Celebrate the Jewish Book Month Centennial with Fanny’s Big Idea
Jewish Book Month began 100 years ago as one librarian’s brilliant idea. To honor this centennial, Richard Michelson has written “Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born”. This great biography shares how an immigrant girl grew up to become a librarian who believed in creating a welcoming place that served all of its patrons. This book tells Fanny Goldstein’s story. Richard Michelson has agreed to answer a few questions about his new book. To help me celebrate Jewish Book Month, the publisher Penguin Random House is providing a GIVEAWAY.
Make sure you enter the Giveaway at the end of the post!
Interview with Richard Michelson
Q Thank you Richard for taking time to answer my questions. You have written quite a few picture book biographies. What sparked your interest in Fanny Goldstein?
A. Hi Julie, Thank you, once again, for your continued support of my work. I first heard the name Fanny Goldstein in 2018. I was fortunate to receive my second Sydney Taylor Gold Medal for The Language of Angels: A Story about the Reinvention of Hebrew, and I was invited to the Association of Jewish Libraries annual conference to give a talk. Another session I attended was the Fanny Goldstein Merit Award presentation. I noticed that many of my favorite Jewish librarians had previously won the award, and I was curious about the person the prize was named after; and amazed to learn how much Fanny had accomplished in her life, especially as a woman, an immigrant, and a Jew.
Q I hadn’t heard about her before, was it difficult to research her?
A. There were no books about Fanny and very little information on-line; the facts that were listed were often contradictory. Even her birth and death dates were inconsistent. Her letters and papers all concerned her later career, while I was interested in her childhood, and how she became the amazing librarian, social justice warrior that we know today. I almost gave up the project on a couple of occasions. Luckily, I was able to track down a sole surviving 93-year-old niece who, after months of entreaties, agreed to speak with me.
Q. Children’s biographers usually find more information than they can use. Can you share an anecdote that didn’t make it into the book?
A. Rabbi Felix Mendelsohn of Chicago claimed credit for starting Jewish Book Week and at first Fanny did not object as it was the idea, not the glory, that was important to her, and she thought more people would listen to a man, especially a rabbi. What she learned is that men often wanted the glory but didn’t want to do the work. She called the bluff and wrote, “I am no longer angry. I am, instead over-whelmed with pity that a man supposedly trained as a rabbi … to interpret ethics and understanding, should …be so filled with pomp and arrogance and self-inflation so that he has to behave in a manner that would jeopardize the labors of another in Israel’s cause. He needs pity more than truth or logic.” I love that she did not mince words!
Q. Alyssa Russell’s illustrations are fantastic. Since author’s rarely work directly with an illustrator, communication is usually through the editor. Did you have any “illustration notes” for her? Were there any surprises when the illustrations arrived?
A. I had very few notes, though I did forward some photographs of Fanny and her family which I had gotten from Fanny’s niece. I work with many great illustrators at R Michelson Galleries and I believe that the illustrator deserves the freedom to bring their own vision to the project. The only surprise was, considering this was Alyssa’s first published book, how beautifully she interpreted the story.
Q. I love the use of the quote “The more you know about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.”
You used it twice: first with Fanny quoting her grandmother at the beginning of the story, later she says it at the first Jewish Book Week Hanukkah party. Tell us why you used it twice.
A. I used it as a refrain because I believe it is the heart of the book, and the guiding light of Fanny’s vision. She appreciated her own heritage but was always curious about, and encouraging of, the traditions of others.
Q What do you hope readers take away from this book.
A. Considering the time we are living through, when immigrants are being attacked in the streets, and antisemitism is on the rise, and books are being banned for spurious reasons, I hope children and adults, alike, understand that individuals do have a voice, and can make a difference—and that a library can be a place of sustenance for everyone.
The book is an aid to goodwill…and universal brotherhood.”
Q You have had a very busy year, what next? What do you have in the works for us to look forward to reading?
A. It has been a little overwhelming having 4 titles in one year –I am not complaining—but I am looking forward to doing more writing and less PR and travel. I have a couple of picture books in the pipeline, but not until 2027, and I am currently working on a theater piece and my next adult poetry collection.
About Richard Michelson
Richard Michelson is a poet, children’s book author, and art dealer. His many books for children, teens and adults have been listed among the Ten Best of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and The New Yorker; and among the best Dozen of the Decade by Amazon.com. He has received a National Jewish Book Award and two Sydney Taylor Gold Medals (and two Silver) from the Association of Jewish Libraries
Other credits include two Junior Library Guild Gold Medals, a National Parenting Publication Gold Medal, an International Reading Association Teacher’s Choice Award, a National Network of Teachers of the Year Social Justice Award, two Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowships, and two Massachusetts Book Award Honors. Michelson’s work was chosen to “highlight the literary culture and history of Massachusetts” at the 2018 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington DC. In 2019 he became the sixth recipient of the Samuel Minot Jones Award for Lifetime Literary Achievement.
Michelson’s most recent poetry collection, Sleeping as Fast as I Can was one of 12 finalists for the Forward Indies Award (books published by independent presses). His previous collection, More Money than God, (University of Pittsburgh Press) was a finalist for the Paterson Prize.
Michelson hosts Northampton Poetry Radio, and served two terms as Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
His Massachusetts art gallery, R. Michelson Galleries is the largest commercial art gallery in western Massachusetts and includes collections of children’s book illustrations as well as other fine art
Learn More about Author
Find out more about Author and his books at richardmichelson.com
You can buy his books wherever books are sold or buy autographed copies on his shop page.
Follow Richard Michelson on Facebook.
Check out his gallery on rmichelson.com
Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born
“The more you know about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.”
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Week, which later became Jewish Book Month, this fantastic biography introduces children to the librarian who started it all. Author Richard Michelson has written the story of Fanny Goldstein, an immigrant girl who grew up to spread appreciation for books that taught people about various cultures. Michelson’s well researched story, begins with young Fanny and continues as the girl finds her place as a librarian who makes everyone feel welcome. By beginning the story when she is only 6 and using only Fanny’s first name, he makes the story relatable for young children. The illustrations by Alyssa Russell are warm and charming and capture the time frame beautifully.
Goldstein wanted everyone to feel welcome and would make sure that she had books by authors from the same culture as her patrons. But she noticed that few people were borrowing the books about their culture. At that time, people wanted to assimilate, and in trying to be more American, they were not teaching their culture to their children. She created a Jewish Book week and encouraged readers of all faiths to read Jewish books that week. Eventually other libraries joined in and ultimately, the Jewish Book Council was founded.
Goldstein truly believed what her grandmother had once told her “The more you know about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.” She championed Jewish literature but she wanted people to learn about their neighbors too. She not only stocked books from a variety of cultures but later sponsored other book weeks at her library, including a Catholic book week and a Negro History week. In children’s literature, their is now an effort to show diversity. Books are considered mirrors that reflect a child’s own culture or windows that let the reader see a culture different from their own. Richard Michelson’s “Fanny’s Big Idea” shows that Fanny Goldberg, who knew the value of a welcoming library and diverse books, had opened a new window a century ago.
Read my reviews of the author’s books at Goodreads on my dedicated Picture Books or Children’s Books shelf.
About Fanny’s Big Idea
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Week, this engaging biography introduces children to Franny Goldstein, the influential librarian and immigrant who originated the event
Nonfiction Picture Book
Setting – Boston early twentieth century
Publisher : Rocky Pond Books
Publication date : November 4, 2025
Print length: 40 pages
GIVEAWAY!
Hard Cover edition of the
Fanny’s Big Idea.
The Giveaway is over.
Celebrate Jewish Book Month
by reading my Interviews with other Jewish authors and my Jewish holiday books posts.
Hi Richard.
The book sounds great! I like that you’re making a stand during these tough times! Also, that a woman stood up for herself 100 years ago. Putting the rabbi in his place! Bravo!
I also love the story about Fannie speaking up.
Congratulations Richard on writing “FANNY’S BIG IDEA!”and capturing the true essence of the woman who created Jewish Book of the Week in 1925! She was such a loving and inspirational person who always accepted people no matter what religion ,color, or race they were. She welcomed all visitors to the Boston Public Library with opened arms. Her numerous exhibits, displays, lectures, joint Christmas and Chanukkah parties, as well as newspaper columns were well known within the Boston community. Thank you Richard for this inspiring book about such an inspiring woman, my Aunt!! Best regards, the Goldstein and Lewis Family❤️
Linda, your aunt was an inspirational woman. Rich’s new book will spread her story to a whole new generation.
This is a timely book! Can’t wait to read it.
It is a real gem. I never knew the history behind Jewish Book Month before reading this book.
I managed the West End Branch for 13 years ending in 2022. It was such an honor to work where such a revered woman worked. As the Branch was closed for 8 years and opened in a new location in 1968 we didn’t have any archival material on her. Before I left we acquired a West End Branch Library scrapbook that she compiled between 1935-1950. Touching things she touch was an awesome experience. I got to read the book as an ARC from the publisher and thought it was well done.
Helen, Thank you for your comments about working at the same library!