The Jewish Children's Book Awards 2023 Winners Announced on World Book Day March 2nd 2023
Green Bean Books and Jewish Book Week are delighted to reveal the winners of the second Jewish Children’s Book Awards. The winner of the illustration prize is: Italian-Jewish illustrator Mel Zohar. The winner of the writing prize is: London-based Dina Leifer for And Eddie Had An Egg.
Judge Michael Leventhal commented: “Mel Zohar’s illustrations about an ever-growing challah are bright and exciting. She is an incredibly creative and original talent. Dina Leifer’s story is a charming, witty and clever tale about a boy who is a fussy eater but eventually gets one over his parents.”
JCBA Story Illustration Winner, Mel Zohar
Mel Zohar, 32, from Rome, Italy, said: ‘I want to thank all the judges who, with this decision, have made me very happy, not only for the recognition I have received for my work as an illustrator, but even more because these images come from my personal family background and from my personal bond with the Jewish tradition and creating them was very emotionally involving for me. And I also want to really thank my Bobe for inspiring them.’
JCBA Story Winner, Dina Leifer
Dina Leifer, 56, who was born in Dundee and now lives in London said: “I am delighted! And Eddie Had An Egg is a story that is very close to my heart, so it means a great deal that it was chosen by the distinguished panel at the Jewish Children’s Book Awards. Winning this award has boosted my confidence to go on and write more Jewish stories for children.”
You can watch a full reading of Dina Leifer’s award-winning story, read by storyteller Vanessa Woolf, if you click here.
Two other writers were shortlisted for the text award: Rebecca Marcus for Even the Masfa, and Angela Kanter for On One Leg.
Both winners will each receive £1,000. The awards are judged by author and chair of the book selection committee of PJ Library Chris Barash; publisher of Green Bean Books Michael Leventhal; director of the Children’s and YA department at Kinneret-Zmora-Dvir Yael Molchadsky; translator and author Lawrence Schimel; and award-winning author Eric Kimmel.
The 2023/2024 JCBA competition will be launched in April 2023.
For more details please get in touch awards@greenhillbooks.com