Rabbi Kerry Olitzky has had another banner year with seven new children’s books published. Hamantaschen or Latkes? was released on October 28 by Dragonfeather Books. Apples & Honey published Across the Jewniverse: 180 Totally Random Jewish Facts, just a week later, on November 4. I am thrilled to feature an interview with Kerry who has taken time to answer a few questions about his newest books.
Interview with Kerry Olitzky
Now Writing Children’s Books
Q. You are a prolific author with over 100 books to your credit. You have had a great year with four new children’s books published. As one of the leading Rabbis in Jewish outreach the bulk of your work has been educational or self-help books aimed at adults. A few years ago, you switched to children’s books. Why the change?
A. I think it might have been the blessing of seven grandchildren and wanting to use a different vehicle or medium to share Jewish ideas. I know that when children’s books are read, there is a larger audience than just the young child: parents, teachers, older siblings, caregivers, grandparents.
Hamantaschen or Latkes?
Q. Although Hamantaschen or Latkes? isn’t a Hanukkah story, parents are going to be interested in a book that mentions latkes in the title. It is a great story any time of year, but especially Purim or Hanukkah. This book has such an interesting origin. Please tell us about the inspiration for the story.
A. I love Jewish food and the salient elements of food in connection with Jewish holiday celebrations. As a student of American Jewish history, I have mused over the pseudo-academic Hamantaschen – Latkes debates that I have heard over the years–with the first one held in the 1940s at the University of Chicago. They are usually fun and funny–and a great way to acknowledge the holiday outside of more traditional and familiar observances
Q. You needed to put the debate into terms that were relatable to children. How did you come up with the way the girls resolved their argument?
A. My family–my wife, in particular–has experimented with various recipes for both food items over the years we have been together (celebrating 49 this coming year). And each year, various family members would argue about which recipe was better. (We continue to return to the family recipe for Hamantaschen but are much more open when it comes to latkes and their ingredients.) So, one day I thought that it would be a good idea to try to tailor those arguments with children. As for the contest, I had the idea for a Public Space Judaism event featuring various flavors of cooking oils a number of years ago when I was responsible for the organization called Bitten Judaism. So, it seemed like a natural transition to build a story around the idea with latkes and hamantaschen.
Q. The illustrations by Ruby Silberman are adorable. It is difficult to believe that this is her debut picture book. Did you have any surprises when you received the artwork from Dragonfeather Books? Did you need any changes to either the text or illustrations?
A. I am not an art director so I left much of the art guidance to the folks at Bedazzled Ink/Dragonfeather Books. When I found Ruby (she is the daughter of a friend of the coauthor of one of my other kids’ books in the pipeline), I was delighted by her drawings and use of colors. With many of my kids’ books, I like to give budding artists a chance to express themselves in new ways. We did talk at the very beginning about what style might be appropriate etc.
Across the Jewniverse: 180 Totally Random Jewish Facts
Q. Most of your recent books are picture books with cute stories that appeal to young children, but your newest book, Across the Jewniverse: 180 Totally Random Jewish Facts is just that – a collection of completely unrelated interesting facts about the Jewish origin of several things. What inspired this book?
A. I write frequently with Deborah Bodin Cohen. We toss around ideas all the time for new manuscripts. Her son really liked the National Geographic various facts series books. So, we decided to do a similar one with Jewish facts. But we chose a more positive name than the one most used by National Geographic–“weird but true.” We maintained the eclectic nature of the National Geographic series.
Q, This is a book aimed at older readers, middle grade through adult. While picture books rely on artists’ illustrations, this book includes a compilation of photographs. Whose idea was that?
A. The idea was ours from the beginning. We knew that the design elements had to capture the attention of the older reader and typical picture book illustrations wouldn’t work for such a book. The editors at Apples and Honey/Behrman House worked with a designer to make sure that the design element successfully told the story of the individual (or in some case collective) facts. And the graphic designer succeeded.
More Books from Apples and Honey
Q. Apples and Honey Press has published three books this year that you wrote with your frequent coauthor Deborah Bodin Cohen. Besides “Across the Jewniverse”, which was just released on November 4th, they also released Claudia Said Si! The Story of Mexico’s First Woman President published in September and Rembrandt Chooses a Queen published last January. Tell me about the origins of the other two books.
A. The biography of Claudia Sheinbaum grew from our ongoing work in Jewish biographies (which began with the research and eventual writing/publication of our book Heroes with Chutzpah). A number of books have already emerged and we hope to continue that trend.
For the Purim book about Rembrandt, we were looking for an idea for a Purim book that wasn’t typical. We took some risks since we were dealing with a classical artist–generally beyond the world of young children. But the editors at Apples and Honey loved it. And we do too.
The Rest of the Story
I loved Heroes with Chutzpah! You and Deborah also coauthored another biography picture book this year published by Kar-ben last February, Twist, Tumble, Triumph: The Story of Champion Gymnast Ágnes Keleti. The story of how she survived during world war II and went on to the Olympics is inspiring.
You had a couple other books early this year. You started the year with Just Like Queen Esther. This picture book coauthored with Ari Moffic from Jessica Kingsley Publishers was such a sensitive story addressing gender identity. One More Day of Passover published in February by Higher Ground Books is such an interesting introduction to how Moroccan Jews celebrate the holiday.
You had a busy year, what can we look forward to reading next year?
A. We have a number of books in the pipeline–including a Jewish heroes book for very little ones already in production from Apples and Honey. And we are exploring Olympic and paralympic athletes in response to a Request for Proposal from PJ library.
I look forward to reading them. Thank you for taking time to share your stories with us.
About Kerry Olitzky
Dr. Kerry M. Olitzky has been named as one of the 50 Leading Rabbis in North America by Newsweek. He is the former long time executive director of Big Tent Judaism (previously the Jewish Outreach Institute), a national independent organization dedicated to bringing Judaism to interfaith families and the unaffiliated. His extensive resume also includes serving as vice president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, the premier adult Jewish learning and Jewish leadership program in North America, Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, a tenure as rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT. as well as many other positions. A leader in the development of innovative Jewish education, particularly for adults, he has shaped training programs for clergy of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish Twelve Step spirituality, as well as Jewish Gerontology.
He is the author of nearly 100 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields. He is known for books that bring the insights of Jewish wisdom into everyday living. His opinion pieces are published in leading publications throughout North America and in Israel. Most of his recent publications are children’s books.
Learn More
Visit kerryolitzky.com
Storybook Lady
Reviews
Hamantaschen or Latkes?
What is your favorite Jewish food? Two friends can’t decide. One is proud of the hamantaschen at her mom’s bakery and the other is proud of the latkes from mom’s deli. Both are good, nut they each think that their own specialty is best. In Kerry Olitzky’s clever story, the girls try to settle the argument by getting other opinions. They even get the opinions of friends, neighbors and even the man working from a manhole. Adults will appreciate that they they get the opinion of literally “the man in the street”. Ruby Silberman’s pastel illustrations have a soft gentle feel about them, which adds to the warm gentle story. This children’s book has something for the whole family. The afterward contains the author’s family recipe for Hamantaschen and a friend’s recipe for latkes. It also includes an author note about the real Hamantaschen -Latke Debates.
Across the Jewniverse
Across the Jewniverse is a fantastic treasure trove of fun Jewish trivia. These random facts are presented one or two per page with bright colorful photos. Although this is intended as a children’s book, it will appeal to readers of all ages. From Jewish actors to Jewish inventors this little gem has the whole trivia megillah. I know many of these random facts, but several of them surprised me. This little gem would make a great Hanukkah or B’nai Mitzvot gift.
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You can Read more reviews of Kerry’s books on my dedicated Kerry Olitzky shelf.
You can also read my review of An Etrog Across the Sea by Cohen and Olitzky in my Sukkot post.
Check out Bubbe’s Bookshelf for reviews on other Jewish Children’s books. For more children’s books read the reviews on the Picture Books and Children’s Books shelves. Interested in other genres? I have almost two thousand reviews on Goodreads. With shelves for several genres and interests, I can help you find the story on your next read.
