Intergalactic Afikoman

08/14/2024

Great review from AJL for Space Torah written by Rachelle Burk and illustrated by Craig Orback Illustration. Association of Jewish Libraries Lerner Publishing Group

"The book describes [Jewish astronaut Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman's] childhood fascination with outer space, his professional training as an astronomer, and the deep connect he feels to his Jewish heritage."

"This book is a delight...[and] will make a great read-aloud."

08/05/2024

How do astronauts bring their faith into outer space? Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman carried a miniature Torah.

"We bring our culture and our backgrounds with us where we go,” said [Rabbi Shaul] Osadchey, noting Hoffman read from the Torah, the start of Genesis specifically, on Shabbat. “Jeff brought the Jewish tradition into a new domain — new world that is being conquered by humans.”

Read about Hoffman's journey from curious child to brave astronaut in SPACE TORAH written by Rachelle Burk and illustrated by Craig Orback. (Link to book in comments.) Lerner Publishing Group Brianna Caplan Sayres Craig Orback Illustration Shaul Osadchey

A Texas church has not one — but two — members aboard the International Space Station

08/01/2024

I Am Hava, A Song's Story of Love, Hope & Joy, traces the impact and influence of this cultural touchstone. Read about one girl's reaction to Aly Raisman's use of this iconic music for her gold medal Olympic performance. (Link to the beautifully illustrated picture book by Siona Benjamin Freda Lewkowicz in comments.) Lerner Publishing Group Brianna Caplan Sayres

When I think about 2012, I think about a lot of things. The ubiquitous handlebar mustaches, the overuse of the word “hipster,” One Direction taking over the world and the fact that “Call Me Maybe” was everywhere. I also remember that it was the year of the 2012 Olympics, which happened to be...

07/31/2024

Where were you when you saw Aly Raisman win Olympic gold to Hava Nagila? Order your copy of I AM HAVA today and relive the moment. (Link in comments below) Lerner Publishing Group Siona Benjamin Freda Lewkowicz Brianna Caplan Sayres

08/24/2023

Love this amazing interview with Erica Lyons, author of COUNTING ON NAAMAH: A MATHEMATICAL TALE ON NOAH'S ARK illustrated by Mary Reaves Uhles, with Barbara Bietz on Barbara's fantastic Jewish Books for Kids Blog!

"Reimagining Naamah, made me question whose ark this really was and what her role might have been" --Erica Lyons

https://jewishbooksforkids.com/2023/08/23/interview-with-erica-lyons-author-of-counting-on-naamah/

02/07/2023

Hooray! Wishing a Happy Book Birthday to LILY BLUE RIDING HOOD written by Sandy Lanton and illustrated by Kim Barnes. LILY BLUE is the story of Lily Bluestein, a skateboarding Little Blue Riding Hood who wants to take her hamentaschen to Granny's Florida condo. We are thrilled that Sandy's fun and funny fractured fairy tale was chosen as a Holiday Highlights Title from the Association of Jewish Libraries for Spring 2023.

Includes a yummy and adorable recipe for skateboarding hamentaschen!

https://www.intergalacticafikoman.com/bookstore

https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/22579

https://www.amazon.com/Lily-Blue-Riding-Hood-Purim/dp/1951365100?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

10/19/2022

Yay! So very excited to share this announcement from Lerner Publisher Services! Intergalactic Afikoman books are going to be distributed by Lerner. Hooray!! Lerner is such a perfect distributor for our out-of-this-world Jewish publishing house! Read the full announcement below: https://lernerbooks.com/headlines/802

05/06/2022

Hi All, Intergalactic Afikoman is thrilled to be exhibiting at the Washington Library Association convention at the Bellevue Marriott! Do you know a magical librarian who's going to be at the conference? Please tell them to make sure to stop by our booth to learn about our books, pick up an ARC, take a picture with Miss Understood and say hi! 🙂

01/18/2022

Check out INTERGALACTIC AFIKOMAN’s newest picture book, BUBBE AND BART'S MATZOH BALL MAYHEM. Bubbe and her best buddy, Bart, make one perfect matzoh-ball-chasing team in this hilarious Jewish counting book!

Getting ready for Shabbat is always a bit zany, but… Flying Matzoh Balls?!?!?!

"Bubbe and Bart’s Matzoh Ball Mayhem is a delightful read-aloud selection for children ages three to eight... Recommended." SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE

Holiday Highlights Selection for Fall 2021 from Association for Jewish Libraries!


https://www.intergalacticafikoman.com/bubbe-and-bart

01/10/2022

Check out INTERGALACTIC AFIKOMAN'S newest picture book, I AM HAVA: A SONG'S STORY OF LOVE HOPE AND JOY
by Renowned Indian-Jewish artist, Siona Benjamin

The story of the world's most famous Jewish song... as told by the song herself. In Siona Benjamin's vibrant, pattern-filled illustrations, young Hava is portrayed as a joyous blue girl in an Indian sari. Follow Hava as she spreads hope and joy throughout the world!

"I Am Hava is an unusual and exceptional picture book that can be appreciated by all ages, from 5 year olds all the way up to adults... Give this highly original read to anyone from your child to your Bubbe." SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE

STARRED REVIEW FROM KIRKUS-- "Benjamin's lovingly rendered illustrations move and dance across the page with the music."


https://www.intergalacticafikoman.com/i-am-hava

01/07/2022

At INTERGALACTIC AFIKOMAN we create “out of this world Jewish books for today’s Jewish kids”!

Books that are bursting with Jewish joy! Jewish fantasy, zany children’s books & Jewish creativity.

Rocket on over to the Intergalactic Afikoman Bookstore:
https://www.intergalacticafikoman.com/bookstore

and much more!

12/02/2021

So thrilled to share this wonderful article about I AM HAVA: A SONG'S STORY OF LOVE, HOPE & JOY from Mike Cohen in the Suburban! https://www.thesuburban.com/blogs/sjn/sjn-freda-lewkowicz-and-siona-benjamin-unveil-new-book-i-am-hava/article_1dfbc936-44af-11ec-8a34-b79d14b89531.html

10/06/2021

We are very excited to share this wonderful STARRED review from Kirkus for

I AM HAVA: A SONG'S STORY OF LOVE, HOPE & JOY
written by Freda Lewkowicz and
illustrated by Siona Benjamin!!

A star from Kirkus! Wow!! That is very special!!
Just like this book. :) Can't wait till you can all see it!

👀👇
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/freda-lewkowicz/i-am-hava/

09/27/2021

So very thrilled to share this lovely Kirkus review of BUBBE AND BART'S MATZOH BALL MAYHEM written by Bonnie Grubman and illustrated by Deborah Melmon:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bonnie-grubman/bubbe-barts-matzoh-ball-mayhem/

Yay!! So very happy that Kirkus liked it!!

It comes out November 2nd and is available for preorder wherever books are sold (including www.IntergalacticAfikoman.com).

Can't wait till you all get to read this fun and funny Shabbat book!!

Matzoh balls go flying across the kitchen when the soup pot boils over, propelling Bubbe and her beloved dog, Bart, into a game of chase and catch.

05/23/2021

Yay! Today is the day! Join us for our Celebration of Jewish Creativity! You can rsvp for the Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkdumvrzkpGdX2okflyTyKEv2gkITinUEF Meet exciting Jewish creativity experts! Happy !

05/11/2021

You are all cordially invited to our upcoming virtual "Celebration of Jewish Creativity" on Sunday May 23rd at 1 pm Pacific Time / 4 pm Eastern Time. It is going to be an incredibly fun and exciting event for all ages! Meet Jewish creativity experts and sample a wide variety of Jewish creativity! See the attached flyer for details and register for the Zoom link at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkdumvrzkpGdX2okflyTyKEv2gkITinUEF

p.s. Please feel free to share! :)

03/09/2021

So looking forward to this special Book Release and Q & A interview for "Asteroid Goldberg: Passover in Outer Space" with the Mazza Museum. Please us for this very special event at 4:30 pm Eastern Time (1:30 pm Pacific Time) on Thursday March 11th!!

We're celebrating the book release of, Asteroid Goldberg: Passover in Outer Space, illustrated by Mazza artist Merrill Rainey! There will be a Q&A session with Rainey and author/publisher Brianna Caplan Sayres and some other fun activities as well! It's all happening this Thursday, March 11th! Register for the Zoom webinar now ➡️ mazzamuseum.org/event/rainey/