1. Judaism places great value on kindness to animals – how do you feel about animals? Do you have any pets?
In our family we love animals very much. We have a very old dog, about a hundred years old, and four cats that rule the house. The dog too. We once had a raven that adopted us; we called him Tuvia and one day he simply flew away (perhaps to another house with fewer cats). Our dog was happy when Tuvia left because the raven was constantly eating her food. Apart from that, two chameleons (a kind of lizard that looks like a snake) live in our yard under the steps, but they’re not pets and we only see them occasionally.
2. Two of the key messages of the book are for children to follow their instinct despite what other people say and the importance of patience and waiting for the right time. Do you have any wise words about how we instil these values in our children as they grow up in a time of hectic information overload and instant gratification?
We believe it’s worthwhile and important to teach children to listen to their hearts and act according to what seems right and just to them, even if everyone else thinks differently. Sometimes it’s not easy and requires a lot of determination and courage, but if you truly listen to your heart, the heart usually knows.
3. Why do you think children often respond so well to animals, in particular children with special needs?
Animals feel in their bodies who loves them, who needs them and who cares for their wellbeing, and they reciprocate with love without any judgement. Children who raise an animal learn to behave gently and with empathy, to understand non-verbal communication, to be tender and caring. They take responsibility for the care for the animal and thus their self-confidence is also strengthened. They learn to consider those who are weaker than them and who need them. (Just don’t forget that we as responsible adults need to make sure the animals are indeed content, and aren’t receiving unwanted or overly crushing hugs and caresses …)
4. Does your work as a puppeteer help your writing, and vice versa?
Absolutely. Because I’m a puppeteer, I see my stories as pictures and scenes. I look for the climactic moments, the drama, the movement and the music of the story, exactly like in my puppetry performances.
5. How do you feel about recent reports that children are reading less? Do all of your children like to read? What can we do to encourage those who aren’t natural bookworms?
I’m not sure if these studies are accurate. There have always been and still are those who love to read and also those who prefer to knit, cook or sail a boat. (Or watch movies.) But it’s been proven that reading books contributes to development in so many areas: imagination and creativity, thinking, vocabulary, curiosity, emotional world, knowledge acquisition and – most importantly, in my opinion – provides many hours of enjoyment. Therefore it’s worth it to encourage reading.
To experience wonderful magical moments, to meet fascinating characters, to go on adventures, to meet knights, dragons, princesses and princes, secret gardens, fairies, forest dwarfs, smiling cats, glowing castles, chickens learning to fly, Quidditch games, lions in the library …
If we want our children to become reading adults, we simply need to read many books to them (and also read ourselves), not necessarily just before bedtime. Every hour of the day is suitable. To curl up together under a blanket on the couch, on the carpet or on the mat on the beach, to look at illustrations, to talk about what we’ve read, to read the same stories again and again – you can always discover something new, that’s for sure. And yes, to read aloud even if it seems to us that the children already know how to read by themselves, as long as they’re interested in it.
For me, reading is like breathing. Since my first grade I can’t have a day without a book.
6. Which books (Jewish or secular) did you love as a child?
When I was little I was mainly told stories by Miriam Yalan-Shteklis and Leah Goldberg, Hayim Nahman Bialik, Nathan Alterman and Kadya Molodowsky. My father really loved to read, and we had hundreds of books at home. I read them all, even those that weren’t suitable for my age (if my father knew what I was reading he would have been horrified). At the age of seven I joined a library and obviously I went there every day.
I loved Erich Kästner’s books – my favourite was Emil and the Detectives – and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s books, especially The Secret Garden. I also read all the books by Dvora Omer and Enid Blyton and the Brothers Grimm and Lucy Maud Montgomery and Astrid Lindgren. (And maybe you’ll be surprised, I know I’m strange, but I didn’t like Pippi Longstocking then, and today I’m still not enthusiastic about her.)
I read all the books that were in the public library, and in the school library, and the books belonging to my cousins and those I found in my classmates’ homes and those that were in the homes of all the neighbourhood children.
I am, by scientific zoological definition, classified as a bookworm. All my children are like that too. Maybe it’s genetic?
7. What is your writing process? Do you have a system, or does writing come naturally to you?
Unfortunately I have no order or organized writing habits but I promise myself that I’ll organize such habits later. Sometimes I get swept into writing and cannot stop. Then come quiet periods until something in my heart calls me to sit and write.
When I hear beautiful expressions, interesting sayings or fascinating parts of conversations between people, I immediately write them down in a small notebook or on a piece of paper so they won’t be lost. (If you’re on a train and I’m in the vicinity, you should speak quietly, otherwise something you say might end up in a story.)
Maybe you won’t believe it: I write in notebooks, on sheets or pieces of paper – with a pencil. No keyboard or pen!
8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
No. I don’t even have advice for myself.
9. Do you have any idea what your next writing project will be?
I’m working now with Kinneret Zmora Dvir publishing house on a new book for little ones –Dwarf Songs. The illustrator is the wonderful Jenny Meilihove. And she draws the dwarfs even cuter than I imagined them.
Yael Gover is my wonderful editor and I’m sure this will be a book that every parent will want their daughters and sons to have. Of course, like everyone who writes, I have another million stories in the drawers, waiting patiently.
10. Which well-known writer would you love to have dinner with, and why?
With Nurit Zarchi, because I would like to know how to write like her. And with Harper Lee because she wrote one of the bravest and best books in the world. And with Erich Kästner because I have a few things to tell him.
11. The Old Testament is the original treasure trove of Jewish stories. Which story from the Bible most captures your attention, and why?
I love the story about Jochebed, Miriam and Pharaoh’s daughter. Three women who do what they believe is right and necessary to do, despite what they’re being commanded. Jochebed doesn’t cast her baby son into the river, Miriam, his sister, guards him from afar despite it being forbidden, and Pharaoh’s daughter adopts him.
Thanks to these three women Moses was saved, and thanks to him the Children of Israel left Egypt. This is a story of heroism and courage, justice and determination, compassion and love – everything that is needed for the world to be a better place.