmer band whose tagline is “word to your bubbe.” In spring 2019, Craig Taubman brought along Mostly Kosher and together they put on a foot-stomping concert at Congregation B’nai Israel, the home of The Book of Life podcast. That gave me the chance to grab this interview, and even to include the voice of our ca...2019-05-3121 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her MonsterSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/sweep-story-of-girl-and-her-monster.html May 1 is May Day, the chimney sweeps’ holiday. It’s the perfect day to bring you a podcast about Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier. The book introduces us to Nan, a chimney climber, and her golem friend Charlie, a creature made of soot. This middle grade novel won the 2019 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Jewish children’s books, along with numerous other literary awards. In this lush, dense interview, Jonathan gives us much to think about! Your feedback is appreciated! Please...2019-05-0149 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Length of a StringSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-length-of-string.html The Length of a String won a 2019 Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Older Readers Category. It's a middle grade novel about Imani, an adopted black Jewish girl who wants to learn about her birth parents. When she inherits a Holocaust-era diary from her Jewish great-grandmother, she begins to see family in a whole new way. I spoke to author Elissa Brent Weissman by Skype. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. www.bookoflifepodcast.co...2019-04-1530 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Kosher BakerSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-kosher-baker.html Paula Shoyer is known as The Kosher Baker. I met her at Limmud, a one day conference of Jewish learning on a wide variety of topics, held in December 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida. Paula was there to present two sessions: "Are Your Jewish Holiday Meals Dangerous?" and "Jewish Cookbooks Tell Our Stories." We sat down between sessions in the breezy courtyard for this interview. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-04-0115 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Craig Taubman Is Coming To TownCraig Taubman is coming to Congregation B'nai Israel in Boca Raton! If you will be in South Florida, don't miss this show! Call 561-241-8118 for tickets or BUY TICKETS HERE. Listen to a special message from Craig now, and keep an eye on The Book of Life for an upcoming full-length interview! bookoflifepodcast.com2019-03-1802 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Fania's HeartSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/fanias-heart-birthday-card-in-auschwitz.html The Book of Life’s Canadian Correspondent Anne Dublin spoke to author Anne Renaud after she won the 2018 Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Fania’s Heart, a Holocaust picture book for older readers. It’s the true story of a heart-shaped birthday card created in Auschwitz at great personal risk by women prisoners, from scraps of fabric, stolen materials, and glue made out of bread and water, for the 20th birthday of fellow prisoner Fania Landau Fainer. The real heart is now in the Montreal Holocaust Museum, and it’s one of...2019-03-1215 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Meet Me at the WellSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/02/meet-me-at-well.html Before I moved from Massachusetts back to Florida, I visited with Jane Yolen and Barbara Diamond Goldin to talk about their joint book of original feminist midrash, Meet Me at the Well: The Girls and Women of the Bible. We sat down in Jane’s sunny kitchen and they just let it all pour out; I hardly needed to ask any questions! Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473. 2019-02-0738 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 2019 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Revealed!SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-2019-sydney-taylor-book-manuscript.html Susan Kusel is the chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee of the Association of Jewish Libraries. She joined us by Skype from her home in Falls Church, VA. to talk about the 2019 winners of the award (and so did her dog Harry). This year's Sydney Taylor Book Awards are being announced at the ALA Youth Media Awards press conference in Seattle, WA during the ALA Midwinter Meeting on January 28, 2019 at 8am PT. Here's the official Sydney Taylor Book Award announcement with the ful...2019-01-2336 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Beyond the Holocaust and HolidaysSHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/beyond-holocaust-and-holidays-writing.html "Beyond the Holocaust and Holidays: Who Are We and What Are We Writing?" is a symposium for Jewish children's literature, welcoming novelists and publishing professionals to Honesdale, PA, March 15-18, 2019. A stellar faculty will lead discussions on issues both practical and philosophical. For this episode of The Book of Life, we've gathered four of those faculty members for our own discussion: Adam Gidwitz, Susan Kusel, Katherine Locke, and Rena Rossner. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206...2019-01-0632 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Stand Up: Social Justice StorytimeHillary Saxton is a children's librarian at the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Public Library, and the creator of the event series "Stand Up! Storytime for Social Justice." She was originally scheduled to participate in the "Social Justice and Jewish Children's Books" panel at the Association of Jewish Libraries conference, featured on The Book of Life in August 2018. She was sick and couldn't make it, so I caught up with her later by Skype. Find the titles used in the 2017-18 Stand Up storytimes at the Cambridge Public Library's collection of booklists here. And please share your own favorite social...2018-12-1613 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)All-of-a-Kind Family HanukkahRemember All-of-a-Kind Family? It's the classic chapter book by Sydney Taylor, of five sisters living on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century. Now Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky have created an original picture book based on those same characters, All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah. Illustrator Zelinsky attended the 2018 Association of Jewish Libraries conference where he gave us a sneak peek at his artistic process, as you can see in the photo above. I snagged his email address and arranged a conference call with him and author Emily Jenkins, and that's what you'll hear on this podcast. 2018-12-0133 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Missing Voices of Moe and Mo Jane Breskin Zalben is an artist/illustrator and the author of over 50 books for children. Her recent picture book, A Moon for Moe and Mo, was featured in the Missing Voice picture book discussion group on Facebook in September 2018. The Missing Voice group was created by another author, Lisa Rose, to bring books about under-represented populations into the limelight. You may be familiar with Lisa's book, Shmulik Paints the Town. I spoke with Jane and Lisa by conference call, in the week following the anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, because I felt it was...2018-11-0625 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Light the MenorahAt the 2018 Association of Jewish Libraries conference, I bumped into author Jacqueline Jules. She's been on the podcast before in 2014 to talk about Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her new picture book is Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, which offers meditations for candle lighting. We grabbed a quick interview after lunch in the busy dining hall, so you will have a "you are there" experience listening to our conversation about this wonderful new holiday book! https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2018/11/light-menorah-hanukkah-handbook.html2018-10-1406 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Girl with the Red Balloon The Girl with the Red Balloon is a magical time travel, historical fiction, kind-of-sort-of Holocaust book that won a Sydney Taylor Honor in the Teen Readers Category for 2018. I met the author, Katherine Locke, at the Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Boston, where we snuck into a side room to talk – please excuse the faint hubbub coming from outside. We discussed not only Katherine’s book, but also her article on Medium.com, “Thinking about Jewish Children’s Literature in a Time of anti-Semitism.”2018-10-1420 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Barbara Bietz and the Sundown KidBefore I moved back to Florida from Massachusetts, my friend Barbara Bietz, author of The Sundown Kid: A Southwestern Shabbat, came to Amherst, MA for a workshop about Jewish kidlit. We got together while she was in town and recorded our conversation for you.2018-10-0111 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)American GolemAmerican Golem by Marc Lumer is a very funny picture book about a mud monster making a new life for itself in New York City. Vicki Weber of Apples & Honey Press told me all about it at the Association of Jewish Libraries conference in Boston in June 2018, and I was very flattered that she also asked for my advice about marketing the book. If YOU have any ideas for Vicki, give us a call or leave a comment at bookoflifepodcast.com.2018-08-1311 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Social Justice and Jewish Children's BooksIn June 2018, Book of Life Host Heidi Rabinowitz participated on a panel with author Leslea Newman and Horn Book editors Elissa Gershowitz and Shoshana Flax, at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual conference in Boston. The topic was “Social Justice and Jewish Children’s Books.” Here’s your chance to be a fly on the wall. Share your thoughts on the subject at bookoflifepodcast.com. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2018-08-1234 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 2018 Sydney Taylor Book AwardsSusan Kusel is the chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee of the Association of Jewish Libraries. She joined us by Skype from her home in Falls Church, VA. to talk about the 2018 winners of the award. Here's the official Sydney Taylor Book Award announcement with the full list of winners, honors, and notable books: click here. The Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour will take place February 4-8, 2018. For details, click here. The Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award was mentioned in the interview: click here. The National Jewish Book Award winn...2018-01-0832 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Teaser: The 2018 Sydney Taylor Book AwardsThe winners of the 2018 Sydney Taylor Book Awards for the best in Jewish children's and teen literature will be announced on January 10, 2018. Chair Susan Kusel gave The Book of Life an exclusive interview that will be posted on that date. In the meantime, here is her dedication to the hardworking awards committee.2018-01-0501 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Grand FinaleAs The Book of Life goes on hiatus, we wrap up twelve years of programming with a Grand Finale. We hear from listeners and guests about their favorite interviews, and play clips from those episodes. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2017-12-1530 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Many Faces of the Pirkei AvotGroup interview with Jessica Deutsch, creator of The Illustrated Pirkei Avot: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Ethics, and with Lois Shenker and Rabbi Eve Posen, co-authors of Pirkei Imahot: The Wisdom of Mothers, the Voices of Women. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-12-0323 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Tasa's SongAn interview with Linda Kass, author of Tasa's Song, plus the music inspired by the book, composed by Charles Weatherbee and performed by the Carpe Diem String Quartet.2017-11-1516 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Yiddish Book CenterInterviews with Lisa Newman, Communications Director, and Christa Whitney, director of the Wexler Oral History Project, both at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA.2017-10-2628 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)My Jewish YearAn interview with Abigail Pogrebin about her book chronicling her exploration of all 18 Jewish holidays in one year. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-09-0318 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Language of AngelsAn interview with author Rich Michelson about The Language of Angels: a Story about the Reinvention of Hebrew. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-08-1423 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Back to School with Behrman HouseVicki Weber of Behrman House tells us all about the past, present, and future of the 96 year old publisher of Jewish educational materials, just in time for back-to-school. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-08-1421 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Last ShepherdThe Last Shepherd (Evil Sun Productions) is a Hebrew-language indie comedy adventure scifi fantasy film with elements of Jewish mysticism and kabbalah. Several of the film's creators Skyped with The Book of Life. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-07-3126 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Shalom, SalaamYaffa and Fatima, Shalom Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams is the picture book we all need right now. It depicts a loving friendship between two women, one Jewish, one Muslim. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-06-0717 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Six-Day HeroAuthor Tammar Stein tells us about her middle grade novel, The Six-Day Hero, about the Six-Day War in Israel, 1967. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-06-0515 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)PJ Our WayPJ Our Way is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation that offers free chapter books to Jewish families with middle grade readers. I spoke to director Catriella Freedman to learn how it works. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-05-2624 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Almost a MinyanA joint interview with author Lori S. Kline and publisher Debra L. Winegarten about the picture book Almost a Minyan, a traditional yet groundbreaking coming-of-age story. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-05-1625 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Mamaleh Knows BestAn interview with Marjorie Ingall about her parenting guide Mamaleh Knows Best: What Jewish Mothers Do to Raise Successful, Creative, Empathetic, Independent Children. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-05-0119 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Kasper Mutzenmacher's Cursed HatAn interview with author Keith Fentonmiller about his weird and wonderful Jewish novel Kasper Mutzenmacher's Cursed Hat. Remember to donate to Patreon.com/bookoflife to get an autographed copy of Serendipity's Footsteps! bookoflifepodcast.com2017-04-2520 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Serendipity's FootstepsAn interview with Suzanne Nelson about her shoe-related Jewish award winning YA novel. Donate to Patreon.com/bookoflife to get an autographed copy! bookoflifepodcast.com2017-04-1813 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The (Unofficial) Harry Potter HaggadahRabbi Moshe Rosenberg tells us about his creation of a Harry Potter themed Haggadah for Passover. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-04-0316 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)CallMeIshmael.comAn invitation to join the How Is This Night Different? call-in project and an interview with Call Me Ishmael co-founder Steph Kent, one of the project sponsors. Check bookoflifepodcast.com for details.2017-03-2008 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Mark Your CalendarInfo on projects in which you might want to participate! Read4Refugees fundraiser through 3/31/17, Call Me Ishmael 3/27-4/4/17, apply for the TENT Jewish kidlit retreat by 4/24/17. Listen to the show for details. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2017-03-1212 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Honey and MeAn interview with Meira Drazin, author of the 2016 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award winner, Honey and Me. Also, call in to leave your story for "How Is This Book Different?" - details at bookoflifepodcast.com2017-02-2813 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Unorthodox LiveAn interview with the hosts of the Unorthodox podcast from Tablet Magazine, after their live show in West Palm Beach. Plus, an invitation to share your favorite story with Call Me Ishmael. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2017-02-1710 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Another MeThe Book of Life's Canadian Correspondent Anne Dublin interviews author Eva Wiseman about her historical/paranormal romance, Another Me. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2017-02-0322 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Everybody Says ShalomA talk given by Leslie Kimmelman, author of the picture book Everybody Says Shalom, at the 2016 AJL conference. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-01-2714 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Inquisitor's TaleAn interview with Adam Gidwitz, Sydney Taylor Book Award winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2017-01-1823 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The 2017 Sydney Tayor Book AwardsAn interview with Ellen Tillman, chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, which chooses the best Jewish books for children and teens each year.2017-01-1311 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Adam & ThomasAdam & Thomas by Aharon Appelfeld won the 2016 Sydney Taylor Book Award. We hear about meeting Aharon, and translator Jeffrey Green speaks about the book. bookoflifepodcast.com2017-01-0817 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The Sunset GangAuthor Warren Adler talks about his short story collection, The Sunset Gang. www.bookoflifepodc ast.com2016-12-1915 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Dreidels on the BrainAn interview with storyteller Joel Ben Izzy, author of Dreidels on the Brain. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2016-12-0528 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Ketzel, the Cat Who ComposedAn interview with Leslea Newman, author of award-winning picture book Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed, and the poetry book I Carry My Mother. bookoflifepodcast. com2016-11-2117 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)I DissentAn interview with Debbie Levy, author of the picture book biography I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2016-11-0920 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Once in a LifetimeInterview with Ahmed Drame, star and co-writer of the French film Once in a Lifetime (Les Heritiers). www.bookoflifepodcast.com2016-10-3109 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)FascinatingAn interview with Rich Michelson, biographer and friend of Jewish actor Leonard "Mr. Spock" Nimoy. www.bookoflifepodcast.com2016-10-2126 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)The GolemAn interview with Eddie Estrin about his spoken word album, The Golem. bookoflifepodcast.com2016-10-0520 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Shmelf the Hanukkah ElfA critique of the picture book Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe, with Rachel Kamin and Kathy Bloomfield.2016-09-2228 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Double Dip: Rona AratoA double dip of interviews with Rona Arato, author of Mrs. Kaputnik's Pool Hall & Matzo Ball Emporium, one by Heidi Estrin at Book Expo, and one by The Book of Life's Canadian Correspondent Anne Dublin, upon Rona's return to her home in Toronto.2011-06-1120 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Planet EsmeAn impromptu discussion among Heidi Estrin, Mark Blevis, Richard Michelson and Esme Raji Codell during a party at the Planet Esme Reading Room.2009-12-1130 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Jacqueline Dembar Greene, In FullWhen I first attempted to post this interview, the audio got cut off halfway through. Here, with my apologies, is the full episode. Jacqueline Dembar Greene talks about the Jewish character she created for the American Girl series, and about her High Holidays picture book, The Secret Shofar of Barcelona. Happy New Year! Heidi Estrin bookoflifepodcast.com2009-09-2131 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Why Be Social? Part 4 Create-Consume-ContributeWhy be social? To add a Jewish point of view to the social media landscape! Blogger and podcaster Mark Blevis joins Heidi to talk about what it means to participate in life online. bookoflifepodcast.com2009-08-1920 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Laughing with GodThe Book of Life's 2008 High Holidays Special! We speak to Jacqueline Jules, author of the picture book Sarah Laughs, and to Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, author of the self-help book We Plan, God Laughs: 10 Steps to Finding Your Divine Path When Life Is Not Turning Out Like You Wanted. Then we ask graphologist Arlyn Imberman to analyze the handwriting of these two authors as well as Book of Life Host, Heidi Estrin, to help us get into a self-reflective mode for the Jewish New Year. www.bookoflifepodcast.com bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com2008-09-0234 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Book Expo Part 1: Jewish Picture BooksWhat's new in Jewish picture books? Follow Book of Life host Heidi Estrin around the 2008 Book Expo America conference to listen in on publishers talking about their new and forthcoming titles!2008-06-0617 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)See You at Book ExpoBook of Life host Heidi Estrin will be attending Book Expo America 2008 in Los Angeles, to record material for the podcast and to promote the Sydney Taylor Book Award. If YOU will be at Book Expo, drop her a line at bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com! (If you meet up, she'll give you a shiny gold Sydney Taylor Book Award lapel pin!) The Book of Life www.bookoflifepodcast.com2008-05-2004 minThe Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)Bells & Whistles: How to Call In, LiveIn 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. These same instructions are available in written form at www.bookoflifepodcast.com. 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. Remember, the call-in number for February 7 is 724-444-7444, and the Call ID...2008-01-1803 min