Passover Readings!

Leading up to Passover this year, I had loads of fun sharing both my Passover picture books with groups of enthusiastic listeners, young and old(er).

At Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA, I read PAULIE’S PASSOVER PREDICAMENT to religious school students and talked about my writing process. One of their favorite parts of the book was Paulie the moose putting pepper in the seder salt water so the pepper wouldn’t be jealous of the salt.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

At the Greater Boston JCC in Newton, MA, I read ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER with enthusiastic shouts of “OY!” along with the text. 

There were fun crafts, too!

    ______________________________________________________________________________

    And at Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA, I got to read both my Passover books at a program for Families with Young Children.

    Kids enjoyed making hats like the one Zayde wears in ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER.

     

    “In Conversation” with Author Ellen Melissa Cohen

    Recently, I had the honor of participating in author and friend Ellen Melissa Cohen’s launch of The Case of the Nasty Notes: A Ben and Blue Mystery. It’s the second book in her Ben and Blue Mystery series and is as entertaining and compelling as the first, Searching for Lucky #3002.

    As her “in conversation” partner, I got to ask Ellen questions about how she came up with the important themes in this book, including non-traditional families, keeping secrets, and bullying. I asked how she managed to write in the voice of a 10 year old boy and how her career as a psychiatrist influenced her writing.

    Our conversation flowed freely, and we had fun!

    With Doreen Buchinski, Ellen Cohen, and Josh Funk

    The well-attended event took place in the cozy new event space of the wonderful independent book store, Ten Trees Books,  in downtown Natick, MA.

    Ellen Cohen was a student of mine in a Writing Children’s Books community education class I taught in Lexington, MA. It was lovely to have two other former students in attendance— Doreen Buchinski, illustrator of our re-issued version of Me and the Weirdos, and Josh Funk, author of  the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series and many other books.

    I’m looking forward to more Ben and Blue books!

    ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER WINS AWARD

    Roll out the red carpet for ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER…

    …because it won this cool award:

    Thank you to PJ Library for this honor, thank you to Kar-Ben Publishing for bringing the story into the world, and thank you to Kate Chappell for her charming illustrations!

    I’m kvelling!

    Zayde Babysits Before Passover Selected by PJ Library!

    I was sooooo pleased to open an email and learn that ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER  was selected by PJ Library for their 2026 line-up!

    PJ Library is a wonderful non-profit organization that sends families FREE Jewish-themed books EVERY month.

    My own grandchildren have received dozens.

    It warms my heart to know that tens of thousands of children around the world will be reading my story about Ruthie’s day with Zayde, filled with unexpected behavior by Zayde, silliness and love.

    The Wind Couldn’t Stop Us

    Independent Bookstore Weekend in Lexington, MA was windy, chilly, and damp. But the weather didn’t stop Maxima Book Center from holding outdoor readings by local authors, including moi!

    Under a blowing canopy, I read my picture book WHAT’S UP WITH THIS CHICKEN? (while Al held up the pictures) to an enthusiastic group of children and adults.

    What can be better than giggles from the audience as my chicken puppet interrupts my intro? Those 3 in the front row? My grandchildren!

    Thank you, Maxima Book Center, for inviting me to participate in this fun event!

    I was glad Al and I wore warm coats!

     

     

    Independent Bookstore Weekend!

    I’m excited to be part of Independent Bookstore Weekend (IBW)…this very weekend!

    We’re lucky in Lexington, MA to have a great independent bookstore called Maxima Book Center, located in the center of town, near where the first shots of the American Revolution rang out on April 19, 1775.

    Here are the deets for when I’ll share one or perhaps two of my picture books:

    Sunday, April 27, 2025

    1 PM

    Maxima Book Center

    1717 Mass. Ave. 

    Lexington, MA 02420

    (781) 457-6185 

    Storytime at Newtonville Books

    Fellow author Alison Goldberg and I had fun sharing our books and related crafts at Newtonville Books. Thank you to Mary at Newtonville Books for the warm welcome!

    A highlight: I introduced ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER by saying that the grandfather in the book, Zayde, does lots of silly things.

    “I am never silly,” I said.

    “You’re always silly,” piped up my granddaughter. “You’re being silly right now!”

    Al, my husband, and I getting ready to read and share the pictures

    Alison Goldberg with her picture book 18 FLOWERS FOR GRANDMA and me with ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER

                       Fun at the crafts table with art inspired by 18 Flowers for Grandma

                                        Finished artwork!

    Passover Storytime!

     

    Excited for this story time featuring ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER!

    Reading and crafts!

    Saturday, April 19

    11 AM

    Ten Trees Books

    22 Main St.

    Natick, MA

    Interview in Jewish Boston

    Recently, I was honored to be interviewed by journalist Nina Livingstone for the online publication Jewish Boston. She asked me questions about my picture books ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER and PAULIE’S PASSOVER PREDICAMENT, the humor in my writing, my stories’ subtle plugs for empathy, and more.



    Here are some excepts from the article:

    “Zayde Babysits Before Passover weaves humor, tradition and heartwarming lessons into a story that delights both kids and adults.”

    Livingstone attended my book launch at Belmont Books and had this to say:

    “Then Sutton began to read and the hissing of the cappuccino machines went silent. It took mere minutes before it was clear Sutton had entranced her audience—to the point when asked to respond in unison, everyone yelled out ‘Oy!’in all the right places.”

    Entire Article

    At book launch, I’m smiling at my oldest grandchild snuggling with the youngest in the audience

    Passover Storytime Coming Soon!

    , 
    11 AM
    Newtonville Books                                                                               
    Newton’s Independent Bookstore since 1998
    10 Langley Rd, Newton, MA 02459-1972
    617-244-6619


    I will read ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER, and Alison Goldberg will read her charming picture book 18 FLOWERS FOR GRANDMA.

    We’ll both have crafts related to our books!

    Color book cover with title in red. Girl pushing older man in shopping cart with grocery items on side. Man has glasses, cone-shaped red hat with matzoh patern, holding large sprig of parsley aloft in one hand and clutching box of matzohs. Both smile.