The Book of Life: Jewish Kidlit (Mostly)

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/max-in-land-of-lies.html [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/07/max-in-land-of-lies.html]  TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/4wQEsnmUalkzvYUesd-o7pDjudQ?utm_source=copy_url [https://otter.ai/u/4wQEsnmUalkzvYUesd-o7pDjudQ?utm_source=copy_url] Last July, Adam Gidwitz was on the podcast talking about his middle grade Holocaust historical fantasy novel, Max in the House of Spies, and he told us it was part of a duology. Well, now the second book is out, and I think it's even more powerful than the first one. Max in the Land of Lies continues Max's page-turning, hair raising adventures... AND continues the profound exploration of prejudice that we found in Book 1. Adam offers the best explanation I've ever encountered for how the Holocaust could happen. The parallels with today's world are frightening, AND illuminating. To put it simply, this is a book that I think *everyone* needs to read right now.  LEARN MORE: * Buy [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9780593112106] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/1420806734] Max in the House of Spies (Book 1) * Buy [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9780593112113] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/1498527206] Max in the Land of Lies (Book 2) * Adam Gidwitz’s website [https://www.adamgidwitz.com/] * Tikkun Olam suggestions: EveryLibrary.org [https://www.everylibrary.org/] and SGCCAmerica.com [https://www.sgccamerica.com/] * "Espionage! Secrets! Suspense!" Holocaust Books with Adam Gidwitz & Steve Sheinkin” on The Book of Life, July 2024 [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/07/espionage-secrets-suspense-holocaust.html] * Bonus content for this episode on Substack [https://open.substack.com/pub/bookoflifepodcast/p/podcast-max-in-the-land-of-lies?r=16b2w9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] CREDITS: * Produced by Feldman Children's Library [https://login.cbiboca.org/fcl] at Congregation B'nai Israel [https://www.cbiboca.org/] * Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries [https://jewishlibraries.org/] * Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books [https://jewishlibraries.org/nicejewishbooks/] * Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2006/01/book-of-life-on-book-awards-january.html] * Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com [https://bookoflifepodcast.substack.com/] * Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens [https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishKidlitMavens] * Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast [https://www.facebook.com/Bookoflifepodcast/] * Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/bookoflifepodcast/] * Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/p/support.html] Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com [bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/pride-month-throwback-new-queer.html [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/pride-month-throwback-new-queer.html]  TRANSCRIPT: https://open.substack.com/pub/bookoflifepodcast/p/pride-month-throwback?r=16b2w9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true [https://open.substack.com/pub/bookoflifepodcast/p/pride-month-throwback?r=16b2w9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true]  In celebration of Pride Month and The Book of Life’s 20th year of podcasting, I’m re-releasing an archival episode from June, 2021. It’s an interview with Adam Eli, a young activist and author of The New Queer Conscience, a manifesto about how the queer community can use k’lal yisrael as a model for solidarity. If you enjoy this blast from the past, check out other past episodes of The Book of Life. Click on Archive in the sidebar at Bookoflifepodcast.com [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/], or just go to the episode list on your podcast player and keep on scrolling down, down, down. LEARN MORE: * Buy [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-new-queer-conscience-adam-eli/13059350?ean=9780593093689&next=t&affiliate=2507] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/formats-editions/1119478322] The New Queer Conscience * Adam Eli on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/adameli/?hl=en] * Adam Eli on I Weigh [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdGdCH-LAAU] * Adam Eli in Tablet [https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-chosen-ones-an-interview-with-adam-eli] * I’ve updated my list of Queer Jewish Kidlit [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/queer-jewish-kidlit-update.html], which has grown by 48 titles and 13 interviews since I first compiled it in 2022! CREDITS: * Produced by Feldman Children's Library [https://login.cbiboca.org/fcl] at Congregation B'nai Israel [https://www.cbiboca.org/] * Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries [https://jewishlibraries.org/] * Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books [https://jewishlibraries.org/nicejewishbooks/] * Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2006/01/book-of-life-on-book-awards-january.html] * Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com [https://bookoflifepodcast.substack.com/] * Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens [https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishKidlitMavens] * Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast [https://www.facebook.com/Bookoflifepodcast/] * Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/bookoflifepodcast/] * Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/p/support.html] Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com [bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/pride-month-special-gender-binary-is.html [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/pride-month-special-gender-binary-is.html]  TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/0xdCC0WUSVL8flI0x3kljyCApps?utm_source=copy_url [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://otter.ai/u/0xdCC0WUSVL8flI0x3kljyCApps?utm_source%3Dcopy_url&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0SeBHa2D4hijflgRtFkZKd] I don't normally interview an author about a single chapter of a book, but for my friend Lee Wind, I'm making an exception. He's written a fascinating nonfiction book, The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities Around the World, and Chapter 2 is about "The Six Genders of Classical Judaism." I just had to learn more. We also talked about his two new picture books (both featuring 2-dad families), Like That Eleanor: The Amazing Power of Being an Ally and Banana Menorah. In addition to writing great kids' books about gender, Judaism, and allyship, Lee is literally a champion against censorship. He received the 2025 Industry Champion Award from the Book Industry Study Group for his project called We Are Stronger Than Censorship. Lee tells us more in the interview.  For bonus content (Jewish kidlit news and calls to action), sign up for The Book of Life Substack Newsletter [https://bookoflifepodcast.substack.com/]. LEARN MORE:  * Buy [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781728414546] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/formats-editions/1322057926] The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie * Buy [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781945369735] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/1492212995] Like That Eleanor * Buy [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781681156811] or borrow [https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/1490423347] Banana Menorah * Teaching guides [https://lernerbooks.com/teaching_guides/537] * Lee Wind’s website [https://www.leewind.org/] * We Are Stronger Than Censorship [https://www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org/about_stronger] project (Lee won an award [https://www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org/about_stronger%20https://www.bisg.org/news/bisg-to-honor-ibpas-lee-wind-as-an-industry-champion] for it!) * Independent Book Publishers Association [https://www.ibpa-online.org/] (Lee’s day job) * My Queer Jewish Kidlit bibliography - updated [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/queer-jewish-kidlit-update.html] CREDITS: * Produced by Feldman Children's Library [https://login.cbiboca.org/fcl] at Congregation B'nai Israel [https://www.cbiboca.org/] * Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries [https://jewishlibraries.org/] * Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books [https://jewishlibraries.org/nicejewishbooks/] * Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2006/01/book-of-life-on-book-awards-january.html] * Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com [https://bookoflifepodcast.substack.com/] * Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens [https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishKidlitMavens] * Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast [https://www.facebook.com/Bookoflifepodcast/] * Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/bookoflifepodcast/] * Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/p/support.html] Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com [bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-special-message-from-heidi-high-low.html [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-special-message-from-heidi-high-low.html]  TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/tomHSY9SlPPB1XDOQwsavTXOeUM?utm_source=copy_url [https://otter.ai/u/tomHSY9SlPPB1XDOQwsavTXOeUM?utm_source=copy_url]  I'm squeezing in this quick extra episode to share with you my personal response to the shooting at the Capitol Jewish Museum, with calls to action and a message of hope.  LEARN MORE: HIGH * E Train Talks interviews Heidi about 20 years of The Book of Life Podcast [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/flip-script-book-of-life-on-e-train.html] LOW * The Forward's reporting on the shooting of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim [https://forward.com/news/722236/capital-jewish-museum-dc-shooting-israeli-embassy/] * Time op ed by Jonathan Greenblatt of ADL [https://time.com/7288245/jewish-museum-shooting-dc-antisemitism-time-to-act/] CALLS TO ACTION * Action: Watch "Cheering On Jewish Books" [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/cheering-on-jewish-books.html] * Action: Use Jewish Kidlit Action Checklist [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2022/07/jewish-kidlit-action-checklist.html] * Action: Visit "Justice" page at BookOfLifePodcast.com [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/p/stand-up.html] * Action: Ask your rep to support H.Res. 447 [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/447/text]  |  Find your Representative HERE [https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative] * Action: Watch Heidi's talk "How (and Why) to Call Congress" [https://youtu.be/zMCgBTSFkeM?si=vS3DZTO0fT0O2adz] What actions are you taking to push back against antisemitism? I'd love to know. Leave a comment, write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com, [bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.

SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jahm-throwback-book-of-life-in-america.html [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/05/jahm-throwback-book-of-life-in-america.html]  TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/bd9VMkp1cnjgHm9z4cbdq7Usaak?utm_source=copy_url [https://otter.ai/u/bd9VMkp1cnjgHm9z4cbdq7Usaak?utm_source=copy_url]  In celebration of May’s Jewish American Heritage Month (aka #JAHM) and The Book of Life’s 20th year of podcasting, I’m re-releasing the eighth-ever episode of the show, from July 2006. The theme was “The Book of Life in America.” In the early years of the show, each episode featured multiple guests, and topics ranged beyond books to Jewish music, film, and web. In 23 minutes and 12 seconds, this episode packs in five fantastic guests. While the sound quality is less consistent than today, the warmth and enthusiasm of the interviews was a sign of things to come. If you enjoy this blast from the past, check out other past episodes of The Book of Life. Click on Archive in the sidebar at Bookoflifepodcast.com [https://www.blogger.com/], or just go to the episode list on your podcast player and keep on scrolling down, down, down. * JewishAmericanHeritage.org [https://jewishamericanheritage.org/] offers info, resources, and toolkits for celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month each May. * Guests Linda Glaser [http://www.lindaglaserauthor.com/] and Phil Myzel [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/philip-myzel-obituary?id=29439539], are the author and subject of the historical middle grade novel Bridge to America [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9780547562056] * Guest Susan Shane-Linder [http://www.singinwithsusan.com/] reviews the CD American Jewish Summer [https://www.amazon.com/American-Jewish-Summer-Camping-Movement/dp/B000BO87KK]: Songs of the Jewish Youth Camping Movement * Guest Susan Goldman Rubin [http://www.susangoldmanrubin.com/index2.html] is the author of L'Chaim! To Jewish Life in America! [https://search.worldcat.org/formats-editions/54803564] * Guest Nancy Pearl is an American Jewish "Super-Librarian" whose book recommendations are featured in her Book Lust [https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781570613814] series, on her website [https://web.archive.org/web/20220203014805/https://www.nancypearl.com/], her podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-lust-with-nancy-pearl-seattle-channel/id1191895248], and her TV show [http://www.seattlechannel.org/BookLust/episodes], and who is the only librarian to have her own action figure [https://mcphee.com/pages/history-of-the-librarian-action-figure]! * Bonus content for this episode on The Book of Life Substack [https://open.substack.com/pub/bookoflifepodcast/p/jahm-throwback-the-book-of-life-in?r=16b2w9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] CREDITS: * Produced by Feldman Children's Library [https://login.cbiboca.org/fcl] at Congregation B'nai Israel [https://www.cbiboca.org/] * Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries [https://jewishlibraries.org/] * Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books [https://jewishlibraries.org/nicejewishbooks/] * Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2006/01/book-of-life-on-book-awards-january.html] * Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com [https://bookoflifepodcast.substack.com/] * Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens [https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishKidlitMavens] * Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast [https://www.facebook.com/Bookoflifepodcast/] * Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/bookoflifepodcast/] * Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate [https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/p/support.html] Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com [bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com] or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.