PJ Library will distribute Zevi Takes the Spotlight in January 2026

PJ Library will be distributing Zevi Takes the Spotlight to thousands of homes in January! And here is the badge I earned for winning the Harold Grinspoon Jewish Story Award. It's an award given to authors for a book they have written — in this case, Zevi Takes the Spotlight — in the hopes they will continue to write Jewish-themed books. 

Jewish Book Council gives Kai and the Golem a wonderful review!

Absolutely over the moon with this review. Firstly, it is a well written review — too few of those! Secondly, the reviewer understood exactly what I was trying to achieve with the book. And the best compliment ever: "Children will recognize themselves in Kai."

"Chil­dren will rec­og­nize them­selves in Kai. Their emo­tions may be over­whelm­ing, but cir­cum­stances can be improved by help­ing oth­ers and by look­ing at events in a more pos­i­tive light. The sweet col­or illus­tra­tions, includ­ing that of the fur­ry, orange golem, enhance the sto­ry and the char­ac­ters."   Read the full review

Available for pre-order. 

Kai and the Golem gets unpacked!

Kai and the Golem has arrived! Was just thrilled to open the box and hold the book in my hands for the first time.  Available for preorder. Kar Ben publishers. Illustrations by Elisa Vavouri. 

     

First presentation of A Storm Unleashed

I was thrilled to present A Storm Unleashed to teachers at the Manitoba Social Sciences Association Conference on October 24. We had two sold out sessions. I was so fortunate to do the sessions with Kelly Hiebert, a Holocaust education scholar. Here I am preparing for the session. And here we are right after the sessions were over. Lots of great questions. Many attendees had already read the book and told me they loved it.  

I am looking forward to the book launch of  A Storm Unleashed on November 10. Belle Jarniewski, director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, and Kelly Hiebert, Holocaust scholar and history teacher, will be joining me in a discussion of my middle-grades novel.

Launch of A Storm Unleashed

I am honoured to be part of a Kristallnacht program sponsored by The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada and The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. Belle Jarniewski, director of the JHC, and Kelly Hiebert, Holocaust Curriculum Scholar and history teacher, will be joining me in a discussion of my novel A Storm Unleashed.

After losing her mother as a young girl, twelve-year-old Mia is living in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved German shepherd, Max. Mia tries to focus on her hobbies, her studies and her trips to her grandparents’ farm where she cares for the animals she loves. But it’s 1935, and life has changed radically for Mia and her Jewish father over the last two years. Antisemitism is now official state policy. At school, Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. Outside of school, she witnesses violence against her friends and family. And then suddenly a girl from the Nazi Youth tries to take Max. From that moment on, life becomes more and more dangerous for Mia and her father — who is now being forced to help the Nazis train Hitler’s army of dogs. Mia and her best friend, Frieda, must come up with a plan to navigate this new reality. But could it cost Mia more than she realizes?