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Artwork for The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit

The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)

Heidi Rabinowitz
Sydney Taylor Book Award
Judaism
Jewish Joy
The Book Of Life
Jewish Romance
The Jewish Book Garden
Jewish Book Month
The Book Of Life Podcast
Substack
Kar-Ben Publishing
Behrman House
Jewish Literature
Jewish Joycon
Jewish Picture Books
PJ Library
Tikkun Olam
Paid Subscriptions
A Practical Guide To Dating a Demon
Jewish Demons (shadim)
The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

The Book of Life is an interview-format podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly, with occasional coverage of Jewish YA/adult books, music, film and web, established in December 2005. Host: Heidi Rabinowitz Sponsors: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel of Boca Raton, Florida & the Association of Jewish Libraries

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes355Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsJudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit

Latest Episodes

Like most Jewish holidays, the meaning of Sukkot is multi-layered: it commemorates the ancient harvest pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, but it also represents the temporary dwellings used during the Exodus from Egypt. In modern times we te... more

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Tashlich is the Rosh Hashanah custom of tossing bread or other small objects into moving water, to throw away our "sins" or our negativity. But today we're going to learn about something different — reverse tashlich, in which we remove our sins from ... more

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Behrman House has been publishing Jewish educational materials and children's books for over 100 years, and up until now, has been a family-run business. But David Behrman and his wife Vicki Weber are about to enter their well-deserved retirement, an... more

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CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Kar-Ben Publishing has been producing Jewish children's books for over 50 years. After the recent retirement of 20-year veteran Joni Sussman, we've got new leadership at Kar-Ben with Editorial Director Le... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Derek Stordahl
Incoming publisher at Behrman House and head of Apples & Honey Press
Behrman House / Apples & Honey Press
Episode: New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
David Behrman
Outgoing publisher at Behrman House
Behrman House
Episode: New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
Vicki Weber
Outgoing publisher at Behrman House
Behrman House
Episode: New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
Ed Rosenthal
Rabbi and founder of Repair the Sea Tikkun HaYam
Repair the Sea Tikkun HaYam
Episode: New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
Rochelle Burke
Author of Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah, etc.
Author
Episode: New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
Hannah Reynolds
Author of A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon
Episode: The Jewish Book Garden
Ana María Shua
Argentine author, author of The Passover Pet Surprise
Various (including academic and literary circles)
Episode: The Passover Pet Surprise
Richard Ho
Author of A Flame Burns On
Independent author
Episode: The Passover Pet Surprise
Alison Goldberg
Author of The Remembering Candle
Author
Episode: The Passover Pet Surprise

Host

Heidi Rabinowitz
Host of The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly); conducts in-depth author/illustrator interviews and coverage of Jewish kidlit topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • My go-to podcast for Jewish kidlit

    I love this podcast. Heidi consistently conducts fascinating interviews with authors and illustrators about what it means to be writing Jewish stories for kids. I love the banter, but also the space she gives writers to talk about their process, their journeys and the surprises along the way. A wealth of episodes to explore for anyone who loves Jewish kidlit.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SiduraLudwig
    Canada2 years ago
  • Top notch

    The place to go for conversations about Jewish Kidlit!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BookwormSally
    United States2 years ago
  • If the podcast had pages, it would be a page-turner

    I look forward to this podcast every month. I thought that I would listen less as my kids aged out of the kidlit bracket, but I'm still hooked. The conversations with authors, illustrators, publishers, and other book lovers is fun and intelligent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sheryl NJB
    United States2 years ago
  • Along with being entertained - I aways learn something new!

    This is one of my favorite podcasts. I started listening when I still had kids at home to give me hints on books for them to read. Now that my kids are grown and out of the house, I still listen! Heidi is a great interviewer and is always able to get her authors talking. Anyone interested in children't literature will love the discussions.

    Audible
    5
    Sheryl S
    United States3 years ago
  • really helpful

    Thank you heidi estrin I thank you because i am a 12 year old former catholic and ever since I went to temple in late february I wanted to learn more about judisim and there culture.I am tring to become jewish and your podcast was a help

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tacosrule1993
    United States20 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A must-listen for anyone who loves Jewish kidlit and thoughtful discussions.
Consistently engaging and fosters a sense of community around Jewish books.
Great for educators and librarians seeking book recommendations and context.
Banter is warm and knowledgeable with insightful guest selection.
Fascinating interviews and deep dives into craft and representation.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

September Throwback: Sweep, The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
Q: Tell us about Sweep's central relationship and who Nan Sparrow is.
Sweep follows Nan Sparrow, an 11-year-old chimney climber who befriends a creature she discovers in a chimney, named Charlie, who acts as her protector and becomes central to their mutual survival and eventual fight for justice for other children.
The 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Revealed!
Q: What made Nishama stand out as the middle grade winner?
Nishama is a novel in verse that crafts a lyrical narrative about a sixth grader dealing with family, ghosts, and Jewish life, and it stands out for its poetic language and integration of cultural motifs like Shabbos and Havdalah.
The 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Revealed!
Q: Could you please give us a little bit of background about the Sydney Taylor Book Award?
The award was established in 1968 by the Association of Jewish Libraries to honor Sydney Taylor and the All-of-a-Kind Family series; it has grown to include multiple categories and ongoing sponsorship, reflecting a deep commitment to Jewish children's literature.
The Five Books Podcast
Q: Tell me about you.
The guest explains their background in Jewsih children's literature, their involvement with libraries and awards, and how their show focuses on immersive discussion about books that shape Jewish identity; they describe interviewing authors both remotely and in person, and their desire to keep the format engaging and inclusive for a broad audience.
New Faces: Derek Stordahl at Behrman House/Apples & Honey Press
Q: Why create Apples & Honey Press, and how does it fit with Behrman House's mission?
The panel explains that Apples & Honey Press broadens reach to children in contexts beyond religious schools, while still embedding Jewish themes and values, leveraging a separate marketing operation and list.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit

What is The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- This show centers on Jewish kidlit through in-depth author, illustrator, and publishing conversations, with occasional forays into Jewish YA/adult titles, music, film, and web expansions. Episodes routinely explore how Jewish folklore, history, and culture inform storytelling for kids, including world-building, illustration, publishing realities, and audience engagement. A standout is the sustained focus on representation, access to libraries, and community-building around Jewish books, often featuring a mix of authors, editors, translators, and librarians. The format tends to blend thoughtful inquiry with warm, exploratory banter, making it useful for listeners seeking deep dives into craft, culture, and the Jewish kidlit ecosystem.

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit:

1. The Five Books: Jewish Authors on the Books That Shaped Them
2. Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
3. Fresh Air
4. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit are there?

The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit launched 21 years ago and published 355 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit?

Recent guests on The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit include:

1. Derek Stordahl
2. David Behrman
3. Vicki Weber
4. Ed Rosenthal
5. Rochelle Burke
6. Hannah Reynolds
7. Ana María Shua
8. Richard Ho

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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