Kar-Ben Publishing is thrilled to announce that the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee has named three Kar-Ben titles as either 2014 Honor Books or Notable Books for Younger Readers! Mazel tov to our hardworking authors and illustrators!
Presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968, the Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. In addition to gold medals awarded in each of three categories, two Honor Books are awarded silver medals and Notable Books are named in each category.
You can find these and other Sydney Taylor Award Winners on the Kar-Ben website! Through the end of February, receive 20% off these 2014 Sydney Taylor winners!
2014 Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers
Stones for Grandpa
Renee Londner
illustrated by Martha Aviles
It’s not easy for a child to cope with the death of
any family member, especially a beloved grandparent. In Stones for Grandpa, a little boy and
his family gather at the cemetery for the unveiling of his grandpa’s
gravestone, bringing stones to place on the grave, as is the Jewish custom.
They tell stories that help the boy deal with his loss, reminding him of the
wonderful memories he has of his grandpa.
Rifka Takes a Bow
Betty Rosenberg Perlov
illustrated by Cosei Kawa
Rifka’s
parents are actors in the Yiddish Theater in New York, but one day Rifka finds
herself center stage in a special role! A slice of immigrant life on New
York’s Second Avenue, Rifka Takes a Bow, new from Kar-Ben,
is a unique book about a vanished time and a place – the Yiddish theater in the
early 20th century -- made real through the telling of the true life
story of the 96-year-old author as a little girl.
2014 Sydney Taylor Notable Books for Younger Readers
The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street
Ann Redisch Stempler
illustrated by Francesca Carabelli
In The
Cats on Ben Yehuda Street, Tel-Aviv is full of cats of every color and
size, and Mr. Modiano—a grumpy fishmonger—has no time for them! His neighbor,
Mrs. Spiegel, loves cats, taking care of her little grey cat with a pink collar
and feeding a fluffy white stray cat. Mrs. Spiegel wants to be friends with Mr.
Modiano and invites him to tea but he always says “lo, lo, lo, no, no, no.”
But one
night when Mrs. Spiegel’s cat goes missing, it is Mr. Modiano who heroically takes
off in search of the furry feline. When he finds her cat, Mrs. Spiegel is
overjoyed. But what about Mr. Modiano? Has he finally had a change of heart and
learned the value of companionship?
With its glimpse into a
colorful and diverse Israeli neighborhood, this lovely story about friendship
also nicely portrays Tel-Aviv’s beach, markets and other features of Israeli
life.
Several Kar-Ben books have been named Sydney Taylor Notable Books for Younger Readersby the Association of Jewish Libraries. The complete list of winners and honor books can be found here:
The Sydney Taylor Book Award winners are hitting the road! So to speak.
The Awards Committee has organized a blog tour for this years award winners. Check out the Association of Jewish Libraries blog for full details, but here's a shortcut to our Sydney Taylor Honor Award winners...
In elementary school, I returned to the library every week to ask for another blue paperback volume in the Childhood of Famous Americans series. As a child, I never tired of reading about people who overcame obstacles and grew up to do important things. Now, I am a big fan of famous rejection stories, which I tape above my computer monitor. My current favorite is the story of Madeleine L’Engle. Her Newbery Award winning A Wrinkle in Time was rejected by 26 different publishers before going on to its current success of selling 15,000 copies a year since its publication in 1962.
Role models inspire us. They give us courage to pursue our dreams. And no book is more loaded with role models than the Bible. These stories have resonated for thousands of years because they give us examples of strong individuals who struggled to find meaning in their lives. The heroes in the Bible frequently had to choose their own conscience over the customs and moral attitudes of their surrounding society. In my picture book, Abraham’s Search for God, a young Abraham questions the traditions of his father. He says “Idols have mouths but cannot speak to me. They have ears but cannot hear me. How can an idol help me?” His father’s abrupt answer, “Don’t question our ways,” does not deter this thoughtful, inquisitive young man. He continues his spiritual quest to learn “Who made the clouds? Who made the flowers?” finally coming to the monotheistic conclusion that made him the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
But Abraham’s story doesn’t end with a declaration of belief. Together, with his wife, Sarah, Abraham teaches other families to worship one invisible God “too powerful to be made into a simple statue of wood or stone.” In my book, Sarah Laughs, I explore Abraham’s life from Sarah’s point of view. When she learns that her husband has heard God’s voice, she knows it means they must leave their comfortable home. Her response is simply, “We must go.” Through years of wandering, Sarah happily supports her husband and maintains a tent with a welcoming lamp and bread for all who visit. But she feels impatience and disappointment, too. Only in old age, after years of longing, does she finally receive what she wants most—a child. Her life embodies the hope that our dreams will come true, not matter how long they are delayed. This kind of story and character speaks to the psyche of both children and adults. As a writer, I have enjoyed re-visiting my favorite Bible stories and being renewed by them. In Benjamin and the Silver Goblet, I had the opportunity to imagine what it was like for Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons. When he learns that his older brothers betrayed the family by selling their brother Joseph into slavery, he fears for his own safety. On a trip to Egypt, Benjamin is falsely accused of stealing the governor’s silver goblet. Will Jacob’s sons abandon a family member again? No, Judah defends Benjamin, offering his own life. The governor reveals his true identity as Joseph, and the family is reunited. It is the quintessential story of remorse and repentance. Remembering Benjamin’s plight, I can believe that people can change. They don’t have to make the same mistake twice. It helps me if I have trouble in my own life, forgiving a loved one who has wronged me.
The fourth story in this series, Miriam in the Desert, will be released in the fall of 2010. In this picture book, I follow Miriam and her grandson, Bezalel, as they witness the miracles in the desert. Once again, I was fascinated by a Biblical heroine, facing one hardship after another with fortitude and faith. I only hope that if I am ever in a difficult situation, I can be as comforting and courageous as Miriam. And I hope that when parents read my Bible stories with their children, both generations will find role models to guide and inspire their lives.
Check out the book trailer for Jacqueline's Bible series!
No, we're not talking Golden Globes and Oscars, here. The Sydney Taylor Book Award winners have just been announced! The prestigious award, administered by the Association of Jewish Libraries, exclusively honors children’s and YA books of Jewish content.
Kar-Ben is pleased to announce that both Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swimby Deborah Bodin Cohen (pictured left), illustrated by Jago, and Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules (pictured right), illustrated by Natascia Ugliano, have won the 2010 Sydney Taylor Honor Award for Younger Readers! The authors and illustrators will be honored at the annual AJL conference in June 2010.
Four additional Kar-Ben titles were recognized as Sydney Taylor Award Notable Books:
