Today we will be kicking off our holiday picture book celebration with Joyce Shriebman, the author of OY, SANTA! This fun holiday story that celebrates differences was a 2025 Children’s Book Council Favorite Award Winner, and I can’t wait to hear more about it.
Welcome Joyce and thank you for taking the time to chat with me today.
Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?
Joyce: First, thanks, Pat, for inviting me to share my writing journey with your readers.
When my son (who now has a child of his own—when did THAT happen?) was in preschool, he was quite concerned that Santa wouldn’t know we didn’t celebrate Christmas. So he wrote a note on a brown paper bag to make sure there was no doubt. I still have that scrap of paper (framed now). And I put it on our mantel every holiday season. You can see a picture of it in the back of the book.
Fast forward many years, and I decided to write a story about children who don’t celebrate Christmas. Not a story where blended interfaith families combine the holidays. Not a story about families that celebrate BOTH holidays. And not a book just for Jewish kids about Hanukkah. All those books already exist.
I wanted to write a book for children who are not a part of the Christmas scene. My book shows readers a child who doesn’t miss Christmas and takes pride in their own holiday. And it shows readers who observe Christmas that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Mirrors & Doors! Many young children (and adults, too!) are surprised when they meet someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas.
At its heart, Oy, Santa! is about respecting differences. Some of those differences are simple. Santa has cats; Ollie, our main character, has a dog. Potato latkes with sour cream or applesauce? (Spoiler alert: Santa likes Ketchup! OY, SANTA!) Some of the differences are more sophisticated. Ollie’s friend is Muslim, and Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas either. And some of Santa’s elves are Muslim AND Jewish (cue Shazia, Morris, and Goldie!) The talented illustrator, Gila von Meissner, created a charming interracial family for Ollie. And she dropped delightful easter eggs in her illustrations. (Any Ted Lasso fans out there? Keep your eyes peeled.)
Oy, Santa! is a story that honors difference; models empathy; and shows that friendship doesn’t require sameness. I’m delighted by the book’s reception. People are buying the book for themselves, as gifts for family and friends, and one little boy wanted one for a classmate and his family ended up buying three with one going to his school library! I guess it fits in pretty much anywhere during the holiday season! (I’m happy to send out bookplates if any of your readers would like one. Just contact me!)
If there are any teachers reading this, they can access free discussion guides to support classroom conversations about diversity. And we’re particularly thrilled that the Tanenbaum Foundation created a resource called Bringing Oy, Santa! to the Classroom for its Religions in Our Neighborhood curriculum.
I can go on and on about Oy, Santa! So many people have seen so much in it—more than I ever imagined! And that’s the joy and beauty of writing, isn’t it?
Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.
Joyce: I had the idea for this book for a long time. (Sound familiar, anyone?) But I couldn’t find an entry point. One day I was in a bookstore and saw an epistolary picture book and knew immediately that was the right format. The first draft came together quickly. Then my critique groups (I have several) weighed in. So many opinions! Oy! One group even said I’d never get it published! My weekly CG [critique group] was instrumental in helping me get the tone right. The story arc never changed. But I needed to tone down some of the…how did they put it? SNARK! And they were right! Their fingerprints are all over this story. And I’m grateful to have such a strong group of writer friends that I can trust.
Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?
Joyce: Can I suggest more than one? 🙄
Me: Yes, of course lol. I would love that!
Everyone tells new writers to read, read, read. And that’s true. And don’t limit yourself. Read inside and outside your genre.
But also…
Find or start a critique group—a cadre of writers to support you and who you can support. I learn as much from critiquing other writers’ manuscripts as I do when my work is critiqued. Maybe more.
My third recommendation (and I hear my CPs groaning!) is don’t dismiss the value of a pitch. If you can, write your pitch earlier rather than later ‘cause you’ll have to do it eventually. And it can act as a compass as you write. If you can’t craft one when you’re writing, there’s a good chance you’ll struggle with it later. Use your pitch as an advantage not an afterthought.
My last piece of advice, which is totally contrary, is don’t take any piece of advice as if it’s written in stone. Learn your craft, yes. But when someone says, “The number one rule is…”, consider the advice, but take it with a grain of salt, too. From what I’ve seen, every writer’s number one rule is different. Read. Attend workshops. Write that messy first draft. Be creative. Have fun. But most importantly, you do you. The world doesn’t need another JK Rowling. It needs YOU.
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Joyce: I’m working on a MG Novel in Verse. Yikes! When I read my first NIV, I said, “I’d like to try that!” So I am. We’ll see where it goes.
Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me; I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.
Joyce: Gosh, I cook like I write—by the seat of my pants! I could offer my potato latke recipe, but there are already a gazillion of them. Here’s something I make when I haven’t planned ahead. Ah the life of a pantser!
BEER BREAD Great with soups, stews, a slather of butter, a hunk of cheese, a glass of wine
3 cups self-rising flour (I have King Arthur self-rising flour in the pantry just for this recipe)
¼ cup sugar, scant
1 can (12-oz) beer * room temp
¼ cup butter
Preheat oven to 375°.
Grease a bread/loaf pan. (5×9)
Mix dry ingredients together.
Add beer, slowly.
Stir gently.
The dough will be sticky. Don’t over mix.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly.
Drizzle the butter over the top. (Sometimes I do this halfway through the baking.)
Bake 45-50 minutes, until the crust is brown and a knife inserted comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes, then turn out on a wire rack.
Cool another 45 minutes or so before you cut. Be patient. The aroma will be tempting.
Enjoy!
- You can make this with any type of beer, but it’s best to use a beer you enjoy. Some friends use a light beer like wheat beer or a pilsner. I usually use Stella or Guiness (my personal fav) because I like a hearty beer. The beer flavor will come through in subtle notes of the bread.
- This is a quick “Oh no! Company’s coming and I forgot to buy bread.” Use whatever beer is in the fridge. It’ll be do the trick.
- I’ve been told this can be made with lemon-lime soda in place of beer. I haven’t tried it yet, so if you do, please let me know how it is! I’d probably eliminate the sugar in the recipe, but that’s just me.
Thank you for stopping by, it’s always nice to make new writing friends. It was wonderful hearing about your writing journey, and I love how your son served as an inspiration for OY, SANTA!, that, as one reader put it is “the holiday book we didn’t know we needed.”
You can connect with Joyce here:
