Q&A with Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky

 

Deborah Bodin Cohen

 

Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky are the authors of the new children's picture book biography Claudia Said Sí!: The Story of Mexico's First Woman President. Their many other books include Heroes with Chutzpah. They are both rabbis. Cohen lives in Rockville, Maryland, and Olitzky lives in North Brunswick, New Jersey. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write a picture book biography of Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum?

 

KO: When we first did  the research for our book Heroes With Chutzpah, we knew that we wanted to write a full picture book biography that would highlight only Claudia.

 

From the beginning, we were inspired by her life's story and her accomplishments, especially being the first woman to become president of Mexico. And she started not as a politician but rather as an environmental scientist and problem-solver. 

 

DBC: She is accomplished in so many ways – as a scientist, leader, activist, ballerina. In a time with so much negativity in politics, she seems to be focused on practical, grassroots solutions. She seems like the type of leader who will serve as a great role model for kids today – something that is sorely needed.

Kerry Olitzky

 

Q: How did you research her life, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

KO: We spent a lot of time reading about her. When she announced her campaign for president, it became much easier to find information about her - especially in English media sources.

 

Nothing really surprised us except that few people knew a lot about her in the US, particularly before her run for the presidency. We were concerned that some people feared that she wouldn't forge her own path in the new role—instead, they thought she would simply be an extension of her predecessor's policies. 

 

DBC: We read lots and lots of articles, watched numerous videos and talked with Mexican citizen and people with closer connection to Mexico. 

 

We were surprised how down-to-earth she seemed and how relatable. She spent years as a graduate student in Berkeley, California, and had a whole, very successful life as a scientist before entering politics.   

 

Q: What do you think Carlos Velez Aguilera’s illustrations add to the book?

 

KO: Carlos' illustrations tell Claudia's story even without our words. He took our notion of the butterfly and its metamorphosis as a symbol for Claudia's own growth and development and drew an invisible line of connection throughout our story. 

 

DBC: When looking for an artist, it was important to find somebody who lived in Mexico and could share the cultural details through the illustrations. His illustrations are bright and optimistic and very fitting for the subject.

 

Q: The School Library Journal review of the book called it a “wonderfully detailed yet succinct biography focusing on Sheinbaum’s impact on the world...” What do you think of that description?

 

KO: We are very proud of the Journal's description of the book. It is difficult to tell a life's story in under 1,000 words and in 32 pages. Yet there were so many interesting details that we wanted to include that portrayed a fuller picture of Claudia's life. 

 

DBC: We were thrilled that School Library Journal appreciated the book and got our goals when writing.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

KO: We have a few things in the pipeline, including Across the Jewniverse, which is a fun-filled fact book that was inspired by National Geographic's series of Weird But True books; and a young child's Jewish Heroes book called ABC: Jewish Heroes and Me. And we are always brainstorming new story arcs. 

DBC: In addition to Across the Jewniverse and Jewish Heroes and Me, I’m working on a middle grade novel with Apples and Honey. It is set in Joliet, Illinois, during World War II and is loosely based on my grandfather’s life experiences.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

KO: We want to bring the biographies of lesser known Jewish individuals to light and will continue to endeavor to do so. 

 

DBC: Claudia Said Si! is being simultaneously released in Spanish with the title Claudia dijo Si!.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky.