Leslie Kimmelman Interview
Leslie Kimmelman has had a fantastic year with several books published! I am excited to interview Leslie about her recently published books.
About Leslie Kimmelman
Leslie Kimmelman began her career as a children’s book editor at various publishing houses. She soon realized that she wanted to write as well and her first book, Frannie’s Fruits, was published in 1989. As she says on her website: “Eventually, I discovered how to get to Sesame Street.” She worked at Sesame Workshop for almost twenty-five years, first as Senior Editor of Sesame Street Magazine and then as an editor in the publishing department and a writer for special projects. Now that she has retired, she is writing books full time, which explains the release of seven new books in less than a year.
Storybook Lady Author Interview
with Leslie Kimmelman
Leslie, you have been very busy recently with seven new books released in the past year! I can’t wait to discuss them with you.
All Who Are Hungry, Come and Eat!:
A Passover Story
A Passover Story
Q. Passover is just days away, but it isn’t too late for parents to grab your fun new book, “All Who Are Hungry, Come and Eat! : A Passover Story”. The main character is disappointed that the seder will only be the immediate family this year and wonders why the table has so many place settings.
What sparked this story? Was it the phrase from the verse or a crowded Seder table of unexpected guests and what inspired a mixture of animals at the seder as well as humans?
A. I can’t remember what specifically sparked the idea. But the value behind welcoming a crowd of people into the seder is really important to me. The Passovers of my childhood, and now the ones I host, have always had plenty of extra guests– often including people’s pets. What must those pets be thinking? Who knows, but it was fun anthropomorphizing them in my story! I was also committed to including Passover foods from many traditions. I went to a friend’s seder in college; her mom was from Syria, and the different Passover foods at that table fascinated me.
Q. HarperCollins set you up with a fantastic illustrator, Alyssa Russel. Did you have any art notes for her, or did she surprise you with her whimsey?
A. I totally love Alyssa’s illustrations, but aside from offering a few small comments I can’t take any credit at all. (Alyssa has been very busy lately, and every book she’s illustrated is glorious.) I was hoping maybe for a big vertical fold out when the bear first arrives in the story, but that didn’t work out. Still, the picture of the bear with the hen on its head is a favorite.
Q. Lastly as you explain in your blog post, Everybody Makes Mistakes, there was an unexplained change when your book went to print. Tell my readers about that.
A. Somewhere after the very last check–both I and the editors at HarperCollins checked for mistakes at every stage, so we can’t figure out how it happened–1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in the haroset recipe became 4 teaspoons. Blech! You’d burn your taste buds. Stick to the 1/2 teaspoon!
The 1/2 teaspoon “would have been enough!”
The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah
This isn’t your only Passover book. PJ Library has reprinted The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah for their March selection. That must be exciting.
I’m thrilled that PJ Library comes back to this story every few years and gets it into the hands of more children. The book was originally published in 2010, and of course, it’s wonderful to see it still going strong in both its Holiday House and its PJ Library edition. It’s a really fun, interactive read-aloud, which may explain why it remains popular.
Sesame Street Autism Connections
Q. On New Years, Lerner released their new Sesame Street Autism Connections series. These nonfiction early readers address different topics that are relevant to autism. These books which feature Julia and other Sesame Street characters as well as photographs of real kids introduce readers to these concepts.
Sesame Street has actually been active in autism education for quite some time. While working for Sesame Street, you helped create the character of Julia, a four-year-old child on the autistic spectrum who is friends with the gang on Sesame Street. Tell my readers how that came about.
A. I was at Sesame Workshop for almost twenty-five years, and one of the main reasons I started there was because my young autistic son, who didn’t react to much in those days, was utterly captivated by Sesame Street, and particularly Elmo. No one else in the kids TV landscape was featuring autistic kids, and it seemed like a really good opportunity for Sesame Street to take the lead. I started to advocate for it, and others did as well. Eventually, Sesame Workshop planned an entire autism initiative (which won a Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award, back in 2018). Since I had already written materials for a number of outreach projects–food insecurity and children with parents in the military, for instance–I was asked to do this one as well. I developed the character of Julia and the story that introduced her: We’re Amazing, 1, 2, 3! Originally it was available at no cost on request and also lived as a digital storybook on a dedicated website, but eventually it was published by Random House as an actual hardcover. Julia, who took on many of my son’s personality traits, proved to be so popular that she became part of the TV show as well. Definitely something I am very proud of.
Q. How many Julia books have you written before this new series?
A. I’ve written a number of Julia stories now, some about her specifically, others that simply include her as part of the Sesame Street gang. I’ve also done some informational writing for parents and a couple of short video scripts; they live on the website as well.
Q. Each of the Autism Connections books explore a different concept that will help autistic children cope or remind their playmates how some children may play or communicate differently from their other friends. How did the nonfiction series come about? Did you pitch it to Lerner or did they ask you to do the series? Tell me about choosing the four different topics.
A. These four particular books were pitched to me; Lerner and Sesame Workshop had already collaborated to come up with the topic for each one. They’re really addressed to ALL kids, which I think is terrific.
Horton Hears a Hanukah Party
Q. I want to touch on your books from last year. September saw the release of Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party! From Random House. This book is adorable. What sparked a Horton Hanukkah story? You did a great job mimicking the Dr Seuss style, and Illustrator Tom Brannon recreated the iconic characters to perfection.
A. Random House has a whole Dr. Seuss division now, even though Dr. Seuss is sadly no longer around. They came to me, asking if I had any ideas for a Seussian Hanukkah book, featuring Dr. Seuss characters of my choice. Horton’s message, “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” seemed like a good fit for the Hanukkah story, in which the small band of Maccabees prevail against the mighty king’s army. So, voila! Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party! It was so much fun to write. I read Dr. Seuss to my own kids so much when they were young, I probably know most of his books by heart. I am no Dr. Seuss, but it was a huge honor and a great challenge to do this homage. And yes, the illustrations are absolutely terrific.
Eve and Adam
Q. Last May Apples and Honey published, a sequel to Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day from 2023. These modern midrashic retellings of the story of Eden or fascinating. Please tell us the story behind these stories.
A. The first of these two Eve and Adam retellings began during Covid. The shutdown felt overwhelming to me, well, to everyone. It was hard to know what to do, because nothing like it had ever happened before, at least not in my lifetime. I started thinking about when else in history an event has been so unique, so new, that people would have been completely without a roadmap. Eventually, this brought me back to the Garden of Eden. Everything was new, everything was “the first time!” It seemed like the perfect time for this story about faith in the face of the unknown. My other decision was to put Eve first. She’s so central to the creation story and yet has always received second billing.
As for the second book, I hadn’t really thought about doing it, and then, as I was having lunch with David Behrman, the recently retired publisher of Behrman House/Apples & Honey, the idea popped into my head. For starters, I loved the idea of being paired with Irina again; I think she is an unbelievably talented illustrator. Her illustrations are lush and gorgeous. Then there’s the issue of the apple (in my version, it’s a more biblically accurate pomegranate!). I was always bothered by the fact that reaching for knowledge, aka curiosity, is equated with evil. Of course, we want kids to listen to rules. But isn’t the thirst for knowledge something to encourage? Eve and Adam Discover the World was my attempt to reconcile these two things.
Both of these Eve and Adam books are in the tradition of midrash, and they won’t be for everyone. But I love the way they turned out.
Based on rabbinic midrash, stories told in this tradition expand on the bible to reveal more meanings and moral lessons rather than literal meaning of the biblical text.
Coming Soon
Q. Leslie, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Can you wrap up by telling us what new works we might expect soon?
A. I have a story coming out in the fall, In Daniel’s Shoes, which stars a young, neurodivergent boy. A sequel to my Eight Knights of Hanukkah–in this one, they’re getting ready for Rosh Hashanah–is coming in 2027. And, fingers crossed, I may have a story about blue-footed boobies coming up soon. I went to the Galapagos Islands in 2025, and fell completely under the spell of those birds.
Storybook Lady
Reviews
All Who Are Hungry, Come and Eat!:
A Passover Story
Leslie Kimmelman, Alyssa Russell (Illustrator)
“All who are Hungry, Come and Eat!” is a delightful Passover story based on the iconic line in the Haggadah. This clever story weaves the Jewish tenets of hospitality and charity with some of the most important Passover details and Leslie Kimmelman’s usual humor. When the extended family who usually attend the Seder can’t make it, Ethan worries if a small seder with only the immediate family would be enough. The long table has four place settings one each for Ethan, his Mom, Dad and his dog Sadie. He thinks the table is much too big. But his parents remind him of the verse which invites anyone in need to join and says that maybe they will have unexpected guests, And indeed they do! Each time there is a knock on the door, Ethan wonders if it might be Elijah. Then he opens the door and repeats the titular phrase “Let all who are hungry , come and eat.” Kids will love joining in on the refrain. Eventually, the table is surrounded by guests. Family, friends and neighbors include both human and animal. Almost everyone brings a treat, and the table is filled with a variety of food. I loved the whimsy of the cat bringing gefilte fish and the chicken a basket of eggs. But the best bit is when a bear shows up empty handed and the mother reminds him that he may eat anything ON the table but not AROUND it.
Publisher : HarperCollins
Publication date : January 20, 2026
Print length: 32 pages
The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah
Leslie Kimmelman, Paul Meisel (Illustrator)
I love retellings. Leslie Kimmelman has reworked “The Little Red Hen” with a Passover setting. The basic story remains the same: Hen plants and reaps the wheat, takes it to and from the mill, and bakes with no help from her so called friends. The twist here is that she is preparing for Passover, so instead of bread, Little Red Hen makes matzah. Kimmelman adds more Jewish flavor by sprinkling the story with several Yiddish phrases. I really appreciate how she changed the ending. The original story is a fable that teaches that one should earn their keep. You need to work hard for what you want and do your share. But this story teaches forgiveness and generosity instead. Paul Meisel’s adorable illustrations are just as entertaining as the story with fun details. I got a kick out of the little chicks in the highchair.
Publisher : Holiday House
Publication date : 2010
Print length: 32 pages
Publisher : PJ Library
Publication date : 2026
Print length: 32 pages
Sesame Street Autism Connections
Leslie Kimmelman
Fans of Sesame Street will be familiar with the character of Julia, a four year old with autism. The Sesame Street Autism Connections series is an easy reader nonfiction series that addresses topics which are relative to autism but can apply to other youngsters as well. The pages are illustrated with photographs of children, but Julia, her dog Rose, and other Sesame Street friends also provide copping suggestions. The author’s simple clear text is easy enough to appeal to preschoolers and can be read by children in first or second grade. The afterwards include a glossary for kids and a bibliography of suggested further reading. These books are perfect for children on the autism spectrum and kids and adults with an autistic child in their life. But the books are great for all children. We all have different times when these suggestions an help us cope.
Publisher : Lerner Publications
Publication date : January 1, 2026
Print length: 24 pages
Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party!
Leslie Kimmelman, Tom Brannon (Illustrator)
Dr Seuss’s Horton is a classic that is loved by the young and the young at heart. Leslie Kimmelman’s tale tells a new Horton story with a Hanukkah twist. Horton keeps hearing joyful noise, but no one believes him until the final night of Hanukkah, when the Whos and a tiny menorah with all nine candles ablaze finally appear in the forest. Kimmelman’s fun rhymes are reminiscent of Dr Seuss’s style and they mention all the Dr Seuss favorite characters along the way. The bright colorful pictures by the prolific Sesame Street and Dr Seuss illustrator Tom Brannon capture all the characters original appearance. My young grandchild loved this story, but I think that I enjoyed it even more. This fun book is a perfect holiday story for the little ones and a trip down memory lane for adults.
Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication date : September 23, 2025
Print length: 32 pages
Eve and Adam Series
Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day
Eve and Adam Discover the World
Leslie Kimmelman, Irina Avgustinovich (Illustrator)
“Eve and Adam Discover the World” is a delightfully different take on the bible story. In a completely different retelling of the garden of Eden, Leslie Kimmelman likens Eve and Adam to children, full of curiosity and ready to challenge the rules.
Two years ago, Leslie Kimmelman and artist Irina Avgustinovich teamed up to create Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day, a sweet fun feminist retelling which explored how it might have felt to discover everything for the very first time. Now the two have continued the story. Like a small child, Eve is curious and full of questions. Readers will giggle at some of the questions she comes up with and parents will laugh with familiarity. But Eve is tempted by the tree of knowledge that would answer so many questions. After all, she reasons, God created her curious. When confronted with their transgressions they try to shift the blame. “It wasn’t my fault”. And like a wise parent, God gently questions their response. The wording here made me smile. God is disappointed by their behavior and they must pay the natural consequences for their actions and leave the garden. But the biggest surprise in this story is the continuation of the analogy. Eve and Adam, must leave the security of the familiar and go out on their own on new adventures. We are all God’s children and this interpretation is delightful. Once again, the story is richly illustrated with colorful paintings by Irina Avgustinovich.
Children will not only read a bible story but a tale with several learning moments. Parents can discuss how after trying to blame someone else, the two were honest and contrite. Kids can learn to own their actions and live with the consequences. The author’s note at the end of the book is addressed to the young reader, posing questions for thought and encouraging them to face new experiences bravely and treat them as adventures, just like Adam and Eve when they left the Garden.
As an adult, I found the story delightful, but I never thought that a children’s story would lead me to Biblical research. I had my own curiosity piqued when the fruit of knowledge was a pomegranate instead of an apple. The author says that she took that idea from the Midrash which is a biblical commentary. I went down a rabbit hole and did some further reading, only to discover that the bible does not actually name the fruit and various commentaries name different fruits. If you search the web, you can find some fascinating reading.
Publisher : Apples & Honey Press
Publication date : October 24, 2023
Print length: 32 pages
Publisher : Apples & Honey Press
Publication date : May 13, 2025
Print length: 32 pages
Learn More about Leslie Kimmelman
