Jane Breskin Zalben is the author of the new children's picture book Gingerbread Dreidels. Her many other books include A Moon for Moe and Mo. She lives on Long Island, New York.
Q: What inspired you to write Gingerbread Dreidels?
A: Years ago I wrote A Moon for Moe and Mo. Two boys meet in a Brooklyn food market, Sahadi's, and become friends; they celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan together. I learned that every 30 years those two holidays occur at the same time as they do in the story. It went on to win a Sydney Taylor Silver medal. It was published in 2018.
I became curious if Chanukah and Christmas ever occurred on the same day. Yes. 2024. This inspired me to write Gingerbread Dreidels. I am a very patient woman and so I waited six years!
Also, one of my beloved grandsons is part of an interfaith family but is being raised Jewish. Another factor was when I visit the Middle East I’m struck by how layered it is - three religions coming together. These layers are also evident in Africa.
In 1995, I was asked to speak in schools in Addis Ababa. I had said to my husband, “Weren’t all the Jews airlifted from there?” He replied, “Yes, to Israel.” That memory inspired me to make Grandma Gold in the book an Ethiopian Jew. (My third editor on the book, Eileen Robinson, one of the first African-Americans to have her own imprint, said, “Let’s go for it!”)
We had to find an artist.
I’m an artist as well as an author (I have done over 50 books), but I was writing and illustrating Beni’s Tiny Tales: Around the Year in Jewish Holidays for a different publisher, Little, Brown.
It took me the entire pandemic--three and a half years--to do 144 pages / 139 pieces of art--a passion project with a new generation of bears. By now, Beni’s all grown up! (The Jewish Book Council gave a great jacket blurb and two articles for this recent Beni anthology.) So I decided to have someone else do the art.
Q: What do you think Thai My Phuong’s illustrations add to the story?
A: The publisher showed me many portfolios of various styles. I chose Thai My Phuong's work, an artist/animator from Vietnam, who lives in LA.
At first, her characters looked as if they fell off a wagon in some shtetl in Poland - very old world. I said to the editor, “I’m Jewish: I wear jeans, sneakers, and live in this present world.” She finally got it right. I don't love drawing people, although I can do it, and clearly she does, and brings life and vivacity to the characters.
Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, “There’s no December dilemma in this comfortable-feeling work...” What do you think of that description?
A: It received amongst many other reviews with those sentiments, particularly in a new recent review in this month's December issue of Horn Book with a spread of art.
To me, acceptance of everyone is not an issue. Different religions and customs and foods is what makes life interesting. It can be broadening and not constricting depending on what each individual takes from it in a kind and open-hearted way.
Because in life it comes down to the last lines on the last page of the book: They hugged good night under a star-filled sky - the flames from the menorah and the lights from the tree twinkled on the ceiling right inside the house. And their world felt good, safe, and full of love.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A: As human beings we all want love. Some want family. Max and Sophie can hardly wait to see their grandparents traveling to them for the holidays. Opposite to custom!
Whatever is anyone's choice is theirs to own and in this book it's white and black and Jewish and Christian and it works because what they share in common is that they play, cook, tell stories, share their history together and have the common thread of deep love.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: A novel. More picture books/ poems. I am working on a very young chapter book that I love. I started painting sample characters. Not people, of course!
It is very funny and also full of pathos -- both sides -- and is about competition, dreams, hopes and desires -- yes, for young children... I will say no more. The setting / place is very important in this one.
I keep my work close until is ready to be out there in the universe. Except with my agent, of course. Even my husband is not really involved with my process while I am creating.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Well, I am on Instagram and Facebook and have a website: www.janebreskinzalben.com. I really don't keep up. not so facile on any of them --- but I do my best.
I love to be in the studio and actually work. Very hard. I also love to do large modern abstract paintings which are so opposite to my children's book art in size and style.
I know this world is more now but for me -- I need being alone in a room or my garden or cooking a great meal rather than posting. Yeah, I know, but..... my dreams, my desires, go the more internal route in life. That is why I love to write and be an artist.
I am also aware that I put it out in the world when an editor joins me on my journey. And then it becomes magical.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Jane Breskin Zalben.
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