Mel Rosenberg Saw a Door!
Mel Rosenberg is usually the one doing interviews. He has spent five years interviewing authors and illustrators as host of the Children’s Literature Channel on the New Books Network. Today, I am thrilled to turn the tables and interview him about his first children’s book, Emily Saw a Door. He has had a variety of successful careers and a few years ago he finally opened the door as a traditionally published children’s author when Israeli publisher, Tal-May, published אמילי ראתה דלת. Random House Studio is now publishing Emily Saw a Door in English!
Author Interview with Mel Rosenberg
Q. This unique story focuses on inclusion and acceptance, but it also features a character who shows resilience, perseverance and creativity to solve her problems. What sparked the idea for Emily Saw a Door?
A. I don’t think I can ever really know the answer to that question. The immediate spark was a sign I saw at a children’s carousel forbidding children below a certain height to go on the ride. I was inspired by many other young female characters such as Madeline and Alice. I was influenced by my childhood growing up as a Jewish, left-handed child in a small city in Canada which had low tolerance for either characteristic. And by a 1946 Disney cartoon (All the Cats Join in) in which the illustrator’s pencil and eraser are part of the storyline.
I can see both of those children’s classic characters in Emily. Madeline and Alice are both so spunky. I had forgotten about All the Cats Join in!
Q. You have had a quite varied career. How did you get from scientist to inventor to musician, educator, and podcaster to children’s author?
A. It actually went in the opposite direction. I wanted to be an author and musician when I was younger. I wasn’t particularly successful at either though, and subsequently had a very satisfying career as a scientific researcher and inventor. And I’ve been teaching and interviewing since I was in high school, so this also predates my scientific career.
Emily knocked on a lot of doors. So have you. It has taken a while to break in as a published children’s author. How did that finally happen? What helped you with the transition to children’s author? Are you a member of any writer’s groups?
It was only a decade ago that I realized that the reason I had not been successful as an author was because I wasn’t good enough. It took many subsequent years of effort and several hundred rejections until I was finally able to secure a traditional publishing deal.
I have several writing buddies and have been a part of several critique groups. They are so important. Along with SCBWI, KidLit411, and my own mentors, chiefly Harold Underdown and before that Mike Malbrough.
Q. You are used to being the one to ask the questions instead of answer. Did your past five years hosting Children’s Literature Channel on the New Books Network influence your writing in any way?
A. I started writing “Emily Saw a Door” in 2018, before I started my interview series with NBN. But the interviews were extremely helpful during the subsequent revision process.
Q. Many books see a few changes between the manuscript that is accepted and the final product. How much did your book change?
A. I must have done 100 rewrites and edits. There were two significant changes in the story that I made after editors commented on several key beats that needed ‘more attention.’
Q. Your book is beautifully illustrated by Orit Magia. Did you have any action notes for the artist? Were there any surprises.
A. Orit’s illustrations are magical and blew me away. There was only one note for a wordless spread. And the best double spread in the whole book (when Emily enters and creates her own world) was her own idea, not mine. Ironically, that is the best part of the book!
Q. Now that you’ve opened the door, what books are in the pipeline?
A. Two more books are in the pipeline, one in the US, with Sarah Rockett and Tilbury, and the second here with Tal-May. The first story, “We are being Discovered!” is a wild fictional account of the discovery of bacteria in 1676, told from the perspective of bickering bacteria. And the second is about a girl named Penelope, who is different than, Emily, but not entirely so.
Q. Thank you, Mel. Is there anything that you would like to share with my readers?
A. Yes, first of all thanks so much for this interview and the thought-provoking questions. And secondly, Emily Saw a Door will be waiting for you in bookshops from Feb. 24th. Or you can order her here and she will come knocking at your door.
Storybook Lady
Review
Emily Saw a Door
By Mel Rosenberg, Orit Magia (Illustrator)
Knock Knock! Emily’s Here!
Mel Rosenberg has penned a charming tale of inclusion and acceptance that any youngster can understand. Little kids are always being told no, they aren’t old enough or big enough. They will certainly empathize with Emily, who keeps trying to open doors that are locked to her. She isn’t the right color, species or height. She can’t climb high enough or speak soft enough. Emily just isn’t enough to open any of the doors. she walks on until she comes to a place without a door. Finally, Emily draws her own door and creates a place where anyone is welcome.
to a place without a door.
Rosenberg’s simple story and the bright colorful illustrations by Orit Magia will appeal to young children. The artist used paint and paper textures combined with digital media. The pictures show only Emily and the doors without any other background. This use of white space focuses all of the reader’s attention on Emily. That choice works well with Rosenberg’s words to show young children Emily’s frustration at being excluded. This story offers the perfect opportunity to discuss how it feels when they are excluded. From there, children can be encouraged to create their own group of friends where any other kid is welcome to join in.
Emily Saw a Door provides a concrete story for the abstract concept of doors that are closed to people. Although a picture book aimed at children, older readers will see the allegory of the closed doors that we all may face. Two doors refuse to open because she is the wrong color. There is a sly reference to religion; One of the doors state “you don’t look Bluish.” One of the doors never lets you reach the top. This seemed to be a hint at the glass ceiling many people face.
It is difficult to believe that this is Mel Rosenberg’s first traditionally published children’s book, but is is easy to understand why this book was such a success when it was initially published in Israel. I was lucky enough to read an electronic advanced reader’s copy of this book. I can honestly recommend this book to kids of all ages, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store next.
About Mel Rosenberg
Mel Rosenberg has a had a many storied career. Although he wanted to be an author, his writing career was on a back burner while he became a scientist, inventor.
His scientific career as a researcher and Professor at Tel Aviv University centered on studying bad breath (halitosis). He authored several books and hundreds of papers on the subject. He invented unique products, cofounded a journal and contributes to public science education through lectures, media appearances, and online videos.
Now he is writing children’s books. He has written several digital books that were published on OURBOOX, an internet platform that he cofounded in 2014 which enables writers, illustrators, and educators to create and share online flipbooks.
Many years ago, had a radio interview show “You’ve got Mel”. Now he is active in promoting children’s literature through interviews for the New Books Network, where he interviews children’s authors and illustrators from around the world. You can watch these interviews on Mel’s YouTube channel or listen to the podcasts on Children’s Literature channel of the New Books Network website.
Mel Rosenberg is now doing what he has dreamt of since he was 21 – writing children’s books. Rosenberg’s debut picture book in the United States, Emily Saw a Door, is scheduled for publication by Penguin Random House in February 2026. It is the English-language version of the book (Hebrew: אמילי ראתה דלת), which was first published by Tal-May in Israel in 2023.
Learn More about Author
Find out more about Mel Rosenberg at his author website, authormel.com
You can learn about her books and buy them direct or at major retail cites through the links on her book page.
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For more children’s books read the reviews on my Goodreads 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.
