IMAGE OF THE WEEK
I’m pleased to announce the publication of The Hungry Haggadah: A Passover Story in Rhyme, written by Lawrence Bush, editor of Jewish Currents Magazine, illustrated and designed by me – to be published next week by Blue Thread.
This book grew out of my working relationship with Larry Bush. For the past two years, I’ve worked part-time at Jewish Currents doing office work, fundraising, and graphic design. Jewish Currents is a secular Jewish magazine with deep roots in social justice and the labor movement of 1950s New York. You can read about Jewish Currents’ mission here. Larry is a brilliant and prolific editor, producing a quarterly magazine, a daily “Jewdayo” column (check it out!), and several books per year through Jewish Currents’ publishing imprint, Blue Thread Books & Music.
So when Larry showed me his delightful rhyming version of the story of Exodus, cleverly framed in a progressive Jewish family’s Passover seder (with a curious guest), I wanted to illustrate it right away. What you see here is a boy whose stomach languishes as Moses takes forever to lead the Israelites across the Red Sea – to dinner on the other side. Light-humored and full of Jewish nuance, this book is as much for adults as children. The story begins:
A FAMILY DINNER? What’s the big deal?
Let’s skip all the talking and get to the meal!
It’s Passover – why not pass over the chatter?
And pass out the matzo balls! Hey! What’s the matter?
. . . and goes on from there. If you’ve ever sat hungrily through a Passover seder, the child in you (and those in your family) will chuckle through this entertaining book.
I painted the interior illustrations in just one color – a refreshing change for me. This really was a fun project!
Click here to order The Hungry Haggadah in advance at a reduced price of $9.95. If you want multiple copies for your Passover seder, a set of five books is just $40. The books will ship after March 21st.
As always, thank you for your interest in my books and art!
D Yael Bernhard
http://dyaelbernhard.com
THE HUNGRY HAGGADAH: A Passover Story in Rhyme
THE JEWISH EYE – 2016 /5776 calendar of art