In the Footsteps of Sydney Taylor: Her Legacy Lives On

At the 2008 Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Cleveland, Ohio, well-known kidlit expert Rita Berman Frischer gave a presentation called "In the Footsteps of Sydney Taylor: Her Legacy Lives On." This lecture offered an overview of Jewish women writers past and present from the perspective of Rita, herself the founding chair of AJL's book award committee.

Rita's presentation was recorded and is now available through the AJL Podcast at jewishlibraries.org/podcast.

You can also listen to the recording right here:


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Interview with Richard Michelson

Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee member and blogger Barbara Bietz has posted a lovely interview on her blog with Richard Michelson, 2009 gold and silver Sydney Taylor medalist. Here's a little taste:

BARBARA: Are there some interesting facts about the relationship between Reverend King and Rabbi Heschel that you did not include in the book?

RICHARD: Reverend King was killed on April 4th, 1968, just 9 days before Passover was to begin. King’s emphasis on the Jewish Exodus in his sermons formed the basis of a strong bond between both men and King and his family had planned to join the Heschel’s at their Seder. What a wonderful holiday celebration that might have been. I am sure it would have forged further alliances between the two men.

Click here to read the entire interview!