Q&A with "Jumping Jenny" Author Ellen Bari

Get to know Ellen Bari, author of the recent Kar-Ben book Jumping Jenny, a playful and pointed story about the ways in which individualism can lead to global change.

In addition to penning books for Kar-Ben, Bari has worked with PBS, Sesame Workshop, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum to create award-winning multimedia programs and exhibitions. She is also the co-founder of Momasphere, a New York based organization dedicated to creating original programs and events for moms. A former student of miming and clowning in London, Ellen has plenty of stories to share! To learn more about her projects and features, visit www.ellenbari.com/.

Kar-Ben: What was your favorite book when you were a child?  EB: Pippi Longstocking

 

Kar-Ben: What’s your favorite line from a book?
EB: From George & Martha Encore : “The next day Martha had a terrible sunburn. She felt hot and itchy. But George never said 'I told you so.’ Because that’s not what friends are for. “

Kar-Ben: Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
EB: Patricia Polacco, James Marshal,  Roz Chast, Jon Scieszka

Kar-Ben: Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
EB: Children’s books are magic. In 32 pages, an entire universe is created…and they’re often enjoyed while sharing with someone. After years of producing interactive multimedia, with its large production teams, complicated process and individual use,  I wanted to create something for kids, that was simple to produce (relatively) and savored in that very special way. 

Kar-Ben: Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
EB: Just write (0r draw). Don’t edit along the way- not your thoughts, your grammar, your punctuation or your words. Don’t worry about how it will turn out. Just enjoy the process.

Kar-Ben: Where did you get the inspiration for your latest Kar-Ben book?
EB: The inspiration for Jumping Jenny came from a number of places. First of all, I never met a kid who didn’t like to jump and I myself was a jumper--in fact I could go up and down stairs on my pogo stick and once jumped a historic 1,000 jumps.  It was a big deal in my neighborhood and there are a few people from the ‘old neighborhood’ who still consider that my greatest accomplishment to date! The inspiration for the charity project came from my daughter’s wonderful Jewish day school which raises money for its sister school in Uganda. Overall, I wanted the message to be loud and clear: follow your passions- they will lead to something good.

Kar-Ben: How do you hope your book will impact the Jewish life of a child?
EB: Everyone, no matter how young or old, can do small acts that can make the world a better place- tikkun olam.  If you start young, it will become part of who you are for the rest of your life. 

-Max Edwards

 

Jewish Disability Awareness Month - Creating Inclusion Through Children's Literature

February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month (JDAM). This year Kar-ben has joined with several organizations to present JDAM Reads for Children!  JDAM Reads for Children! presents practical ideas for raising awareness of disabilities and encouraging tikkun olam using the picture books. 

Parents, teachers, community organizers, administrators: Join us on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST for a free webinar on creating inclusion for children with special needs within Jewish communities. Reserve your free webinar seat by registering here. Seats are limited, so don't delay!

The webinar will feature:

Linda Zimmerman, the Executive Director of The Amit Program, a central Jewish agency providing direct and in-direct educational services to families of children with special needs ages birth to twenty-one.

Shelly Christensen, Program Manager, Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities, JFCS Minneapolis. Shelly is co-founder of Jewish Disability Awareness Month.

Ellen Bari, author, educator and creator of award-winning multimedia, exhibits and programs for children and adults for clients including Sesame Workshop, PBS, Nickelodeon, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, and Harper-Collins. She is the author of Jumping Jenny, the story of a girl born to jump, but wholoses her buoyant bounce after her jumping gets her into trouble. 


From author Ellen Bari:
“When I wrote the book I did not realize there were so many ways it would be received, from helping ADD kids think about focusing their energy in a good way, to empowering girls, to getting kids excited about moving: like mannah in the desert, different flavors for everyone.”

With approximately one in three Americans having a disability, the challenges of  the story’s plucky heroine provide a take-away for anyone, like Jenny, who ever fought back tears, got teased, felt sad about how they were born, or had to call on their resilience. 

Reserve your free webinar seat by registering here. Seats are limited, so don't delay!