Alice Blumenthal McGinty has written a new picture book, A SYNAGOGUE JUST LIKE HOME, illustrated by Laurel Molk and published by Candlewick It is available in bookstores on August 9th. Alice has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner living in the United States.
All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.
Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Alice and Laurel.
If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A new rabbi's efforts to fix up his aging synagogue are a labor of love—and a comedy of errors—until his congregants fondly pool their talents in this lighthearted celebration of community.
Rabbi Ruben loves his synagogue. But he doesn't love the creaking floorboards, leaking sink, or drafty windows. Surely, he thinks, he can fix it up so it feels cared for, like a happy home! But Rabbi Ruben doesn't know much about home repair, so when his creative fixes—challah dough plugging a drippy faucet, tablecloths blocking a window draft—make things humorously worse, it'll take his whole congregation banding together to remind him what really makes a place feel like a happy home. Alice Blumenthal McGinty's warm, inviting text pairs with Laurel Molk's lively, friendly illustrations for a story about community and coming together—sharing, helping, caring.
BOOK JOURNEY:
This story was actually inspired when I was visiting a church! I was doing presentations based on my book, Gandhi: A March to the Sea (2013, Two Lions Press, illustrated by Thomas Gonzales) at a church in Ottawa, IL. Between sessions, as I sat at a table in the common area, I heard a few of the church's board members talking about all of the repairs the building needed – faucets were leaking, the hot water heater needed to be replaced, and more. This struck a chord with me as I'd been a member of a synagogue for many years and knew that these big buildings often find themselves in need of maintenance.
I'd already been thinking about writing a book focusing on a synagogue as a home for its congregants, exploring all of the connections between synagogue and home. I loved the thought of combining these two ideas -- the idea of an old synagogue that needed repairs and the theme of a synagogue as a home. That's what fueled the story. It got me thinking about all of the humor and the themes of love and community that might be brought in if a rabbi wanted to repair the synagogue themselves, but happened to lack the skills needed. I had a great time writing the book, and particularly loved mining my own feelings from my days as a religious school teacher and song leader and a long-time member of a synagogue. I wanted readers to feel those feelings of warmth, belonging, and community as they read the story.
On a side note, Rabbi Ruben's character began in my mind as Rabbi Benjamin (from my book, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, 2015, Charlesbridge, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt) until I realized that Rabbi Ruben was a younger, less experienced Rabbi with his own synagogue. I often think of him as being a relative of Rabbi Benjamin's (perhaps a nephew) because I like the idea that they're somehow connected.
ALICE'S BIO:
Alice B. McGinty delights in igniting imaginations. As the award-winning author of almost 50 children's books, she makes fiction and non-fiction accessible, engaging, and fun and brings excitement to writing through interactive presentations. "There is nothing I like better than to share my enthusiasm for books and writing with children," she says.
Her books include JLG and PJ Library Selection, A Synagogue Just Like Home (2022, Candlewick Press, illustrated by Laurel Molk), Mushroom House Man: The Story of Earl A. Young and His Cottages of Stone (2022, Mission Point Press, illustrated by Sharon Smithem), Feasts and Festivals Around the World: From Lunar New Year to Christmas (2022, Little Bee Books, illustrated by Tomoko Suzuki), JLG Selection and Kid's Indie Next Pick, Bathe the Cat (2022, Chronicle Books, illustrated by David Roberts), Step by Step (2021, Simon and Schuster, illustrated by Diane Goode), My Israel and Me (2021, Kalaniot Books, illustrated by Rotem Teplow), ALA Notable Book, JLG Selection and Norman A. Sugarman Honor Book, The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation (2021, Schwartz and Wade, illustrated by Shonto Begay), Kirkus' Best of 2020, A Story for Small Bear (Schwartz and Wade Books, illustrated by Richard Jones), The Sea Knows, a nonfiction ode to the sea (Simon and Schuster, with co-author Alan Havis, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis), 2019 JLG selection, The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney (Schwartz and Wade, illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle) and 2019 Northern Lights Book Award Winner (food category) and Sakura Medal Nominee, Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World (Little Bee Books, illustrated by Tomoko Suzuki).
A frequent presenter at schools and conferences, Alice was awarded the 2017 Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children. She also runs Words on Fire, a summer writing camp for teens, is Regional Adviser Emerita for the Illinois Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and is a children's book reviewer, writing tutor, and writing coach.
LAUREL'S BIO:
Laurel Molk used to sell her drawings to her neighbors. The going rate was a penny a drawing or six for a nickel. Later she went on to pursue drawing at RISD. After many years of freelance work, including designing athletic shoes and athletic wear, and creating windows on Newbury Street, she directed her energy toward illustrating and writing children's books. She has published several books and has exhibited in shows at the Society of Illustrators.
In her spare time, she knits and rambles through the woods with her dog. But not at the same time.
Things she likes include chocolate in any form, dogs and Paris. She does not like mosquitoes, long meetings or the color pink (with the exception of pink bubble gum).
She lives near Boston with her family, a big black dog, a flock of ducks and, unfortunately, many mosquitoes.
Alice, thank you for sharing your book an journey with us. I love Rabbi Ruben. From his first step into his Synagogue, even with all it's flews, he loved it. He rolls up his sleeves and blocks the drafty windows with table clothes, nails down the creaky wooden floors, then pulls out his wrench to fix the kitchen faucet and tugs so hard it squirts water in his face. Later, when the congregation goes to return their pray books in the library, the floor boards flip up and trip Rabbi Ruben. He gasps, "Oy, oy, oy! I thought I'd fixed the floor."
Several people chime in, "Time for a new floor. We'll share the work and get it done."
Rabbi Ruben feels a wave of relief sweep over him. "A home is about sharing."
When the food is laid out, the kitchen faucet bursts open right before the prayer. The Rabbi cries, "A home is for helping. A home is for sharing. I've ruined everything."
"Nonsense," Mrs. Litwak said. "Nothing is ruined. And we're here to help!"
"A home is about helping," the Weinstein girls said.
"A home is about sharing," said Ms. Havis.
"And a home is about caring," said the Tuchclapper boys.
"Caring for each other," added the littlest Litwak.
Rabbi Ruben grinned.
I love how everyone comes together and works all week to fix up the old building and the message that things are always better when you work together helping, sharing, and caring for each other.
Laurel's illustrations are a perfect fit for this book. The facial expressions are spot on and add so much to the story. The soft colors set the stage and let the reader feel the reverence deserving of a synagogue. The characters are fun and lively, so much great movement. I enjoyed how much action Alice put into the story giving Laurel a chance to show off her skills depicted all that energy in her illustrations. This is a book that families and children will want to read over and over. Good luck with the book.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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