The Whole Megillah- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things this week: I’m putting together a focus group of about 8-10 subscribers to help provide guidance about the future of The Whole Megillah. If you are interested in participating in a brief Zoom session after the holidays … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | The Assignment by Liza WiemerWiemer, Liza. The Assignment. Delacorte Press, 2020, $17.99 The Whole Megillah (TWM): What prompted you to write The Assignment? Liza Wiemer (LZ): On April 4, 2017, I visited Oswego, New York, for a book signing at River’s End Bookstore for … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things this week: I’m going to be a featured panelist at early October’s Amherst Writers & Artists Leadership Retreat about sending out your work. I’ll be focusing on sending out book manuscripts and using Duotrope. After the holidays, … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Two-in-One | Behind the Bookcase, written by Barbara Lowell, illustrated by Valentina ToroLowell, Barbara. Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank, and the Hiding Place. Illustr. Valentina Toro. Kar-Ben, 2020, 40 pp., paperback $7.99. The Whole Megillah (TWM): What prompted you to write this book? Barbara Lowell (BL): In 2016, I visited the … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things this week: Two new picture book biography critique groups have now formed. Now I’m looking to start a group for memoir/essay and another group for short fiction to get underway after the holidays. If interested, please comment … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Two-in-One: The Eight Knights of Hanukkah, written by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by GaliaKimmelman, Leslie. The Eight Knights of Hanukkah. Illus. Galia Bernstein. Holiday House, September 2020, 48 pp., $17.99 The Whole Megillah welcomes writer Leslie Kimmelman and illustrator Galia Bernstein to the forum. We asked them a few questions about their book, … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things this week: I’ve signed on to take Intermediate Yiddish at YIVO with instructor Nina Warnke. Can’t wait to delve in again and also continue with my translations. Class starts mid-September. Nina thought I should take the advanced … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Poet’s Notebook | L’dor Vador, a Poetry Chapbook by Steven PollackPollack, Steve. L’dor Vador, From Generation to Generation. Finishing Line Press, 2020, $14.99 The Whole Megillah (TWM): How did this collection come about? Steven Pollack (SP): During a career as engineer and administrator, writing focused my thoughts and I developed … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things this week: Two of the five manuscripts I’d sent out into the world were rejected. I had been specifically asked to write them for this one publisher. They were both picture book biographies. I aim to make … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | Judah Touro Didn’t Want to Be Famous, Written by Audrey AdesAdes, Audrey. Judah Touro Didn’t Want to Be Famous. Illus. Vivien Mildenberger. Kar-Ben, 2020, 32 pp. The Whole Megillah (TWM): What inspired you to write this book? Audrey Ades (AA): I started writing this book in 2016, when I felt … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Notes
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Ideas Can Come from Anywhere–Even Jane Yolen
The first-ever Highlights Foundation workshop for writers of Jewish-themed children’s books took place at the founders’ home in Boyds Mills, PA from May 23-25. Throughout the following weeks, I’ll be sharing some highlights (no pun intended) of what the speakers … Continue reading
Tagged Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Calkins Creek Books, Carolyn Yoder, Debra Hess, Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, East/West Agency, Francoise Bui, Hachai Publishing, Highlights for Children, Highlights Foundation, Highlights Foundation Worksop, Jane Yolen, Jewish Book World, Lisa Silverman, Mary Kole, Penninah Schram, Rubin Pfeffer
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Author’s Notebook | Rich Michelson
Each month, The Whole Megillah features an interview with an author of Jewish-themed children’s books. For May 2010’s Author’s Notebook debut, we reached out to award-winning author Rich Michelson of Massachusetts. The Whole Megillah (TWM): When did you first realize … Continue reading
Jewish American Heritage Month and the Sydney Taylor Book Award
On May 7, Kathe Pinchuck, Outgoing Chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee posted in the AJL Blog, People of the Books, a list of Sydney Taylor Book Awards winners, celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. I urge you to … Continue reading
Museum of Jewish Heritage | A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
It seemed fitting that I would head into New York City today to research the St. Louis on the 71st anniversary of its sailing. After spending a couple of hours at the Joint Distribution Committee archives midtown, I traveled to … Continue reading
Book Review: Emma’s Poem–The Voice of the Statue of Liberty
Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty (Houghton Mifflin, 2010) Written by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Claire A. Nivola I must confess: I’ve been researching Emma Lazarus for about ten years. Since the Statue of Liberty’s 100th anniversary … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged Emma Lazarus, New Colossus, nineteenth century Jewish writers, Statue of Liberty
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This Month in Jewish History—The Tragic Voyage of the St. Louis
On May 13, 1939, more than 900 German Jewish refugees boarded the luxury liner MS St. Louis in Hamburg. They were filled with hope of a new homeland, rejected by Germany. Since Kristallnacht the previous November, and even before that, … Continue reading
Hello world!
Welcome to The Whole Megillah! This can be your resource for writing and marketing Jewish-themed content for young readers. Upcoming Highlights Foundation Workshop–Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books From May 23-25, a group of writers will gather at the home of the … Continue reading
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