Happy Book Birthday: DIVING DEEP ON ROSH HASHANAH

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Hello dear friends! I’m so glad you’ve stopped by today…and I know you will be, too…because we are celebrating the book birthday of a wonderful new book written by the talented Rachelle Burk and brilliantly illustrated by Craig Orback.

It’s always a joy when authors return to Picture Books Help Kids Soar…and I’m thrilled to welcome Rachelle who has agreed to share the story behind the story.

ME: Hello my friend! So nice to see you here again. I’m hoping you can share a bit about the book and how it came to be.

RACHELLE: It’s lovely to be here, Vivian. Thank you for helping to celebrate my newest book. And it certainly does have a wonderful backstory.

Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah
by Rachelle Burk
illustrated by Craig Orback

I love adventure! A few years ago, I wrote Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah—a true adventure picture book set in space. Next came Passover on Everest, the story of a mother-daughter climbing team who held a Seder on the world’s highest peak. As a scuba diver, I knew my next book had to dive into a true, Jewish-themed ocean adventure.

That dream is now a reality with my new picture book biography: Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah: Reverse Tashlich for a Better World.

The book tells the inspiring true story of Rabbi Ed Rosenthal. He created “Reverse Tashlich,” an environmental tradition where people clean beaches and oceans to practice Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). From this initiative, he founded the organization Repair the Sea (Repairthesea.org).

Our first meeting felt like destiny. When I learned about Rabbi Ed, I was already scheduled to fly to Tampa for a school author visit. Coincidentally, that was exactly where he serves as a college campus rabbi!

He invited me to dive with his college club, the “Scubi-Jews.” Unfortunately, the boat engine failed that day, and we never left the dock. Instead of diving, I spent the afternoon conducting interviews right there on the deck. That boat ride may have been cancelled, but the book was born!

The book follows Ed’s journey from his childhood love of the ocean to the global growth of Repair the Sea. It focuses on modernizing a centuries-old ritual:

Traditional Tashlich involves symbolically casting away past wrongs by tossing breadcrumbs into the water. Reverse Tashlich flips the concept. Instead of putting debris into the water, participants remove physical “sins”—like plastic, trash, and marine debris. This new tradition protects marine life and restores local aquatic ecosystems.

What started as a local project has exploded into a global movement. People of all backgrounds now participate. To date, the initiative has mobilized thousands of volunteers across 6 continents, 31 countries, 307 communities!

Rabbi Ed and I are celebrating the book launch with a unique event in Palm Beach, Florida. The celebration will include scuba diving and an underwater “reading” of the book, with the audio dubbed in after the dive!

Stay tuned—the fourth book in my true Jewish adventure series is already in the works, featuring a true Hanukkah story set deep in a cave!

https://rachelleburk.blogspot.com

facebook.com/rachelleburk  instagram.com/rachelleburkpurchasing:  

https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/26798

Amazon Sales Page

ME: THIS IS FABULOUS, RACHELLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS.

And now, friends, here’s a little bit about the creators of this fabulous new book.

Bios:

Author:

Rachelle is the author of over twenty fiction and nonfiction titles for children ages 0-13. Her books include Don’t Turn the Page!, How to Be an Awesome Toddler: 50 Easy Rhymes to Make Growing Up Exciting & Fun, and Stomp Wiggle Clap & Tap. Biographies are The Story of Simone Biles, The Story of Taylor Swift, The Story of Caitlin Clark, and Happy Birthday to You: The Sisters Who Wrote the Most Famous Song in the World. Rachelle’s science-adventure novel, The Walking Fish, received a Science Teaching Association/National Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book award.

She has also published acclaimed Jewish children’s picture books such as She’s a Mensch! Jewish Women Who Rocked the World; Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah; Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah; Passover on Everest; Mitzvah for George Washington and Matzah Ball Chase. Rachelle loves to visit elementary and preschools around the country with her dynamic author visit programs. Visit her at www.RachelleBurk.com


Illustrator

CRAIG ORBACK has illustrated over 20 children’s books, including Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah, Passover on Everest, Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah, The Boxcar Children, and Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker. Craig lives near Seattle, WA, where he teaches children’s book illustration classes at several local colleges. Visit www.craigorback.com to see more of his work.

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. Stay tuned for a Perfect Picture Book Friday post later this month as we celebrate a new book from the lovely Kim Larson…DOLL TROUBLE!

Cover Reveal: LIGHT, LETTERS, AND LOVE: How Jo van Gogh Saved Vincent’s Paintings for the World

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YIPPEE!!! What a wonderful way to start the month of August!!! And I’m so very happy that you all are joining me here for the unveiling of a new picture book cover!!! Author Donna Cangelosi is a dear friend and I am thrilled and honored to help celebrate this fabulous book, illustrated by the talented Elisa Paganelli.

Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVE this cover! It totally draws me in and makes me want to open the book and start reading!

And how lucky are we? Donna stopped by to share a bit about the book and also the story behind the story.

ME: Welcome, dear Donna! Thank you so much for agreeing to tell us about the book…and how it came to be.

DONNA: Hi Vivian…thanks for having me and helping to celebrate the fabulous cover of my newest book.

Light, Letters, and Love : How Jo van Gogh Saved Vincent’s Paintings for the World

Written by: Donna Cangelosi

Illustrated by: Elisa Paganelli

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Release date: March 16, 2027

Thank you, Vivian for helping me share the cover of this special book with the world! Here’s a little bit about the book...

Summary:

Vincent van Gogh’s priceless paintings, bursting with swirling colors changed the world of art. Today, he is one of the most beloved artists of all time and his paintings are admired in every corner of the world. But few people know that one woman spent her life championing Vincent’s artwork. Jo van Gogh was Theo’s wife and Vincent’s sister-in-law. She channeled her grief after their deaths into a campaign to ensure that van Gogh’s artwork received the recognition it deserved.

This heartfelt picture book is about loss, hope, persistence, and lifting others. It captures the bond between family members, the healing powers of art, and shows how challenges can be transformed into beauty.

What inspired me to write this book:

I’ve always loved Vincent van Gogh’s art and knew that I wanted to write a picture book about him. But after reading Barb Rosenstock’s beautiful picture book, Vincent Can’t Sleep, I realized it can’t get better than that, so I let go of the idea. Then, in April 2021, I came upon an article in The New York Times Magazine, “The Woman Who Made van Gogh!” Before I even read the entire article, I knew I had to write a story to shine a light on Jo, the way she shined her light on Vincent. I jotted down a sentence, “Without Jo, there would be no van Gogh.” And from that moment, you could say Jo moved in with me.

A challenge I faced on the path to publication:

Soon after Jo moved in, Vincent arrived as well. So, I used a parallel structure to write the story. After many revisions, the original version went on submission and every editor passed. I then had a professional critique, and the editor suggested that I try rewriting the story about Jo, weaving Vincent’s struggles into the plot. Ouch! Cut Vincent? I’ve cut sentences and spreads and all sorts of darlings, but this was a hard one. It was half of my manuscript. I put the story aside for a while and thought about it. But it didn’t take long to realize I had to give it a try. With my renewed clarity, I rewrote the story and Jo’s struggles, passion, determination, and accomplishments came  through. This also helped me get to the takeaway for kids—to shine their light on others the way Jo shined hers on Vincent.

ME: Thank you so much, Donna. We always love to hear what inspired the books we fall in love with…and I have a feeling that there will be many who fall in love with this one.
And, dear friends, here is a little bit about the creators of this book.

Donna Cangelosi is a children’s book author and psychologist. She spent her career counseling children in schools, clinics, and her psychology practice and now, she also writes stories to inspire and uplift them. Donna enjoys writing about people who made the world a better place and the wonders of childhood, animals, and nature. She is the author of Mister Rogers’ Gift of Music. When she’s not writing, Donna loves exploring nature and traveling. She has journeyed far and wide to see Vincent van Gogh’s magnificent masterpieces and thanks Jo each time she encounters one. https://www.donnacangelosi.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnacangelosi2
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/donnacangelosi.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.cangelosi.5/

Elisa Paganelli is an Italian illustrator and creative designer born in Modena, Italy, and based in Buckinghamshire, UK. With a background in advertising and over 20 years in the creative field, she creates illustrations for picture books, middle- grade fiction, and cover art. Her work includes bestselling and award-winning titles such as the Greenwild series, the Adventures on Trains series, The House with Chicken Legs, and books by Ben Miller, among others. Elisa finds inspiration in nature, quiet moments, books, and long walks with her dog Miranda. Her curiosity for psychology and human experience influences the warmth, empathy, and storytelling behind her work. https://elisapaganelli.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elisapaganelli_illustration
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elisaupsidedown

AND NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW MANY OF YOU WILL WANT TO GRAB YOUR OWN COPY AND HELP THIS BOOK BECOME A SUCCESS…HERE ARE SOME PRE-ORDER LINKS:

LIGHT, LETTERS, & LOVE Preorder links:
Indie: https://bookshop.org/p/books/light-letters-and-love-how-jo-van-gogh-saved-
vincent-s-paintings-for-the-world-donna-
cangelosi/34dd069b7223319e?ean=9781534113862&bkshp-astro=t

Barnes & Nobles:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-letters-and-love-donna-
cangelosi/1150827430?ean=9781534113862

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you have a wonderful August! As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve stepped back a bit from blogging…but we have a couple of posts coming up this month…and a bunch in September…so please stay tuned.

Cover Reveal: A TOGETHER PLACE

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Hello dear friends! Get ready for one of my favorite blog posts!

It’s a COVER REVEAL!!!!

For me, a cover reveal is just like unveiling a masterpiece at a museum where we get to see into the heart of the creator. With a cover reveal, we are getting a peek at the genius of TWO creators…the artist who brings their vision to the words of the writer!

The title of this upcoming book is: A TOGETHER PLACE, written by Dara Henry and illustrated by Sam Kallis…and we are so lucky because Dara stopped by to share a bit about the story behind the story and Sam stopped by to share a bit about her illustration process. But first…drumroll please!!!

Here is the gorgeous cover for A TOGETHER PLACE.

ME: Welcome, Dara! Thanks so much for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about the book and how it came to be?

DARA: When I set out to write A Together Place, I knew from the beginning that I wanted Synagogue to have a voice in the story. It seemed fitting that she spend her first year experiencing “life” while celebrating holidays and other important moments with her community. In the book, Synagogue discovers that she is many beautiful things to different people. I felt it was important for her to realize this in an experiential way and create opportunities for Synagogue to interact with her environment with fresh-eyed delight. I hope that families and young readers will connect to Synagogue’s curiosity, openness, and wonder.

I am grateful to everyone who has had a role in creating this book. A special thank you to Sourcebooks Kids for believing in this idea and to the very talented illustrator, Sam Kallis. Her creative and colorful vision exceeded my expectations and turned this story into something even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. 

ME: That’s fabulous! Thank you so much, Dara. We are all so very excited for this book…I’ll share the preferred pre-order links for all our blog followers. But first, let’s welcome Sam…we’re so glad you are here! Can you share a bit about your process and what inspired you as you set about creating the illustrations for this book?

SAM: When I first read the manuscript for A Together Place, I immediately felt the warmth of Jewish community radiating from its pages. I wanted to create a visual language that echoed the feeling of belonging in the text, and honored a sense of history, ritual, and memory that is woven into everyday Jewish life. 

My visual approach was inspired by the pattern work of traditional Jewish papercut artists, the dreamlike imagery and texture of Marc Chagall, and the legacy of my own great-grandfather, Mischa Kallis, who designed the stained glass windows for the first structure built as a synagogue in the San Fernando Valley. Their work influenced me to create illustrations that feel both connected to tradition and alive with color and movement. 

Although the artwork was created digitally (in Procreate on an iPad), I wanted it to retain the warmth and human-touch of traditional media. I intentionally used the digital tools as simply as possible, focusing on hand-drawn lines, layered textures, and organic mark-making to evoke the feeling of pastels and watercolors on paper. It was important to me that the reader feel the intimacy and warmth of drawing by hand.

Creating this colorful world was a joy. I loved filling each page with color, symbolism, and small moments of connection that celebrate the richness and diversity of Jewish life. My hope is that readers find within the artwork a world that is both deeply rooted and warmly welcoming – a true “together place.”

ME: Thank you so much, Sam. I’m always in awe of how illustrators are able to create the world of the story that another person has written about. It takes dedication, understanding, and a whole lot of talent!

Dear friends, to find out more about Dara:

Dara Henry is a children’s book author living in Southern California with her husband, three children, and two cats. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and worked as an elementary school teacher for many years. While she no longer has a classroom of her own, Dara still finds joy in connecting with children and families—only now, she’s sharing her stories while visiting classrooms all over the country. Dara’s debut picture book, Hanukkah Pajamakkahs (Sourcebooks Kids), was published in 2024. Her second book, Mazel Tov, Baby! (Sourcebooks Kids), came out in September 2025. A Together Place, illustrated by Sam Kallis, will be in stores on February 2, 2027.

And to find out more about Sam:

Sam Kallis is a mom, illustrator, award-winning gardener, and the Creative Director of Visual Development for Disney Television Animation. Since graduating with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena CA, her work has appeared in television, films, books, and galleries throughout the world. Sam lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and four ridiculous cats.

A TOGETHER PLACE can be preordered at the following places: 

Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-together-place-dara-henry/1150217793

Target:
https://www.target.com/p/a-together-place-by-dara-henry-hardcover/-/A-1011723173#lnk=sametab

Walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/A-Together-Place-Hardcover-9781464250941/20282605228?classType=REGULAR&from=%2Fsearch&sid=a788b800-f36b-4d36-8686-24571239f14a

Amazon:
https://a.co/d/010MaTGv

To connect with Dara and Sam and Sourcebooks on Instagram:
@Sourcebookskids
@samkallis
@dara_henry_writes

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you are having a safe and satisfying summer.