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: 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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