Sydney Taylor Book Awards. 2008 Winners, honor books and notables

The aim of the Sydney Taylor Book Award is to encourage the publication of outstanding books of Jewish content for children and teens that, in their view, exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

It is the hope of the sponsors, The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL), that official recognition of such books will inspire authors, encourage publishers, inform parents and teachers, and intrigue young readers.

Noble and necessary aims indeed. A major theme is the goal of educating readers about the Jewish experience, whilst seeking to engender pride in Jewish readers and building bridges to readers of other backgrounds.

Yiddish Wisdom Series Illustrator Wins Sydney Taylor Award for 2008 as It Celebrates 40th Anniversary Year

Illustrator Kristina Swarner's creative partnership with author and Jewish educator Sarah Gershman has been rewarded by winning the 2008 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Younger Readers. Known for her work as illustrator of the Yiddish Wisdom Series of books, Ms. Swarner and Ms. Gershman won for their adaption of the Kriat Sh'ma al haMitah for little ones, The Bedtime Sh'ma. Sarah)Gershman

The Award, which celebrates its 40th anniverasry this year, is given by the the Association of Jewish Libraries for new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.

The Bedtime Sh'ma, one of the three Gold Medal Winners , is a collection of psalms, poems and prayers that focus on the themes of protection and preparing for sleep. This book is an interpretation of excerpts of the actual liturgy. The full test of those excerpts is included in Hebrew and English in the back of the book.

Sarah Gershman (right)must be considering all future options given the recognition of this, her first children's book. As I understand it she is currently the Jewish Education Associate for the Washington DC JCC, but, it is possibly through her work as a JCC music teacher for toddlers and preschoolers, that she found the inspiration for the book. With a Masters in Judaic Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary, she is certainly well qualified to interpret traditional liturgy. Hopefully the publicity surrounding the award will lift the book up the sales ranking from it's current 74,010 in Amazon sales (8th Jan, 2007).

The book is accompanied by a CD in which, according to the awards press release, “The soothing and soulful voice of Rabbi Julia Adelman......will lull the listener to sleep with sweet dreams,". All of us with small children have to be lulled by that.

Dybbuk Tells the Story

A book featuring what is generally regarded as a malicious possessing spirit, believed, in Kaballah and European Jewish Folk tradition to be the dislocated soul of a dead person, seems an unusually eclectic subject matter for the winner of the Gold in the Older Readers Award. But, in the hands of the accomplished Sid Fleischem, (below left) a Dybbuk , serves as a guide to illustrate the fate of countless Jewish children during the Holocaust when it takes control of a young ventriloquist in The Entertainer and the Dybbuk. Far sid_fleischman from being malicious, the Dyybuk is the spirit of a 12-year old Jewish boy, murdered by the Nazis who wants to set the record stright via the second-rate ventriloquist. Despite the weightiness of the subject matter, the book is not without its humor according to fifth grade teacher and blogger Megan Germano.

The way Fleischem presents this seriously sensitive information is nothing short of amazing. The story is never boring and has a great humor to it.

A never endingly crucial subject tackled, it seems, with imagination and verve.

It seems no coincidence that the book takes place in an 'entertainment' setting as apparently Sid Fleischman began his professional life in vaudeville according to his autobiography, The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer's Life. Important that fundamental information is presented in different formats to ensure that history is not lost. Not easy even for someone who describes himself as an '.....author, magician, screenwriter, playwright and lyricist..'.

Mr F. was previously awarded the Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy back in 1986, and his stories have been translated into the languages of nineteen countries. He has written the biography Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini, and his novels include The Giant Rat of Sumatra: or Pirates Galore; Disappearing Act; Bo & Mzzz Mad; Bandit's Moon; The 13th Floor: The 13th Floor; and Jim Ugly.

It's obviously in the genes (or is it socialization?) as one of his three children,his son Paul Fleischman, also won a Newbery Honor Medal for Graven Images as well as a number of ALA Awards.

Busy man, Albert Sid Fleischman - with a bo'ys spirit I feel.

The book won against some strong competition, especially Honor winner Holocaust, by Angela Gluck Wood which certainly deserves a wider audience.

Paradise Trip Provides Back Drop for Coming of Age Story (It always did I suppose)

The winner of Gold in the Sydney Taylor Award for Teen Readers, Sonia Levitin's (below) Strange Relations, tells the sonia_levitin story of a summer in paradise that develops into an examination of life, the universe and everything from the perspective of the main character Marne, as her vacation proves somewhat different than anticipated. A novel that seems to reflect one of the core aims of the Sydney Taylor judging panel as it explores the impact of a different cultural experience by the main character of contemporary life which, in turn, stimulates an examination of the very heart of faith, identity, and family ties. Wow. Sounds like a journey in its own right (a bit like that last sentence).

According to Rachael Kamin, Chair of the Awards Committee;

“Levitin skillfully writes from the perspective of a contemporary teenager and realistically deals with issues such as drinking, drugs,sexuality, and peer pressure,”

A coming of age novel with a twist by the sounds.

Another of Levitin's books, The Goodness Gene, has also been nominated as one of the twenty finalists for the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers in 2007-2008. Some writers get better as time goes on whilst others of us can't remember whether we have started or finished the novel yet.

Sonia Levitin is certainly no slouch in the authoring department and has penned over 40 books during her days at the keyboard. Her 1998 work, The Singing Mountain, was a previous Sydney Taylor Honor Winner, this time she has landed the big one. Ms. Levitin is also a social activist supporting the North American Conference of Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) and Beit Issie Shaprio, an institute for developmentally disabled children in Israel as well as the American Anti-Slavery group. Oh for half the energy of these so alive people. Good stuff.

Amongst the notables I like the sound of How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles and Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb. The titles alone will resonate any of us who have had dealings with teenagers or have been one ourself (that covers it).

The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Cleveland,Ohio June, 2008, at a special ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the award.

Well done to all. Sorry that time, space and resources do not permit giving all the authors and illustrators the coverage that they deserve- producing a book is a labor of love that can be both sweet and sour. Acknowledged. The full list of winners is:

Winner: The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:
The Bedtime Sh'ma by Sarah Gershman with illustrations by Kristina Swarner
(EKS Publishing)

You shall say these words...when you lie down and when you rise. This beautiful adaptation of the Kriat Sh'ma al haMitah, the Bedtime Sh'ma, invokes traditional nighttime blessings of peace and protection and recalls the wonder of our waking hours.

Winner: The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
The Entertainer and the Dybbuk by Sid Fleischman
(HarperCollins Children’s Books)

One night The Great Freddie, a young ventriloquist, is possessed by a dybbuk.

A what?

A Jewish spirit. A scrappy demon who glows as if spray-painted by moonlight.

The dybbuk is revealed to be the ghost of a twelve-year-old boy named Avrom Amos, a victim of the Nazis during World War II. In a plucky scheme to seek revenge, he commandeers The Great Freddie's stage act and entraps the entertainer in the postwar ashes of Germany. Behind the footlights, the dybbuk lights up the terrible fate of a million and a half Jewish children, including Avrom himself.

What tricks does the dybbuk have up his ghostly sleeve? Prepare to be astonished. . .

Winner: The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:
Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin
(Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)

A summer in paradise. That's all Marne wants. That's all she can think of when she asks her parents permission to spend the summer in Hawaii with Aunt Carole and her family.

But Marne quickly realizes her visit isn't going to be just about learning to surf and morning runs along the beach, despite the cute surfer boy she keeps bumping into. For one thing, Aunt Carole isn't even Aunt Carole anymore—she's Aunt Chaya, married to a Chasidic rabbi and deeply rooted in her religious community. Nothing could be more foreign to Marne, and fitting into this new culture—and house full of kids—is a challenge. But as she settles into her newfound family's daily routine, she begins to think about spirituality, identity, and finding a place in the world in a way she never has before.

This rich novel is a window into a different life and gets to the very heart of faith, identity, and family ties.

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Younger Readers:
The Castle on Hester Street by Linda Heller with illustrations by Boris Kulikov
(Simon & Schuster)

A flying goat, buttons the size of sleds, and a castle on Hester Street are some of the widely imaginative stories Julie's grandpa tells her about his journey from Russia to New York many years ago. But Grandma's no-nonsense memories are far different from Grandpa's tall tales.

This classic story, which reveals the immigrant experience with wit and warmth, won the Sydney Taylor Book Award when it was originally published with Linda Heller's own illustrations. Now, on its twenty-fifth anniversary, The Castle on Hester Street is given new life with Boris Kulikov's vibrant paintings.

Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale by Sarah Marwil Lamstein with illustrations by Neil Waldman
(Boyds Mills Press)

Ages 4-8 will find here a compelling folk story of a year without Chanukah, and a poor man who decides to light the menorahs in search of remembering the miracle of the season. He asks a local scribe to write a letter to god and prays for oil to light the poor town's menorahs - and an unexpected result lends to suspicion Hayim might be a thief. This fine retelling of a Jewish folk story is an excellent addition for any Jewish library.

from Midwest Book Review

Light by Jane Breskin Zalben
(Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)

In the beginning there was emptiness, like a blank canvas. Then, in a swirl of motion, the Creator made the world. The Creator wanted to finish everything with a special kind of light—a light so powerful it had to be stored away from sight. When the Creator tried to open the jar of light, it shattered, and sparks of light flew everywhere. With flowing paintings and intricate collages made with unusual and varied materials, Jane Breskin Zalben brings to life this timeless legend about why people were created: to find the light and repair the world.

Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winners for Older Readers:

The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story (Holocaust) by Peter Lane Taylor and Christos Nicola
(Kar-Ben)

During World War II, as the Nazis closed in, several Jewish families disappeared into the underground labyrinths of Western Ukraine. They stayed hidden for nearly a year, facing danger of discovery, malnutrition, and the disorientation of sensory deprivation. At the end of the war, they emerged triumphant due to ingenuity and family loyalty. Now Taylor, an American writer, filmmaker, and caving enthusiast, follows Nicola's lead to document this saga of survival.

Holocaust : The Events and Their Impact on Real People by Angela Gluck Wood
with consulting by Dan Stone
(DK Publishing in association with USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education)

Publishers Weekly, July 9, 2007
Starred Review "...a sobering and visually compelling work of history."

Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
"Searing testimony...visually compelling work of history...the visual sensitivity and expert pacing serves this vital subject very well."

School Library Journal
"...the photographs and quotes bring a real immediacy to the history...each entry turns a statistic into a person."

Booklist
"This ambitious pictorial overview will horrify, sadden, and educate a wide range of readers."

The Winston-Salem Journal
"...the images and stories will twist your soul."

Dallas Morning News, Sept 29, 2007
"...a panoramic volume truly beautiful despite the devastation that inspired it."

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Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Teen Readers:
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Mirjam Pressler, translated

Notable Books for Younger Readers:

My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel by Michelle Shapiro Abraham with illustrations by Ann Koffsky
(URJ Press)

A Nickel, A Trolley, A Treasure House by Sharon Reiss Baker with illustrations by Beth Peck
(Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)

Shuli and Me by Joan Benjamin-Farren (Black Jasmine)
Papa Jethro by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Jane Dippold (Kar-Ben)

Hanukkah Moon (Hanukkah) by Deborah da Costa with illustrations by Gosia Mosz (Kar-Ben)

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Passover: with Matzah, Maror, and Memories (Holidays Around the World) by Deborah Heiligman (National Geographic)

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: With Honey, Prayers, and the Shofar (Holidays Around the World) by Deborah Heiligman
(National Geographic)

Five Little Gefiltes by Dave Horowitz
(G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)

Mendel's Accordion (Kar-Ben Favorites) by Heidi Smith Hyde with illustrations by Johanna Van Der Sterre (Kar-Ben)

Abraham's Search for God (Bible Series) by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano (Kar-Ben)

A Mezuzah on the Door (Jewish Identity) by Amy Meltzer with illustrations by Janice Fried (Kar-Ben)

Ten Good Rules: A Counting Book by Susan Remick Topek with photographs by Tod Cohen (Kar-Ben)

A Picture for Marc (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Eric Kimmel with illustrations by Matthew Trueman
(Random House Children’s Books)

World History Biographies: Anne Frank: The Young Writer Who Told the World Her Story (NG World History Biographies) by Ann Kramer (National Geographic)

The Silver Cup by Constance Leeds
(Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)

Passover Around the World (Passover) by Tami Lehman-Wilzig with illustrations by Elizabeth Wolf (Kar-Ben)

The Whirlwind by Carol Matas (Orca)

Penina Levine Is a Hard-boiled Egg by Rebecca O'Connell with illustrations by Majella Lue Sue(Roaring Brook Press)

All-star Season (Kar-Ben for Older Readers) by Tovah Yavin (Kar-Ben)

Notable Books for Teens:

How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles (Flux)

Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb (Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)

Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon
by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland Desaix (Holiday House)

Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel
by Marv Wolfman, Mario Ruiz and William J. Rubin (Nachshon Press)