Hanukkah Pajamakkahs by Dara Henry – Holiday Picture Book Celebration

Today we continue our holiday picture book celebration with Hanukkah Pajamakkahs by Dara Henry!

Welcome Dara and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for Hanukkah? Are there any activities that you participate in related to the Hanukkah season?

Dara: This is such a busy and wonderful time of year for everyone! I feel grateful that so many communities have welcomed me into their holiday celebrations to share both of my books, Hanukkah Pajamakkahs and Mazel Tov,Baby! I’m looking forward to being part of those events, but when it comes to celebrating with my own family, my favorite plans involve slowing down and being fully present with my loved ones. I’m looking forward to cooking (and enjoying) traditional food, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and making memories with my family (while wearing Hanukkah pajamas, of course).

Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Dara: Hanukkah Pajamakkahs was inspired by my children. The idea came to me one morning, as my children wore their Hanukkah pajamas after the holidays had passed, in mid-January. I (unsuccessfully) encouraged them to get dressed. That’s when a title popped into my head: “HANUKKAH PAJAMAKKAHS.” I quickly checked online to see if the title had been used, and to my surprise, it had not. I jotted some notes down and got to work. The main character, Ruthie, comes straight from watching my kids handle sticky situations with positivity and optimism.

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.

Dara: When I wrote the first draft of the Hanukkah Pajamakkahs manuscript, I was in “the zone.” That first draft was written in one day. Sure, the kids didn’t get dressed or eat breakfast until lunchtime, but I had to get the words on paper.

The initial draft was very different than the final story. In that first draft, Ruthie, the main character, wore eight different pairs of Hanukkah pajamas that she had accrued over the years. She strained, stretched, and squeezed into her beloved pajamas. The story was sentimental, about growing up while holding onto holiday traditions. After a lot of feedback, I rewrote the story multiple times and made the newest version messy and humorous. I received additional feedback, streamlined the text, and tweaked the ending.

I guess you could say there were “bumps and bruises” along the way, since the story was entirely rewritten multiple times. Even after the concept had been solidified, a few smaller changes were made.

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?

Dara: The most important thing I’ve learned on my path to publication is that persistence is key! Every author I know has been rejected on numerous occasions. I like to think of it as part of the process and part of what makes us better writers. Looking at things from this perspective helps soften the sting of rejection and helps to make the passes feel less personal.

Also, it’s important to get involved in the community. Take classes, meet other authors, and most importantly, WRITE. Each and every time you write a manuscript, you’re working on your craft. The more manuscripts you write and query, the more likely it is that something will sell.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Dara: My newest book, A Together Place, comes out February 2, 2027, with Sourcebooks Kids. I’m really excited about it. After the holidays, I’ll be gearing up for the launch.

I love traveling! One of my goals is to see more of the world (with my family) and make beautiful, lasting memories along the way. My husband and I took our children to London and Paris last summer. We’re heading to New York City this winter. I dream of many more travel adventures to come.

I also plan to keep plugging away at my writing, continuing to learn and grow, take on new challenges, and hopefully continue to make and share books with families, children, and educators.

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.

Dara: This is a basic latke recipe that I got from my mom, but she doesn’t remember where she originally found it. It’s a recipe my family always enjoys, and with Hanukkah approaching, it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy it.

Potato Latkes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes (3 to 4 potatoes), scrubbed well
1/2 medium yellow onion, peeled and halved
1 large egg
1-2 tablespoons flour or matzo meal
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup canola oil
Applesauce and sour cream, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel potatoes.
Cut the potatoes in half crosswise.
Grate the potatoes and 1/2 medium yellow onion.
Transfer the grated potato and onion onto a large cheesecloth. Squeeze the potatoes and onion as hard as you can until no more liquid comes out.
Put your ingredients into a large bowl: Add the potatoes, onion, 1 large egg, flour OR matzo meal, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Mix, making sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Start by placing 1/4 cup canola oil into a large, skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until a piece of the latke mixture dropped in sizzles. *You will need to add more oil from time to time as some oil will get absorbed into the latkes as they cook.
Scoop 1/4 cup of the latke mixture and slide it into the hot oil. Flatten with your fingers, making a patty.
Repeat until the pan is full, but not too crowded. Cook until golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
Latkes are best when served immediately. They pair well with applesauce and/ or sour cream.

Thanks so much for your time; it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I love how your kids inspired you to write this delightful picture book. And I have to admit, I also love to wear my holiday pajamas.😊

You can connect with Dara here:

Website

Instagram

Twitter / X

Oy, Santa! by Joyce Schriebman – Holiday Picture Book Celebration

Today we will be kicking off our holiday picture book celebration with Joyce Schriebman, 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:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Celebrating Thanksgiving with Yashika Mody

I’m so grateful to celebrate the Thanksgiving season with Yashika Mody, the author of FUNCLES, which was just published yesterday.

Welcome Yashika, and congratulations on your debut picture book! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the fall, or for Thanksgiving?

Yashika: Oh, how I miss the fall (it’s truly my favorite season)! Living in Singapore, we don’t have any seasons or seasonal shifts, so I don’t get to participate in typical autumn traditions like apple picking or feeling cozy in sweater weather.

However, having studied at an American international school here in Singapore and then later at a US university, I’ve always had a soft spot for Thanksgiving and its focus on gratitude and appreciation. During the Thanksgiving period, we try to meet up with friends and do a casual dinner together to celebrate the spirit of the season.

I was actually so thrilled when FUNCLES was slated for a Fall release–the timing pairs so beautifully with the Thanksgiving season and its reminder to be grateful for the community around us!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Yashika: Officially, I’ve been writing picture books since the summer of 2024. But I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and I’ve been collecting picture book ideas since my son was born in 2021!

Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Yashika: This story is inspired by (and dedicated to!) my oldest son and his love for his community uncles and aunties in Singapore. In Singapore (and in fact, in many other countries and cultures too), it is a cultural norm to call elders in your community with respectful terms such as “uncle” and “aunty.” So, when my son was beginning to learn and understand language, he would hear me and my husband call the elders in our community uncle and aunty and he quickly picked up on this cultural practice. Everyone he met became his uncle or aunty and became a part of his own community. It was so cute to watch him take this love for his community across the world – on a trip to London, even the guards at Buckingham Palace lovingly became known as “Red Guard Uncles!” Inspired by how community can have such a strong impact on a child, I wrote FUNCLES as my personal ode to culture, community connection, and joyful storytelling.

Yashika: What a wild ride it’s been! FUNCLES was the first manuscript I wrote and the manuscript I queried with – it helped me land my first agent and I was absolutely thrilled! Unfortunately, things didn’t work out with that agent and we parted ways. It was hard, but it was a blessing in disguise as it really wasn’t a good fit. I didn’t want to lose any momentum with FUNCLES which I felt was ready for submission, so I decided to submit the manuscript to publishers directly while querying agents in parallel. I used Bitsy Kemper’s amazing list of publishing houses accepting unagented submissions which is a wonderful resource that all querying authors should check out. Lantana Publishing was one of the publishers on the list and their mission to uplift diverse voices and their sincere passion for representation felt like a great fit.

Less than 6 weeks after submitting to them, I got a wonderful response of interest from them asking if the manuscript was still available. At the time that I received the Lantana offer, I was already in touch with one agent who had requested more material. I then informed this agent of Lantana’s publishing offer and we accelerated our discussions. Thankfully things worked out and my current agent (Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary) and I signed together shortly after the initial offer, and I’m thankful to now be with a wonderful champion for my work!

Lantana and I then got working on a few revisions – mainly around how to make specific scenes and activities work for both UK (where Lantana Publishing is based out of) and US audiences. This revision process was so interesting and such a great look into how to make stories more universal for all audiences and locations. For example, we discussed wording nuances between “poster board” and “poster paper” or “food court uncle” vs. “food stall uncle” to see what would resonate with both geographies equally.

From the time I signed my offer in July 2025 to its upcoming publication in November 2026, it’s been about 1.5 years to publication which feels fast considering industry standards! I was so impressed with the speed at which Lantana was able to pull everything together and how adeptly the illustrator, Adriena Fong, was able to put together such vibrant artwork within the timeframe!

I think my big takeaway from this entire journey with FUNCLES is: to be your own strongest advocate! Publishing is truly such a long and wild journey filled with high highs and low lows, but what will take you through this career I think is the belief that your books are needed in the hands of kids and your own commitment to your work. I’m so glad I took a chance to submit my work to Lantana and I’m ever so grateful this journey came out of it!

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?

Yashika: Similar to what I’ve shared above, my best advice would be to put yourself out there (as hard as it feels!) and find different ways to get your work in front of agents and publishers you are interested in. The Kid Lit space is so wonderfully active with different opportunities like agent pitches, critique sessions, webinars, conferences, direct submissions etc. – it’s really helpful to be a part of those events and opportunities (if and when you can) so that you can learn more about your agent or publisher of interest and perhaps make a more targeted and personal connection.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Yashika: Once FUNCLES is officially released, I’m looking forward to starting school visits and getting to interact with kids! On a personal front, I can’t wait to travel more with my family. I’ve just had my 2^nd baby boy a few months back (this has been my year of babies – my first book baby and another real baby!) so we’ve been staying local for a bit through the pregnancy and early months. But now that things are getting a bit more settled, we can’t wait to travel again over the Christmas holidays!

Yashika: My day always starts with a hot cup of Indian chai (chai first, then writing haha) so I’d love to share my Mum’s chai recipe that I’ve been making for years! It’ll give you a real kick in the morning and hopefully motivate you to get some writing done!

Fill ¾ of a mug with water and boil the water on a pot on the stove.
Add 3 spoons of grated ginger into the boiling water. Keep stirring.
Then, add 1-1.5 spoons of sugar (adjust according to your taste preference).
Add in 1 spoon of chai leaves called ‘chai patti.’ You can buy this at any Indian grocery store or online (I personally use a brand called ‘Brooke Label Red Label’).
Keep stirring and let the mixture boil until the water has evaporated.
Add in about 1 mug of milk.
Add in any additional spices to taste (like cinnamon sticks or cinnamon powder, cloves etc. Even though the chai leaves already include these spices within the mix, I still love putting full cinnamon sticks in for extra flavor.
Keep stirring and let the mixture further boil.
Strain the liquid and serve hot!

Thanks so much for your time, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I drink a lot of tea, and love a good spicy chai, so I will definitely be trying your Indian chai recipe!

You can connect with Yashika here:

Website

Instagram

Bluesky

Celebrating the Launch of I’m Busy with Debbie Ridpath Ohi

I’m thrilled to have Debbie Ridpath Ohi with us today. Debbie is a children’s book author and illustrator who has illustrated books for Judy Blume and Michael Ian Black. I’m Busy, the newest addition to the I’m series of picture books, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie, launches on February 24^th.

Welcome Debbie, and congratulations on your newest picture book! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me.

Me: Do you have any special plans for the rest of this long, cold winter? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?

Debbie: My favourite season is autumn. I do love early winter and would definitely miss that season if we ended up having to move somewhere that was always warm. However, winters in Ontario are looooong, and we’re all pretty much ready for it to end by March. 🙂 My plans for the winter: Since I’ve just come back from work travel in NYC and vacation travel in New Orleans, my plans for the rest of the winter consist of cocooning in my cozy basement studio and working on my middle grade novel!

Me: How long have you been writing?

Debbie: I have been writing and wanting to be a writer for as long as I can remember, honestly. I wrote my first chapter book when I was nine years old and was delighted that my teacher liked it and the illustrations I added.

Me: What, or who was the inspiration for this book?

Debbie: I asked Michael why he wrote I’m Busy, and he said, “I wrote I’m Busy as a reminder for the over-scheduled kid (or parent) that even though we’re so lucky we get to do so many amazing things, it’s also important to take some time to hang out with your buddies and just look at the clouds.”

Me: Tell me a little bit about your journey as the illustrator of this book. 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.

Debbie: There were definitely some bumps and bruises during the illustration process, at least in terms of challenges to figure out along the way. I’ve learned, though, that this is actually a good thing…it means that the project is pushing me to be more creative, to step outside my comfort zone, that I’m growing as an illustrator. For I’m Busy, the challenge was deciding on how I wanted to draw the background in illustrations that already had a lot of stuff in the foreground. One example: the spread where thegirl is walking away from the “camera”, with a ton of papers, notebooks, scheduling materials, pens, pencils etc. trailing behind her. My solution: to draw the background in a softer and more muted illustration style. That way, it wouldn’t interfere with the foreground elements or making things look too “busy” (despite the title of the book, heh).

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?

Debbie: No matter how busy you are, always make the time to read. On the most hectic days when I barely have enough time to eat, I still always make sure to read for at least 10-15 minutes a day. I read in all formats: print, digital, and audio.

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Debbie: I’m excited about being the cover artist for two Judy Blume titles that are being reissued by Simon & Schuster Children’s! The titles are As Long As We’re Together, and Here’s To You, Rachel Robinson. I’ve been working with Lauren Rille, Hope Kim, and Jin Soo Chun. The new covers are not ready to share yet, but hopefully soon!

Debbie: I confess that this is the question that took me the most time, because I’m not really a natural cook or baker; I rely heavily on cookbooks. One of my favourite breakfasts is oatmeal with a fried egg on top. Does that count as a recipe? I can also share my current favourite recipe website, which is Just One Cookbook at https://www.justonecookbook.com/. A friend pointed me there when she found out I was looking for simple tasty Japanese home cooking recipes. It’s wonderful!

Thank you for stopping by, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends. I feel truly honored to have interviewed you and want to thank you for all you do for the Kid Lit community on Bluesky and through the resources on your website. And thank you for sharing your favorite recipe website, the Japanese fried noodles recipe looks delicious!