Listen: Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature author @miriamudel.bsky.social speaks with Ye Gods with Scott Carter about how stories can help children understand challenging topics, including injustice, inequality, and racism:
Since I’m not in NY for the blizzard, here’s some legendary zaverukhe content, translated into English.
I’m so grateful to the team @princetonupress.bsky.social that made this book as elegant as possible, from content to cover.
Extremely grateful to the anonymous judges and the @jewishbookcouncil.bsky.social & team @princetonupress.bsky.social , and awed by the cohort of winners and finalists. Labzik is cheerfully perplexed at the fuss, and Kulbak’s wind is a little less angry today.
A Cappella and Tall Tales have both been lovely to work with. Little Shop of Stories in Decatur is legendary but I’m not sure how many grownup events they do, though they sell grownup books alongside children’s.
My high school journalism teacher told us we could have one per year. Then I graduated!!!
In Miami Beach, there really is a free lunch. Tell a South Floridian Yiddish lover!
I’m remembering what it’s like to share joy as a mass phenomenon. Gracias, Sr. Benito.
Rooting for you! It’s such a long, hard road.
This is how I do email.
Absolutely free and starting tonight. Register at the link included.
Labzik is ready for his closeup!
Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature by Miriam Udel
Miriam Udel
Tomorrow (Jan 28) at 4:30pm PST, the University of Washington welcomes @miriamudel.bsky.social for a discussion of her book Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature! The talk will be followed by a book signing
Registration is required for this in-person event: buff.ly/nmhAiE9
A book generously blurbed by @theradr.bsky.social
Wait until Labzik: Tales of a Clever Pup comes out in November with @sunypress.bsky.social @rcolesworthy.bsky.social
One of the most powerful stories I’ve come across about collective action is The Birds Go on Strike by Lit-Man aka Simkhe Geltman, translated by @miriamudel.bsky.social. In it, the birds refuse to sing until all the birds held in captivity within the city are set free.
A passage from Chaver Paver’s 1935 Labzik: Tales of a Clever Pup, about a peaceful protest at an elementary school, in which neighborhood mamas interrupt police violence and the firefighters refuse to turn hoses on the children of their community.
My sister lives in Minneapolis, and yesterday a group of neighbors peacefully prevailed upon 5 SUV-loads of ICE officers to turn back from an elementary school. Kinda like this passage Labzik in 1935. Translation to appear in November with @rcolesworthy.bsky.social and SUNY Press.
My first in-person event on the West Coast. Talking about Yiddish children’s literature means talking about democracy.
I’m deep in, and it’s incredible.
But Jane herself really loved and stood by it, right? So weird.
It sounds intriguing and terrifying. Probably the best, most edifying combination at the moment!
Neighbor/ing is very powerfully articulated by Emmanuel Levinas.
Exciting company for the unusual superreader Shprintse, proletpup Labzik, and Lipe the Tailor!
Listen to this episode of the @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social podcast where @miriamudel.bsky.social discusses her new book, Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children's Literature:
Imagine trying to figure out womanhood based on Cathy.
SUNY Press, for November 2026!
Yiddish to English
Oh, and in the meantime you’ve got Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin and “The Birds Go On Strike” in my anthology, Honey on the Page. Also, the entirety of Mickenberg & Nel’s Tales for Little Rebels.
Please check out Labzik: Tales of a Clever Pup in November for exactly that!
I’m translating a 1935 book of short stories about charming Labzik, the “Marx who barks” and the loving, working-class Bronx fam who adopt him during the Gr8 Depression. Lots of anti-authoritarian, antiracist adventures. I’m so curious to see whether 21st c kids will embrace it or just us grownups!
