I was excited about this panel discussion since I have been a synagogue librarian. We had this session in the newly renamed Celeste Auditorium in the South Court of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The event was hosted by Betsy Bird, Youth Materials Specialist, and it featured Marjorie Ingall from Tablet Magazine, Joanna Sussman from Kar-Ben Publishing, and Barbara Krasner from the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee.

Bird asked the panelists what Jewish children's literature is. She wondered if it contains Jewish characters only or if it needs to have Judaism as its focus.

Sussman needs the books to have Judaism as the focus for her publishing company. She mentioned The Shabbat Princess as an example of a book that they have published.

Krasner also requires that book award books have Jewish content. However, Jewish characters do not need to be protagonists in the books. Unfortunately, the book award committee is deluged with many books that have Judaism as only a peripheral concept. 

Ingall is a book critic, and she has looser standards than the other two. She is more interested in the quality of the books. Any slight mention of Judaism is enough for her to include books in her reading list. She tends to shy away from Holocaust books because the subject has been novelized many times over the years.

Sussman receives so many manuscripts at her company, and they only publish twenty books per year. She looks for contemporary Jewish books for kids. The book, No Baths at Camp, is about a Jewish summer camp. This is a way to teach kids about Judaism; Jews want more Jewish kids in the world.

Ingall mentioned the  2013 Pew Study: A Portrait of Jewish Americans. Remembering the Holocaust was mentioned as a priority for older Jews, but young kids simply know the Holocaust as history. Judaism is about more than simply death camps.

Bird wanted to know how young is too young for Holocaust literature. An easy book has come out that has a tree in front of Anne Frank's house.

Krasner mentioned that some picture books about the Holocaust that she is familiar with are for older readers, including some that could be used with high schoolers. It is important to have discussion amongst the kids, teachers and parents about such a sensitive topic.

Ingall said that kids today do not know any Holocaust survivors.

Sussman's parents are Holocaust survivors, so she is committed to providing good Holocaust literature for people.

Ingall opined that most Holocaust books do not work for her based solely on lack of a strong narrative. She wants to see terrific books. Some books are hard for kids to read. Some of the nonfiction books are good as educational tools. It is important to distinguish those books from ones that you can expect kids to read on their own.

Krasner mentioned that some books are didactic, and some are just meant to be shared with family.

Bird guessed that if one went to Times Square and asked average people what their favorite Jewish books were, people would respond with Number the Stars and All of a Kind Family books. 

Ingall stated that All of a Kind Family was the Jewish equivalent of the Little House on the Prairie books. 

Sussman grew up in Minnesota, which is where the Little House books were set.

Bird wanted the panelists to talk about publishing today and in the past. There is more variety today than in the past, but we need more diverse books in terms of religion. She asked if the panelists saw any trends: good, bad or indifferent.

Sussman told us that it is Kar-Ben Publishing's 40^th anniversary. The book world has changed much since the advent of e-book publishing. Children's books are a way to get people into the Jewish community. Some books about Jewish holidays have a paragraph in them to educate parents and readers to children about Judaism. She does not assume that the readers of their books are familiar with Judaism.

Krasner has seen an increase in the number of books about Ebola recently.

Ingall has noticed a broader expression of art in picture books. She is interested in how art has evolved in books.

Sussman mentioned that publishers used to use only American artists in their books. However, the digital world has expanded options. She can find international artists now for books. This is a huge change in children's literature.

Ingall has seen more immigrant stories recently. Some people think that Jewish people are white and not ethnically diverse.

Bird asked if Orthodox stories can be written incorrectly. She has seen some that seem doubtful.

Ingall's problem with early Jewish graphic novels is that they contain static art. She believes that books should have beta readers. One Orthodox Jewish book had so many errors in it that she could not finish it. She attended Orthodox Jewish day school through eighth grade, so the problems with the book were overwhelming to her.

Bird asked where the panelists want Jewish kid lit going in the future.

Krasner wants good writing that takes the reader to another place. She likes to cry because she wants to be emotionally invested in the books. She teaches creative writing. She likes books to be accurate. Authors should do their homework and fact-check their material. Experts can also help by reviewing their manuscripts.

Ingall likes history, but she wishes that people would explore other aspects of Jewish history.

Bird opened up the floor to audience questions.

Someone asked if there were many easy books or chapter books that are Jewish literature. 

Sussman noted that there is a dearth of early books for Jewish kids. 

Ingall loves Judy Blume because the art is so seamless that you almost do not notice it as you are reading. 

An art professor commented that if literature is too severe, kids tune it out. Judaism is different from other religions in that it teaches argumentation and thinking. She pleads for books that tell kids what Judaism is all about.

Upcoming Children's Literary Salon
Children's Book Week: Past, Present and Future
Sunday, April 26, 2015 @ 2 pm
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Celeste Auditorium

• Association of Jewish Libraries
• Marjorie Ingall's web site
• National Jewish Book Award
• Books about Judaism