December 2010 Chapter Meeting

Meeting held December 7, 2010 at B'nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton.

Present: Rita Cimbal, Lorelei Ennis, Heidi Estrin, Jerry Glantz, Bea Gold, Judith Jagoda, Sue Kirshner, Meta Lee, Debbie Ring, Arlene Ritholtz, Rabbi Tobias Rothenberg, Walter Spielman, Sheila Trossman, Ruth Weiner, Lee Wixman

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 pm by our host, Sue Kirshner, after a very lovely lunch provided by B'nai Torah. Sue introduced us to the history of her library.

Library Snapshot Day:

Sue, Heidi, and Lorelei participated in AJL's Library Snapshot Day, and they discussed how the program went at their libraries. Heidi gave some background on the program and handed out copies of the press release (which can also be found on the chapter's website at sfajl.org). Heidi encouraged everyone, whether they participated or not, to use the results to promote Jewish libraries to "the powers that be."

Publicity:

Sue asked the members to discuss their publicity efforts. Her own example was how she used the library's 10th annivarsary for promotion. The library committee got an aliyah during services, they got an article in the temple bulletin, and they got a commemorative plaque which they hung, not in the library, but in the hallway where more people would see it. She also noted that many classes use the library as meeting space.

Walter said that at Anshei Shalom, they named their library after a major donor and did a special presentation in that person's honor at services. They also sit in on meetings of Sisterhood, Men's Club, and other committees in order to talk about the library.

Lorelei said that at Dor Dorim they display books on upcoming holidays or curriculum themes, to help the teachers find books to check out. They also write book reviews for the temple bulletin.

Rita said that at B'nai Torah they've established a Frequent Readers program for adults, and they give certificates to top readers. This friendly competition inspires lots of reading. They also promote the library to new members.

Jerry Glantz reported that he is at the final stage of writing his novel, a thriller about a terrorist who learns that he's not Muslim after all. He will be happy to do presentations at AJL libraries once it's done.

Book sales:

Sue asked if/how various libraries hold book sales. Walter said that his library has a table at the temple's holiday bazaar. Sue has a used book sale table during the school's book fair. They both agreed that holding a book sale during some other large temple event brings more traffic and more shoppers. Heidi discussed the idea of setting up a low-key ongoing used book sale in a corner of the library or in some higher-traffic area like a lobby or office.

AJL Business:

Heidi talked about the advantages of membership in the larger organization of AJL, which is separate from membership in our chapter.

Jerry asked how to pay his local membership dues. Dues should be mailed to Treasurer Kathleen Clotfelter. Email her at kass37clo @ bellsouth.net to ask for her address.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00pm.

3,548 Library Lovers Celebrate Jewish Library Snapshot Day

Library Snapshot Day 2010

The People of the Book really do love libraries! In November 2010, during Jewish Book Month, 30 Jewish libraries participated in Library Snapshot Day. The event, sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries, was created to let all types of Judaic libraries record what happens in a day in the life of a library. Across North America, libraries in synagogues, day schools, community centers and universities picked one day during the first two weeks of November to hold the event. Collectively, participating libraries served 3,548 patrons on Library Snapshot Day.

The Activities

From Jewish hubs like Chicago, IL to smaller Jewish communities like Tulsa, OK, from sunny Miami, FL to chilly Montreal, Quebec, Jewish libraries held author visits, study groups, literary and computer quizzes, artist receptions, book discussions, book sales, scavenger hunts, craft projects, parenting programs, charity drives, and children’s story times. Eleven of the participating libraries shared their circulation statistics, revealing that at least 745 books were checked out during Library Snapshot Day.

The Feedback

Every participating library reported overwhelmingly positive feedback from its community. Common themes included praise for the library as a quiet, peaceful environment in which to read and work, kudos for the hard work of librarians (many of whom, apparently, “rock”), and appreciation for the many print and digital resources provided. A patron at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck, NY said “The library is a great place to study and clear your head. I always feel relaxed and very welcomed when I come to the library, and I love the librarian.” A sixth-grader at the Sheila Sporn Library at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, CA said “Libraries are important because they let people who don’t have enough money get books to read.” A patron of the Brenner Library at Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO drives 150 miles from the mountains to make use of the facilities. Perhaps the general sentiments of library users are best summed up by a patron at the Feldman Library at Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton, FL, who said “The library helps us to continue to be the People of the Book!”

What It All Means

Library Snapshot Day captured the diversity of services offered by Jewish libraries and underscored the importance of libraries in Jewish life. “Libraries and librarians often fly under the radar in their communities,” said Association of Jewish Libraries Vice-President, Heidi Estrin. “We are thrilled that, on Library Snapshot Day, over three thousand people expressed their love of Jewish libraries. We hope that the event will encourage even more people to use these amazing resources year-round.” A slide show of selected photographs submitted by participants may be viewed on AJL’s blog “People of the Books” at jewishlibraries.org/blog.

The concept of Library Snapshot Day originated with the American Library Association, of which AJL is an affiliate. Click here for more information on ALA’s Library Snapshot Day.

Please feel free to share this article and/or video on your site or via social networking. You can find AJL online at jewishlibraries.org, at facebook.com/jewishlibraries, and on Twitter @jewishlibraries.

Holocaust Documentation & Education Center - Grand Opening!

The Holocaust Documentation and Education Center is pleased to announce the opening of its Reference and Research Library! This library is the first Holocaust Library in the tri-county area. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, you are cordially invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony to take place on Thursday, November 18, 2010 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

We hope that you will join us to celebrate this new landmark for the City of Hollywood.

Sincerely,

Jaime Fogel & Myrtle Joseph
Librarians
Holocaust Documentation & Education Center
2031 Harrison Street
Hollywood, FL 33020
P: 954-929-5690
F: 954-929-5635
librarian@hdec.org
www.hdec.org

September 2010 Chapter Meeting

MINUTES:

We are all very grateful to Lorelei Ennis and her team for hosting today's meeting at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston on September 21, 2010.

Rabbi Lipson greeted us warmly, and we enjoyed a very lovely lunch. Lorelei introduced our guest speaker, author Ellen Brazer, who spoke of her novel Clouds Across the Sun, an engaging story of a Nazi attempt to infiltrate societies throughout the world.

We then moved the meeting to the Library, where we addressed a host of issues. A display of the 2010 Sydney Taylor Award books were set for our perusal and Heidi Estrin gave a full report of the 2010 AJL National Convention in Seattle, which was extremely instructive, enjoyable, and worthwhile. It is hoped that a greater number of South Floridians will participate in the 2011 convention in Montreal.

We discussed the pros and cons of bring ebooks into the library, and our respective views on e-readers. While no absolute conclusions were reached, we all accept that they are here to stay.

In response to much discussion on-line addressing the dwindling membership of our national organization, Heidi asked "Why are you a member of national AJL? What do you feel is the reason for joining or, if you are not a member of national, why not?"

Attendees said "I am a member because:"
* The Newsletter is wonderful, helpful, connective, etc.
* I am supporting a good cause, an important cause/activity - Judaica librarianship
* It is a marvelous tool for networking
* Should I happen to be traveling to someplace unfamiliar, I can locate a synagogue/Jewish library via my membership directory

The reasons not to join National are:
* Lack of institutional support (workplace won't help pay dues)
* Retired from actively working in the field, still connected locally only
* Fee is too high - should have a retiree's special price

"What can we do to encourage membership?"

Suggestions to boost membership:
* Membership should get reduced prices on certain items (from publishers, gift shops, etc.)
* National AJL should offer Book Club guides as a benefit of membership
* National AJL should offer extension activities for children's books as a benefit of membership
* National AJL should offer technology education to members

Finally, several more announcements: AJL is now affiliated with ALA. Our organization will be participating along with ALA in Library Snapshot Day - November 1 - 7, 2010.

Dues will now be $18, payable to SFAJL, with checks going to Heidi Estrin. Past members should watch their email for an announcement about how to pay dues.

Look for an email announcement regarding the next meeting.
Our meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee Call for Submissions

If you are an author, editor, or publisher of Jewish books for children or teens please submit your 2010 titles for consideration. For more information visit www.Jewishlibraries.org or e-mail Chair@SydneyTaylorBookAward.org.

Author Event: Antonie Blum at the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center

Holocaust Documentation and Education Center, Inc. presents
Meet the Author
Antonie Blum

Book and Author: The Naked Life: From Vienna to the Siberian Forest by Antonie Blum

When: Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.

Where:
Holocaust Documentation and Education Center
2031 Harrison Street
Hollywood, FL 33020

RSVP: Seating is limited, so please RSVP to Jaime Fogel
at (954) 929-5690 or email librarian@hdec.org.

The Naked Life is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of World War II. It is a captivating, visual and sincere memoir that traces Antonie's life from the age of eleven in Austria, to the work camps in Siberia, and on to Israel. The harsh brutalities of war are sliced by memories of first kisses and dances. The naked life is a life devoid of possessions, of home, of food, of civility, and sometimes of hope. But, in that naked life, with all excess whittled away and when expected the least, scintillas of human kindness wax brightest. This book may be purchased online at sites such as Amazon.com. It will also be available for purchase after the presentation, when the author will personally inscribe your copy upon request.

April 2010 Chapter Meeting: Minutes

The South Florida chapter held its April meeting at Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, where Etta Gold enjoyed showing off her newly remodeled library. This was the first opportunity for the chapter to tour the facility since its re-dedication last September. It was quite enjoyable to meet, lunch, and schmooze in the Adult Reading Room during school hours while the children’s section was able to function uninterrupted – now that the areas are separated and each so greatly improved.

We also enjoyed meeting our newest members, librarians Myrtle Joseph and Jaime Fogel from the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center of Hollywood. Founded in 1980, the Center has achieved international acclaim and recognition for maintaining the largest, self-produced, standardized oral history library collection. It also features a reference and research library which contains over 6,000 volumes of Holocaust-related books, hundreds of DVDs and videos, and subscribes to a dozen periodicals. They present a “Meet the Author Series” every month with different authors of Holocaust-related books, visual arts and writing contests, and museum/artifact tours. Jaime and Myrtle are brand new to our area and this remarkable institution. We look forward to their increased involvement with our chapter and AJL.

Our next meeting will be held in September, 2010 (date TBA) at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston. Our host will be Lorelei Ennis.

SFAJL Chapter Meeting: April 13, 2010

The South Florida Chapter of AJL will meet on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at Temple Beth Am in Miami, 11:30am-2:30pm. Dairy lunch will be provided. Hosting member Etta Gold says "I would love for us to gather together in person so that we can all hear about the upcoming AJL conference in Seattle this summer. We have lots of other things to talk about, too - our programs, our needs, our acquisitions, etc. It's time we come together to share ideas and answers." Etta's library was recently renovated and expanded, so this is a good opportunity to view a cutting edge example of a local Judaica library.

Please RSVP to Etta Gold at egold@tbam.org.

The meeting location is:

Temple Beth Am
The Richard and Janet Yulman Campus
5950 N. Kendall Drive, Pinecrest, FL 33156
305.667.6667 (W) x128 | 305.662.8619 (F)

March 2010 Events at Temple Beth Am

Afternoon Israeli Movie Club

March 18th at 1:00 PM in the Adult Reading Room

The Band's Visit - Bikur Ha-Tizmoret

On an ordinary day, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel from Egypt for a cultural event, only find there is no delegation to meet them, nor any arrangements to get to their destination of Petah Tiqva. When they find their own ride, they arrive instead at the remote town of Beit Hatikva. What follows is a special night of quiet happenings and confessions as the band makes its own impact on the town and the town on them.

Ideas Through Books

March 21st at 10:00 AM in the Adult Reading Room

Joanna Smith Rakoff will be joining us to discuss her new book A Fortunate Age. Instantly compelling and immensely satisfying, A Fortunate Age details the lives of a group of Oberlin graduates whose ambitions and friendships threaten to unravel as they chase their dreams, shed their youth, and build their lives in Brooklyn during the late 1990s.

Remember all these events are free and open to the public. Please just let us know how many will be attending – call the library at 305-667-6667 extension 128; or email us at egold@tbam.org.

Etta D. Gold
Library Director
The Richard and Janet Yulman Campus
Temple Beth Am
5950 N. Kendall Drive
Pinecrest, FL 33156

Klez4Kids Event

Klez4Kids: The Kugel Valley Klezmer Band
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 3PM

Florida Atlantic University's Wimberley Library, 5th Floor
Tickets $9/Adult
Free tickets for kids under 12
Buy tickets and see full festival schedule at http://www.fauevents.com/kulturfest.html

Fun for the whole family! Klez4Kidz features a dramatic reading, live music and projected illustrations from this critically-acclaimed children's book, The Kugel Valley Klezmer Band by Joan Betty Stuchner. Shira loves the fiddle, but is she good enough to play with her papa's band? Join narrator Riva Ginsburg and members of Klezmer Company Orchestra as they bring the charming story to life. Bring your blankets to sit on the floor, and get ready to dance to the musical interludes!

This event is co-sponsored by the South Florida Association of Jewish Libraries!

The 2010 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour

The Sydney Taylor Book Award will be celebrating and showcasing its 2010 gold and silver medalists and with our special Notable Book for All Ages with a Blog Tour, February 1-5, 2010! Here is a celebratory video for your enjoyment, and the schedule for the Blog Tour is posted below.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Monday, February 1, 2010
April Halprin Wayland, author of New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Practically Paradise

Monday, February 1, 2010
Stephane Jorisch, illustrator of New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Frume Sarah's World

Monday, February 1, 2010
Margarita Engle, author of Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba
Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Teen Readers Category
at bookstogether

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Robin Friedman, author of The Importance of Wings
Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Older Readers Category
at Little Willow's Bildungsroman

Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Jacqueline Davies, author of Lost
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Teen Readers Category
at Biblio File

Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Jonah Winter, author of You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Get in the Game: Read! and cross-posted at Examiner.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Elka Weber, author of The Yankee at the Seder
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at BewilderBlog

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Adam Gustavson, illustrator of The Yankee at the Seder
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Great Kids Books

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Judy Vida, daughter of the late Selma Kritzer Silverberg, author of Naomi's Song
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Teen Readers Category
at The Book Nosher

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Jacqueline Jules, author of Benjamin and the Silver Goblet
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at ASHarmony

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Natascia Ugliano, illustrator of Benjamin and the Silver Goblet
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at The Book of Life

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Deborah Bodin Cohen, author of Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Ima On and Off the Bima

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Jago, illustrator of Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category
at Jewish Books for Children

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010

Friday, February 5, 2010
Annika Thor, author of A Faraway Island
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category
at Teen Reads

Friday, February 5, 2010
Ellen Frankel, author of The JPS Illustrated Bible for Children
Sydney Taylor Notable Book for All Ages
at Deo Writer

And the winners are...

THE 2010 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS
ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:
New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story by April Halprin Wayland with illustrations by Stephane Jorish (Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
The Importance of Wings by Robin Friedman
(Charlesbridge Publishing)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle
(Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)

Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers:
Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story
by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Jago
(Kar-Ben, imprint of Lerner)
Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Yankee at the Seder by Elka Weber with illustrations by Adam Gustavson
(Tricycle Press)
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? by Jonah Winter with illustrations by Andre Carrilho
(Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House)


Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Older Readers:
Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures from the Archives of the Anne Frank House
by Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol, translated by Arnold J. Pomerans
(Roaring Brook Press/Flash Point, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
A Faraway Island by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck
(Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House)

Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Teen Readers:
Lost by Jacqueline Davies
(Marshall Cavendish)
Naomi’s Song by Selma Kritzer Silverberg
(Jewish Publication Society)

Notable Books for Younger Readers:
Where Is Grandpa Dennis? by Michelle Shapiro Abraham with illustrations by Janice Fried
(URJ Press)
Around the Shabbos Table by Seryl Berman with illustrations by Ari Binus
(Hachai)
The Secret Shofar of Barcelona by Jacqueline Dembar Greene with illustrations by Douglas Chyka
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Menorah Under the Sea by Esther Susan Heller
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Today Is the Birthday of the World by Linda Heller with illustrations by Allison Jay
(Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin)
The Waiting Wall by Leah Braunstein Levy with illustrations by Avi Katz
(Hachai Publishers)
Sukkot Treasure Hunt by Allison Ofanansky with photographs by Eliyahu Alpern
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Fox Walked Alone by Barbara Reid
(Albert Whitman & Company)

Notable Books for Older Readers:
The Champion of Children: The Story of Janusz Korczak written and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
(Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers/Frances Foster Books, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
Guardian Angel House (A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers) by Kathy Clark
(Second Story Press)
Rebecca Series (American Girl Collection)
by Jacqueline Dembar Greene with illustrations by Robert Hunt
(American Girl)
Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman with illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin
(Little Brown and Company)
The Mysteries of Beethoven’s Hair by Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley
(Charlesbridge Publishing)
The Man Who Flies with Birds by Carol Garbuny Vogel and Yossi Leshem
(Kar-Ben, an imprint of Lerner)
Clay Man: The Golem of Prague by Irene N. Watts with illustrations by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
(Tundra Books)
Elvina’s Mirror by Sylvie Weil
(Jewish Publication Society)

Notable Books for Teens:
The Disappearing Dowry: an Ezra Melamed Mystery by Libi Astaire
(Zahav Press, an imprint of Targum)
A Family Secret/The Search by Eric Heuvel
(Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow with art by David Ostow
(Flux)
Cursing Columbus by Eve Goldberg Tal
(Cinco Puntos Press)
Puppet by Eva Wiseman
(Tundra)
The Other Half of Life: Based on the True Story of the MS St. Louis
By Kim Ablon Whitney
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House)

NOTABLE BOOK FOR READERS OF ALL AGES:
JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible by Ellen Frankel with illustrations by Avi Katz
(Jewish Publication Society)

2010 Sydney Taylor Book Awards Announced

MEDIA RELEASE

2010 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS
ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES

(New York—January 11, 2010) April Halprin Wayland and Stephane Jorisch, author and illustrator of New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story, Robin Friedman, author of The Importance of Wings, and Margarita Engle, author of Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba, are the 2010 winners of the prestigious Sydney Taylor Book Award.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award honors new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. The award memorializes Sydney Taylor, author of the classic All-of-a-Kind Family series. The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Seattle this July.

Wayland and Jorisch will receive the 2010 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Younger Readers Category for New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group. The Jewish New Year is a special time of year, with a change in seasons, symbolic foods and other traditions. It is also the time for introspection and the ritual of Tashlich, when sins are symbolically cast into a body of flowing water. Izzy thinks about things for which he is sorry. He “compares Tashlich to cleaning out his toy closet, an example of the wonderful way this story conveys to children, at their own level, a contemporary version of the healthy Jewish way we start fresh at the beginning of each new year,” commented Susan Berson, a member of the Award Committee. Incoming Committee Chair Barbara Bietz noted that the “whimsical watercolor illustrations are a perfect pairing for the delightful prose.”

Friedman will receive the 2010 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Older Readers Category for The Importance of Wings, published by Charlesbridge. Ah, the drama of being in eighth grade! There’s the boy you have a crush on who likes someone else. There’s getting dressed in gym class and being picked last for teams. There’s your parents, who are so unlike Mike and Carol Brady and not even like Ma and Pa Ingalls. And there’s your hair, that won’t go in the popular feathered back style that everyone else is wearing. When an Israeli girl moves next door, Liat “not only shows Roxanne how to give her hair ‘wings,’ but she helps her ‘wing’ her way toward maturity and self-esteem,” asserted Debbie Colodny, a member of the Award Committee. Another Award Committee member, Kathy Bloomfield, affirmed this praise: “With appealing and affecting writing, Ms. Friedman grabs the reader immediately and takes her on a journey of self-discovery, confidence building and empowerment that will leave her hoping for a sequel.” Friedman’s book about male bulimia, Nothing, was named an AJL Notable Book for Teen Readers last year.

Engle will receive the 2010 gold medal in the Sydney Taylor Book Award’s Teen Readers Category for Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba, published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. After Kristallnacht, many Jews tried to leave Germany, but other countries refused the refugees. Cuba agreed to take in some of these people, but at a price. The tension of this era is seen through the eyes of several of the people affected: Daniel, a thirteen-year-old German boy whose parents put him on a boat to “the Americas,” hoping to save his life; Paloma, the daughter of a Cuban official who prefers a dovecote to her home; David, who escaped the pogroms of Russia, sells ice creams, and helps the new refugees; and Gordo, Paloma’s father, who is profiting by charging exorbitant fees for visas to stay in Cuba. “The verse and the different perspectives make the history of Cuba during the Nazi era accessible while illustrating the complicated situations and the twists and turns of political interactions,” noted Kathe Pinchuck, Committee Chair. Ms. Engle is known to readers for her Newbery-Honor book The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom, for which she also won the Pura Belpre Award.

Eight Sydney Taylor Honor Books were named for 2010. For Younger Readers, Honor Books are: Nachshon Who Was Afraid to Swim by Deborah Bodin Cohen with illustrations by Jago (Kar-Ben), Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules with illustrations by Natascia Ugliano (Kar-Ben), Yankee at the Seder by Elka Weber with illustrations by Adam Gustavson (Tricycle Press) and You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? by Jonah Winter with illustrations and an amazing lenticular cover by Andre Carrilho (Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House). Two works in translation were named Honor Books for Older Readers: Anne Frank: Her Life in Worlds and Pictures by Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol (translated by Arnold J. Pomerans) (Roaring Brook Press/Flash Point, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) and A Faraway Island by Annika Thor (translated by Linda Schenck) (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House). Lost, a historical novel by Jacqueline Davies (Marshall Cavendish) and Naomi’s Song, a biblical fiction by Selma Kritzer Silverberg (JPS) were named Honor Books in the Teen Reader Category.

The JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible by Ellen Frankel with illustrations by Avi Katz (JPS) was named a Notable Book for All Ages. The Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee was very impressed Ms. Frankel’s retelling of biblical stories. “She succeeds in creating an age-appropriate interpretation of the most intriguing and familiar stories that allow families to gleen the essence of Jewish teachings, ethics, and history,” commented Rita Soltan, Award Committee member. “Readability, faithfulness to ‘idiomatic nuances of biblical Hebrew,’ and softly rendered color illustrations are the main features of this compilation,” noted Susan Berson, Award Committee member.

We will be promoting an author and illustrator blog tour as a way to spread the word and generate interest in these books. The tour will take place February 1st – February 5th, and the schedule will be posted at jewishlibraries.org/blog.

In addition to the medal-winners, the Award Committee designated twenty-two Notable Books of Jewish Content for 2010: eight in the Younger Readers Category, eight in the Older Readers Category, and six for Teens. Notable titles, and more information about the Sydney Taylor Book Award, may be found online at www.SydneyTaylorBookAward.org. A blog about the awards can be found at www.sydneytaylorbookaward.blogspot.com.