The Whole Megillah- 2021 National Jewish Book Awards AnnouncedToday the Jewish Book Council announced winners and finalists of its National Jewish Book Awards. For the entire press release and list, click here. Mazel tov to all winners and finalists! Children’s Picture Book Winner: Dear Mr. Dickens Nancy Churnin, illustrated … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Field Notes–January 19, 2022Some very quick things: The first issue of The Sepia Chronicles | Writing the Past went out on Sunday. If interested in subscribing to this or the writing family history and memoir newsletter, please either comment below or send an … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- #52snapshots 2022 | Week 2, I RememberSaturday night trips for books and records Week 2’s #52snapshots prompt is about “I Remember.” I made a list of things I remembered with a time limit of five minutes. The items revolved around trips with my father. I don’t … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Field Notes–January 12, 2022Some very quick things: I’ve been accepted into the Kenyon Review writing session for teachers and adjuncts later this month. I’m thrilled to be writing with other educators under the auspices of a literary journal I revere. The Sepia Chronicles … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | The Book Bible by Susan ShapiroShapiro, Susan. The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Manuscript–No Matter What Genre–Without Going Broke or Insane. New York: Skyhorse, February 2022. Last winter I read Susan Shapiro‘s The Byline Bible and gained inspiration to write about why my grandmother, … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- #52snapshots 2022 | Week 1, My NameInstead of marking #52snapshots as a 2021 done deal, I decided for 2022 I would follow Sonja Livingston’s 52 prompts exactly as laid out in Fifty-Two Snapshots: A Memoir Starter Kit. By the end of the year, I should have … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Field Notes–January 5, 2022Some very quick things: I have decided on a different #52snapshot journey for 2022. I will write to a different prompt from Sonja Livingston‘s Fifty-Two Snapshots: A Memoir Starter Kit each Friday and blog about the process and insights. I … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | Two New Picture Books Written by Nancy ChurninChurnin, Nancy. Dear Mr. Dickens. Illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. Chicago: Albert Whitman, 2021. Churnin, Nancy. A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah. Illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg. Creston Books, 2021. The Whole Megillah (TWM): Where … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Field Notes–December 29, 2021Some very quick things: My 2021 exploration into #52snapshots has ended. I still have plenty of material to work with and plan to tackle revisions through my Writing Family History generative writing sessions that start January 9. One of the … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- #52snapshots–Weeks 51-52This is the final week of my year-long exploration into #52snapshots. In the 52 weeks of 2021, I’ve written 23 essays, sent out nine, and saw the publication of three. I have much revision to do in 2022. Because these … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- 2021 National Jewish Book Awards Announced
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Author’s Notebook | Eli Stutz
This is Part Two of an Agent/Author interview. Last week, The Whole Megillah featured agent Elana Roth of the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. Today, we feature her client, Eli Stutz, author of Pickle Impossible (Bloomsbury USA, 2010). The Whole Megillah … Continue reading
Agent’s Notebook | Elana Roth, Caren Johnson Literary Agency
This is Part One of an Agent/Author interview. Elana is Part One and her client, Eli Stutz, author of Pickle Impossible (Bloomsbury USA, 2010), is Part Two and an upcoming Author’s Notebook feature. Elana Roth is a literary agent with … Continue reading
Posted in Agents
Tagged Caren Johnson Literary Agency, children's book agents, Elana Roth, Eli Stutz, Pickle Impossible
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Librarian’s Notebook | Linda R. Silver
For August 2010, The Whole Megillah Librarian’s Notebook features an interview with Linda R. Silver. Linda is a librarian and a specialist in Jewish children’s literature. She has written two books on the subject as well as speaking, teaching, and … Continue reading
The Whole Megillah Mourns
My brother-in-law died suddenly of a heart attack Tuesday evening. He was only 56. Because we are now in mourning and because I’ll be on retreat, The Whole Megillah is taking a break and will resume with librarian, agent, and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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A History of Jewish Children’s Books—Part Three
Adapted from a talk given by Lisa Silverman, Library Director of Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, May 23, 2010 at the Highlights Founders Workshop, “Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books” Genres of Jewish Children’s Literature—Realism in Jewish Family Life The first book in … Continue reading
Tagged Are You There God, Bette Greene, Confessions of a Closet Catholic, Deborah Garfinkle, Highlights Foundation, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, Judy Blume, Lisa Silverman, Our Eddie, realism in Jewish family life, Sarah Darer Littman, Simone Elkeles, Storky, Sulamith Ish Kishor, Summer of My German Soldier, Writing Jewish-themed Children's Books
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Book Review: Once
Once Written by Morris Gleitzman (Henry Holt and Company, 2010–previously published in Australia) In the author’s note, Morris Gleitzman said he had read a book about Janusz Korczak, a Polish Jewish doctor and children’s author, who helped run an orphanage … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged Holocaust literature, Janusz Korczak, Morris Gleitzman, Once
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The Whole Megillah Grows
Thanks to everyone–Jewish children’s book writers, librarians, editors, agents, and publicists–who have helped make The Whole Megillah a success. Given the great response, I’ve been thinking of expanding The Whole Megillah to offer: Workshops and retreats–I’m exploring a four-day workshop/retreat … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Jewish children's books, National Yiddish Book Center, The Whole Megillah
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The Whole Megillah 