Q&A with Leslie Kimmelman

 

 

 

Leslie Kimmelman is the author of the new children's picture book Eve and Adam Discover the World. Her many other books include Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day. A former editor and writer for Sesame Workshop, she lives north of New York City.

 

Q: What inspired you to write this second book about Eve and Adam?

 

A: I knew I hadn't finished the story. Eve and Adam had to eat the apple. (Or in my book, the pomegranate, which most Biblical scholars agree would have been the more likely species.)

 

The first book was all about the wonder and newness  and beauty of the garden, and about Eve and Adam's faith. This book includes that, too, but also tries to make sense of the decision to eat from the forbidden tree of knowledge.

 

I've always had problems making sense of this particular part of the narrative. As I say in the book, how do we reconcile the ideas that first, God gave humans these fantastic brains, and second, didn't want them used to seek knowledge? Eve and Adam are punished for their appetite (literally!) to learn, a trait that we usually admire.

 

Now I want to say right up front that this book is not for people who hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible. But it is very much in line with the time-honored Jewish midrashic tradition--examining stories from the Torah from different vantage points to draw deeper meaning from them. 

 

In my telling, God is still disappointed, and Eve and Adam still face the consequences of their disobedience. Even so, God promises to always remain just "a whisper away." Eve and Adam will face a more difficult life away from Eden, but also one in which they will carve their own path. It's kind of the first coming-of-age story.

 

Q: What do you think Irina Avgustinovich’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: I didn't think Irina could top the art she did for the first title, but has she ever! There are no words to wholly describe the gorgeous, vivid brilliance of her art. And so many nuanced touches: for example, when they have to leave the Garden of Eden, on one side of the spread Eve is comforting Adam, and on the facing page, Adam is comforting Eve.

 

It's a glorious piece of work. I can't thank the team at Apples & Honey enough for pairing us up.

 

Q: Why did you decide to tell the story from Eve’s perspective?

 

A: This continues the narration of the earlier book. Because why does Eve always come second? In this part of the Eden story especially, the action revolves around her, so why shouldn't it be told from her point of view?

 

Which is in no way to diminish Adam, who is an equal partner and whose role is equally important. He just has a different personality. Eve is the one who is always asking questions; Adam is the one who is quietly content. Both have personalities that young readers will recognize in themselves, I believe.

 

Q: What do you hope kids (and adults) take away from the story?

 

A: That growing up comes with hard decisions and may sometimes involve loss. It also comes with the promise of your world opening up to new possibilities and new adventures.

 

When we're young, most of our decisions are made by others; at some point, though, we have to make decisions for ourselves, weighing and accepting the consequences. Asking questions is essential, a necessary way of gaining knowledge. Faith is also an important ingredient, one that helps us manage the challenges we inevitably face. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Lots of things! I have another title in my Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too) series just out: Sam and Charlie (and Sam Too) Shake Up Shabbat. And a bunch of other projects in various stages. It's both a challenge and a necessity, I think, to help bring joy into the world at what seems in many ways to be a rather dark time.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Train yourself to appreciate the beauty of every new day. There are a lot of things out of our control, but that one, we can all do. As well as owning our decisions. We won't always make the right ones (and sometimes there is no "right"), but then we use our brains to learn from them, and we carry on. 

 

And thanks so much, Deborah. You bring light into the world.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Leslie Kimmelman.