Ann Diament Koffsky is the author of the new children's picture book biographies What Emma Wrote: The Woman Behind the Words on the Statue of Liberty and Blazing Humor: Mel Brooks Is Seriously Funny!!. She lives in West Hempstead, New York.
Q: Why did you decide to write a picture book biography of Emma Lazarus (1849-1887), and how would you describe her legacy today?
A: Thanks for having me, Deborah! You always ask such great questions.
Actually, this project started out as an entirely different book. With America’s 250th birthday—the Semiquincentennial—on the horizon, I thought it might be the perfect moment to tell the story of how the first Jews arrived in America.
What I found was incredible. In 1654, just 23 Jewish refugees arrived from Brazil, escaping the Inquisition. Their journey was quite the adventure! They were attacked by pirates along the way, Peter Stuyvesant nearly sent them back… I thought it was an AMAZING story. So I wrote it. Submitted it. And it was rejected—A LOT!
But then, one editor noticed something I had included at the very end: that Emma Lazarus was descended from those early arrivals. They suggested, “How about a story about her instead?”
I knew very little about her other than the fact that she wrote the poem on the Statue of Liberty. That was it. But the suggestion sent me down a new path and I uncovered so much more—her deep compassion for immigrants, her advocacy—Emma is AWESOME!
Her legacy has so many layers: She is a model of how to use writing as a way to help and advocate for others and for a cause. She is a model for being proudly Jewish in a culture that isn’t so sure what it thinks about Jews. She is a model for women being out there and doing their thing and using their voice in a male-dominated society, too.
Q: You also have a new picture book biography of Mel Brooks (1926- )--why did you choose to write about Brooks, and do you have a favorite Mel Brooks film?
A: Because he’s FUN!
And he’s celebrating his 100th birthday this year (wow!).
And he has a new movie coming out.
And most importantly, I’ve always been struck when I’ve read interviews he’s given about how he uses humor to address tough topics like racism, antisemitism, and more. For him, humor is a tool for resilience, and I think that’s an incredible message of his to share with kids.
My favorite Mel film has gotta be Blazing Saddles. Especially when they break the fourth wall at the end of the movie: genius!
Q: What do you think the illustrations--by N. Tarcan and Jason Kirschner respectively--add to the books?
A: So much!
N. Tarcan’s illustrations really capture the look and feel of the 1800s beautifully. All the little details, like fine china on Emma’s desk, the unique clothing, the period writing desk really help place Emma in time, and help the reader connect to her story.
She also did a fantastic job capturing Emma’s personality—I love the piece where Emma is angrily responding to an antisemitic article. The expression and set of her jaw is just perfect.
Jason Kirschner added a lot too, because he happens to also be a Mel Brooks super fan! Because he is, he was able to add in SO many amazing Mel details and trivia. Like when he illustrated the writers room—he actually drew portraits of all the real life writers that Mel worked with!
Plus his illustrated “photo album” at the end of the book, showing highlights of Mel’s life and relationships he had with his wife Anne Bancroft and BFF Carl Reiner, add in some much great texture to Mel’s story.
Q: How did you research the lives of these figures, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: For Emma the most surprising things were details like: did you know she was a teacher at the 92nd St Y? Or that she was a member of the Spanish Portuguese Synagogue? These are institutions that I have visited myself, so it’s cool to how connected she is to my own, living, Jewish community.
For Mel, I just loved hearing about his service in WWII. It’s not something you think of when you think “comedian,” so I was just struck by that.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: A bunch of things! I’m thrilled that a new picture book biography about Ludwig Guttman, the founder of the Paralympic games, was just acquired by Apples & Honey Press. And I’ve got a new Passover book coming next year about flamingos who learn about the seder on one foot. That one is with Intergalactic Afikoman.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Yes, please share with folks that I create free Jewish coloring pages and distribute them for free. They can sign up to receive them on my website www.annkoffsky.com or on substack at https://coloringjewish.substack.com/. Thanks as always!!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Ann Diament Koffsky.
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