Sandy Eisenberg Sasso Discusses
Miriam and her Dancing Shoes
Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso has written over 35 books! I am excited to interview Sandy about her recently published book, Miriam and her Dancing Shoes. I loved this Exodus retelling and wanted to learn more about the book.
About Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is a prolific author of many notable picture books that address children’s spirituality. Her first book, God’s Paintbrush received national acclaim, and her many books followed in suit. Publisher’s Weekly selected two of her books, But God Remembered and Noah’s Wife; The Story of Na’amah as Best Books of the Year. Abuelita’s Secret Matzahs is the winner of the 2005 Sugarman Family Children’s Book Award and the 2006 Best Books of Indiana Award. Her children’s book, The Shemah in the Mezuzah won the 2012 National Jewish Book Award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book. She also writes for adults. Her book for Midrash: Reading the Bible with Question Marks, has been reprinted in paperback and she. has contributed to a variety of anthologies and journals. Rabbi Sasso is the recipient of an Indiana Author’s Award and in 2018 she received the Indiana Author’s Award for Best Regional Author. Rabbi Sasso is famous on several fronts. She made history in American Judaism in 1974 as the first woman ordained in the Reconstructionist movement, making her only the second female rabbi in America and the first to serve a Conservative congregation. She and her husband, Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso, are the first practicing rabbinical couple in world Jewish history, jointly leading Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis for 36 years until her retirement in 2013. She was the founder of the Religion, Spirituality, and the Arts Initiative at the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and co-founded Women4Change Indiana, a statewide organization focused on empowering women
Interview with Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Thank you Sandy for taking a few minutes to chat about your new book. I always like to begin an interview asking an author how they ended up writing picture books. You were a busy rabbi leading congregation Beth-El Zedeck along with your husband. What motivated you to also start writing kid’s books?
I was always a storyteller. Studying for my Doctor of Ministry, I took a class on children and religion. I discovered that no one was writing for children in a way that took their spirituality seriously. Most of the religious children’s books preached to children, told them what to believe, rather than inviting them into a conversation about faith and meaning.
As a response to a class assignment, I wrote God’s Paintbrush, to invite children to discover the divine in their everyday lives. Six years later, I found a publisher. It was the beginning of my love of writing for children.
Jewish Lights Publishing 1993
You have certainly been successful! You have over 30 picture books, including several award winners. You also have several scholarly works for adults. With all of those books, are there a few that you are particularly proud of?
It is really hard to decide. I feel close to them all. God’s Paintbrush and In God’s Name were my earliest books and they have helped children think about God in new ways. I have enjoyed my partnership with Amy-Jill Levine to create stories based on the Parables in ways that avoid the classical negatives Jewish stereotypes. I love Who Is My Neighbor?. It has always been important to me to lift women’s stories and voices and you can see that in many of my books. The Shema in the Mezuzah about listening and compromise seems especially important in these times.
Jewish Lights Publishing 1994
Flyaway Books 2019
Listening to Each Other
Jewish Lights Publishing 2012
Miriam and Her Dancing Shoes is a beautiful tale written in the tradition of the Midrash with two interesting twist on the Exodus story. Everyone must leave in haste, yet Miriam takes a timbrel and dancing shoes. But the most important difference is that Miriam starts playing her timbrel BEFORE crossing the Reed Sea instead of after. What was the spark behind this book?
I read a newspaper article about how Egyptian women used to make their sandals from the reeds of the Nile. Learning about this, I imagined that Miriam made dancing shoes from the same reeds in which she hid her brother, Moses.
There were no guarantees about the future when the people left Egypt. Through music and dance, Miriam helped the people find the hope to confront the challenges of freedom.
I love Moses’ reaction to the dancing shoes!
Thanks. Too often people think that the arts are decorative, enjoyable, but not necessary. The truth is the arts are indispensable to help us celebrate and walk through the dark times.
Your lyrical text is paired with stunning art by Joani Rothenberg. Usually, a publisher assigns an illustrator and there is very little communication between the author and illustrator. But I notice that you have created several books together and that you are both in the same city. How did your partnership evolve? Because of your location, do you work together more closely than the typical author and illustrator?
Joani Rothenberg has been a long time friend. I always wanted to work with her on a book. It is rare for an author to choose her illustrator. It was our good fortune to be able to collaborate. I loved talking with her about the book. At the same time, I always hope that the artist will bring her imagination to tell a complimentary narrative. Joani did just that.
This book is a bit of a family project. You aren’t the only one in your family with two careers. Your son, Dr. David A. Sasso is both a psychiatrist and an accomplished composer. He composed the song, Freedom Walks in Dancing Shoes which appears at the end of the book. Tell us about that.
The Seder is a time when we not only tell the story of the Exodus, but we help the story come alive through song. Music helps us remember. I asked David if he would consider writing a song that brought the story to life. After all, it is a narrative about the power of music. David’s music and lyrics did just that. I am so grateful. What a special gift it was to work together. He recorded the song with a group of musicians and even his son, my grandson, Darwin, participated as a background singer.
Learn more about “Freedom Walks in Dancing Shoes” on the project page at Davidsasso.com
This book was originally self-published in November 2024 as Miriam’s Dancing Shoes. However it was quickly picked up by Apples and Honey Press and republished under a slightly different name. Tell me about that. Why did they change the title? Were there any other changes besides the new song at the end?
I tried self- publishing for the first time. I was delighted when Apples and Honey was interested in the story. What they published was something altogether new. That is why there is a new title. There is a new design, a summary of the Exodus story, art activities, and, of course, the song with notation and lyrics.
You actually have two books this year. Apples and Honey are also releasing a book in September. What can you tell me about Solly and the Elephant: A Folktale from the Bene Israel of India?
Solly and the Elephant is a folktale from the Bene Israel of India. The story introduces readers to this Jewish community and narrates one of its famous legends. The artist, Siona Benjamin, is an Indian-American artist originally from Mumbai, India, now residing the New York City area.
A Folktale from the Bene Israel of India
Apples & Honey Press
September 2026
Miriam and her Dancing Shoes
Storybook Lady
Review
published by Apples & Honey Press 2026
Miriam Leads the Way with Music
In this beautiful Exodus retelling, Miriam takes up her timbrel and begins dancing before crossing the Red Sea. Using music and dance she provides the hope and bravery needed to cross. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso’s lyrical text combines with vivid illustrations by Joani Rothenberg to evoke the emotions of a scared people and the hope that music can provide. Originally published in paperback as Miriam’s Dancing Shoes, this beautiful new hardcover edition published by Apples and Honey includes additional backmatter including the lyrics and sheet music to a beautiful new song inspired by this book. Freedom Walks in Dancing Shoes by David Sasso, so appropriately brings this story to song. The book also has a QR code which leads to a video of the song on the composer’s website, davidsasso.com
About Miriam and her Dancing Shoes
Picture Book
Publisher : Apples & Honey Press
Publication date : March 3, 2026
Print length: 32 pages
