Children's book creators discuss Jewish representation in new works during Jewish American Heritage Month 2025; authors share inspiration behind Orthodox Jewish characters, cultural elements

May 22, 2025 (Publisher's Weekly) –

In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we spoke with six children's book creators about highlighting Jewish culture and history in their new works.

Leah Cypess

What was the inspiration to kickstart this series about an Orthodox Jewish girl?

I started writing this book for my daughter. At first, I wasn't thinking of publishing it--I had never written chapter books before, and didn't know much about this area of publishing. I made Miriam an Orthodox Jew because it reflects our life and I knew my daughter would love a story that was so relatable for her.

The feedback from my daughter and her friends was so enthusiastic that I started researching chapter books. Then I revised the book and sent my agent an email... and here we are!

How did you hope to showcase Jewish culture through your heroine Miriam?

I wanted to present a universal and entertaining story where the reader can experience Judaism the way Miriam does, as a seamless and joyful part of her life. That was more of a challenge than I expected, because I also wanted readers--some of whom may never have met someone Jewish before--to read the book without ever feeling confused. So I needed to explain things to the reader that Miriam already knows. Luckily for me, Miriam's notes and charts--which were originally intended just to add humor and personality to the investigation--lent themselves perfectly to achieving that balance.

Book two, The Discovery of Dragons, is due out in August. What can readers expect as you build out this series?

More of Miriam's hilarious antics, more fun investigations, and more magical creatures! The Discovery of Dragons centers on a class trip to the zoo, so it widens its lens a little to include more of Miriam's classmates. The third book is called The Mystery of the Mermaid and takes place during a family vacation. In all the books, my goal is to write a laugh-out-loud story that also presents an authentic and joyful picture of Miriam's life.

The Truth About the Tooth Fairy (Miriam's Magical Creature Files #1) by Leah Cypess , illus. by Sarah Lynne Reul . Amulet, Mar. $19.99 ISBN 978-1-4197-7240-5

Joshua M. Greene

Why did you want to highlight this period in history for young readers?

After 20-plus years writing about the Holocaust for adult readers, I found that despite healthy sales there was no way to prove my work had any impact on anyone. In 2017, I brought the first of five middle-grade books to Scholastic. From day one, the response from young readers was overwhelming: insightful, appreciative, and emotional. That feedback from young people continues to sustain me.

This story is based on testimony from Holocaust survivor and partisan fighter Celia Kassow . How did you go about researching her experience?

All five books are based on survivor accounts from the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University . Both Celia and her sister, Slava, had recorded video testimony, so that was the starting point. Family members generously provided additional memories, and historic details came from books by leading Holocaust scholars.

Why was it important to showcase a girl who rejects gender expectations?

My editors at Scholastic get the credit for seeing these books as a way of highlighting the role of young women in Holocaust resistance. When we think of the Holocaust, we envision it in black and white--even though there was color film in the 1940s--and primarily as the story of male soldiers, spies, and resisters. Those are editorial choices. It's disappointing that even in our best efforts at exploring human history, women's contributions--young women in particular--are still greatly ignored.

Fighter in the Woods: The True Story of a Jewish Girl Who Joined the Partisans in World War II by Joshua M. Greene . Scholastic Feb. $18.99 ISBN 978-1-5461-3585-2

Tami Lehman-Wilzig

This book is based on Operation Magic Carpet, an international effort that rescued nearly 50,000 Yemenite Jews from danger in 1949 and 1950. What did your research process entail?

There were two tracks to my research process. The first began with the 2017 visit to Israel of Elgen Long , the last surviving Alaska Airlines pilot that flew on this mission. Reading an article about it in the Israeli press sparked my initial interest. I subsequently found myself reading and watching everything I could about it: numerous articles, the Alaska Airlines website, the JDC website, the book Alaska Over Israel by Darragh Metzger , the daughter of another pilot, Warren Metzger , after whom I patterned the story's pilot, and watching the YouTube segments featuring Darragh and Elgen. Once I felt that I had enough information about the mission, I knew that I had to find some of the people who were saved and interview them. Living in Israel makes that easy. There is a Yemenite Jewish Heritage Museum in Rosh Ha'Ayin . I contacted them, went to their offices and spoke to the people running the museum. They showed me loads of photographs and gave me names to contact. I called some but couldn't find the right match. Frustrated, I told my cleaning lady, whom I absolutely adore. She's kind, generous, and very bright. She is also a Yemenite Israeli, born here. Until I told her about my research, she had no idea I was thinking of writing a book about the Yemenite Aliyah to Israel . She put her arm around me, saying: "I have just the right person for you. My oldest sister Leah was on one of those flights. She remembers everything." A week later I was sitting in Leah's living room, riveted by her story.

Why did you want to highlight this part of Jewish history via picture book format?

I write picture books for older readers, and I'm a firm believer that beloved picture books combining an engaging storyline with gorgeous illustrations make a lasting impact on readers, who carry them into adulthood and beyond. On the Wings of Eagles is an adventure story that I hope will stay in the minds of readers throughout their lives. It's a book that says a lot about the American and Jewish people. They share a resilience based on a can-do mindset. Without a doubt, this book reflects a very special chapter of Jewish history colored by this perspective. Whenever I tell someone that it was Alaska Airlines that carried out the daring mission of airlifting the Jews of Yemen to safety in Israel , the reaction always is: "What?!? It wasn't El Al ?"

What do you hope readers take away from this book?

I'm hoping there will be three takeaways. 1) I've already mentioned the can-do mindset. I think it's important for children to know and understand that there are always creative solutions. 2) The special bond between America and Israel , which in this book is embodied by Alaska Airlines . 3) That the Jews of Yemen were forced to flee their homes and prized possessions, knowing they would never be able to return. With today's rampant antisemitism, I want this historic fact to get out there, starting at a young age.

On the Wings of Eagles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig , illus. by Alisha Monnin . Apples & Honey, Apr. $19.95 ISBN 978-1-68115-635-4

Naomi Milliner

Your heroine, Becky, is the daughter of a rabbi and feels a sense of pressure and high expectations. How does she navigate those feelings?

Not very well--especially in the first part of the book. Adolescence is challenging enough; living in a fishbowl, and feeling like people are constantly scrutinizing you, makes it even harder. Becky always has good intentions... but she doesn't always execute those good intentions in the best way. One of the interesting things about her is that, when she doesn't meet her parents' expectations, she is probably harder on herself than they are. When her dearest wish comes true, but she knows they would disapprove, she is unable to fully enjoy her victory: "It was like on Passover , when... we took ten drops out of our cups to lessen our joy... only worse. It was like emptying the entire cup."

Becky is also preparing for her bat mitzvah. Can you talk about the cultural significance of the event?

A bat mitzvah (for girls) or bar mitzvah (for boys) is a rite of passage at age 13. In the Jewish faith, you are considered an adult when you complete this coming-of-age ceremony. It involves a lot of preparation. Some of the key elements include reading or chanting a Torah portion; writing and delivering a speech about that portion; and often a mitzvah, or good deed, project as well, to give back to your community. The workload is always substantial, but it's especially daunting for Becky: besides being the rabbi's daughter, she's convinced that her older siblings were flawless at their respective bar and bat mitzvahs. On top of that, all she really wants is to audition for All-County band, but rehearsals conflict with her bat mitzvah prep, leading to the first of two secrets in the story.

How did you want to explore the dynamic between Becky and her older sister Sara?

Though Becky is close to all three of her siblings, she is closest to her older (and only) sister, Sara. Becky admires pretty much everything about Sara, and is simultaneously desperate to emulate her and convinced she can never measure up. At the same time, Becky is proud to be on a parallel journey with her; Becky is a musician and Sara's passion is musical theater. When she discovers that Sara is harboring a huge secret of her own, Becky chooses to keep it as well, despite feeling tremendous guilt in doing so. The difficulties, and tragic consequences, of keeping Sara's secret make up the core of the story.

The Trouble with Secrets by Naomi Milliner . Quill Tree , Apr. $19.99 ISBN 978-0-06-331164-0

Caroline Kusin Pritchard

How did you first learn about the Jewish Theological Seminary library fire of 1966? Did you find anything surprising in your research?

It was actually the very beginning of the pandemic, only days before our world locked down. I'd just dropped off our then two- and three-year-old boys at their preschool, which was located on our local synagogue's campus. I decided to wander into the synagogue's library instead of rushing home, and that's where I noticed a thin, brown book poking out from a shelf. It was called FIRE! The Library Is Burning, by Barry D. Cytron , and it's the first time I'd ever heard about the events surrounding the fire. I learned that tens of thousands of precious books were destroyed, and the rest were at risk of ruin from the water used to extinguish the flames. In photograph after photograph, I took in scenes of strangers from across N.Y.C. coming together to save the remaining books.

I was hooked, and from there it was one of the most exciting rounds of Jewish geography unfolding in real time. After trying, and failing, to track down the book's author, I took the mystery to a Facebook group of fellow Jewish kid lit writers. Did anyone happen to know this man? Within minutes I'd received a batch of messages from people across the country with connections they were eager to share. A friend of a friend (... of a friend of a friend!) was able to scrounge up an email address, and within days I was Zooming with Rabbi Cytron and his wife. He told me all about the wonder he experienced living through the aftermath of the fire as he worked alongside fellow classmates and neighbors to save the books. We tearfully celebrated the power of stories to connect strangers so many years ago, and how that magic extended to us generations later.

From there, I got in touch with everyone from the current librarian at Jewish Theological Seminary , Dr. David C. Kraemer , to the head librarian during the time of the fire, Dr. Menahem Schmelzer . These cherished conversations led to uncovering all sorts of surprises, like how the fire happened on Dr. Schmelzer's birthday. Or how years before the fire, the seminary chose the biblical reference to the burning bush as their school's emblem. A sculpture depicting a blaze engulfing a bush was mounted on the very front of the library tower's entrance, which survived the 1966 fire. It included words from the story of Moses in the wilderness: "And the bush was not consumed." Now that discovery gave me full-on goosebumps!

What about this event led you to write it as a picture book rather than in another format?

There was one key image from the events of the fire that I could never shake. For weeks and weeks, a human chain of community members wound up the library stairs to pass down soaked books. Hand over hand, book after book. I am continually struck by the raw humanity captured in this moment. The neighbors, students, librarians, pastors and rabbis never once paused to ask themselves whether the books met a paternalistic litmus test before throwing their bodies into the fight. Instead, they saw each and every book--the stories within them and the creators behind them--as precious.

There was something about this image, especially during a time of such physical separation during the pandemic, that felt so important for kids to witness both visually and through the written word. Given the horrifying reality of increased book banning and attacks on children's rights, this story embodies a distinct, urgent call to action. And there was no one better to bring this all to life with the required honesty and tenderness than the remarkable Selina Alko .

How did you balance showing both the grief and communal aspects of the fire's aftermath?

We know that it's impossible to shield kids from the pain of life experiences and the often excruciating emotions that come with them. I think many of us get into the work of writing for children for this very reason. We want to show kids that what they're going through is real, that we see and believe them, and that we're here to walk alongside them as we excavate hope together.

That's in part why it was important to me to never shy away from the disturbing realities of the fire. This includes the Torah scrolls from Danzig, Poland that were sent to the seminary for safekeeping right before the town's 10,000 Jews fell to Nazi control. The scrolls safely made it to the 10th floor of the library, only to be destroyed in the fire decades later.

But that's where the necessity of hope comes into the writing process. I wove in elements such as a prayer-like refrain so that kids could feel the safety of that consistent drumbeat as they read, and trust that the community's call for help would eventually be received. I've been delighted reading the story out loud and watching young readers piece together the meaning of that refrain and the book's title as the story progresses. Is the keeper of stories a library? A firefighter? A community? There's always at least one kid whose hand shoots up as the story reaches its climax and realizes that maybe, just maybe, they themselves are keepers of stories, too.

The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard , illus. by Selina Alko . S&S Feb. $19.99 ISBN 978-1-66591-497-0

Robin Rosenthal

Why did you choose a grandmother to be the narrator of the story?

I am Jewish, and Sweet Babe! was inspired by my grandmother, Edith "Nanny" Goldman , who was a master kveller . Nanny was effusive and expressive with her love and I channeled her voice to write this book. The title is a direct quote from Nanny, who, upon seeing a little loved one, would emphatically exclaim, "Sweet babe! Precious one!"

Do you have a personal connection to the Yiddish language? Did you grow up hearing it/speaking it?

In my family, Yiddish was used as a language of love. We didn't speak fluent Yiddish, but we integrated a lot of Yiddish words that were passed down to my parents and grandparents from their relatives into our everyday speech. We used Yiddish for things we revered and held dear, like a little one's keppeleh , or their sweet henties , or delicious pulkies . We never said butt or bottom; we always used tush, tushie or tuchus. Yiddish words were also a great way to convey drama and hyperbole. When one said "I'm kvelling" or "I'm verklempt," they were not just proud, they were bursting and overwhelmed with pride and joy!

Why was it important for you to showcase Yiddish and the joy it can bring to a family?

I grew up in a very vocally loving and affectionate family. We loved and still love our little ones with a wonder, delight, and awe that feels specifically Jewish to me. It's not just because of the use of Yiddish words, but also the dramatic hyperbole and passion with which we express our love.

My agent, Erica Rand Silverman , first prompted the idea for the book. While speaking at a conference back in 2021, she mentioned she was looking for children's book manuscripts that "focus on the Jewish culture and the modern inclusive experience of being Jewish." At that point, I had illustrated 11 children's books, but had not written one yet. I had struggled in the past to write something that felt right and meaningful to me. Erica's prompt really got me thinking about my childhood and the loving voices I grew up with. I wrote the first draft and titled it Sweet Babe! that night.

I wanted to visually show readers how to read Sweet Babe! so I drew all the text by hand and made it as expressive as possible to show that this book is meant to be read exuberantly and emphatically. I have unapologetically used 23 exclamation marks throughout the book! I was inspired by Russian constructivism and Dada typography. A lot of Jewish artists were part of these movements, like El Lissitzky and Henryk Berlewi.

Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells by Robin Rosenthal . Tundra, Feb. $17.99 ISBN 978-1-77488-432-4