Barbara rogasky biography

PERSONAL: Born Apr 9, , in Wilmington, DE; daughter of Charles (a grocer) and Ida (a homemaker; girl name, Rubin) Rogasky; Education: Nerve-racking the University of Delaware, Politics: "Vacillating Liberal-Left." Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: "All-around 'handyperson;' music, especially classical but pule only; cars; and a infinite and pursued curiosity about important things."

ADDRESSES: Office—P.O. Box 34, Thetford, VT E-mail—[email&#;protected].

CAREER: Author and man of letters. In-house editor, at various levels, for several adult trade publishers; freelance editorial consultant for indefinite publishers, agents, and individuals.

AWARDS, HONORS: Notable Book selection, American Deliberate over Association (ALA), , for Rapunzel; Best Book for Young Adults selection, ALA, Best Nonfiction support Young Adults selection, Publishers Weekly, Best Books of the Epoch selection, School Library Journal, Leading Books selection, Young Adult Assemblage Services Association (ALA), Young Adult's Choice, International Reading Association, First Outstanding Book in Secondary Group Studies, Society of School Librarians International, Best Books for depiction Teenage, New York Public Contemplation, and Present Tense/Joel A. Cavour Award, American Jewish Committee, make happy , and Children's Book exert a pull on the Year selection, Bank Road College, Seventy-one Top Books invoke the Century selection, Instructor ammunition, and "Top Countdown: Best call up the Best Books for Adolescent Adults over Twenty-five Years," School Library Journal, all for Smoke and Ashes: The Story be fond of the Holocaust; Land of Incantation Award, New Mexico Library Set of contacts, and Sequoia Award, Oklahoma Survey Association, both for The o of Life: A Tale differ the Brothers Grimm; Notable Publication selection, ALA, and Best Books of the Year selection, School Library Journal, , both represent Winter Poems; National Jewish Make a reservation Award, , for The Golem: A Version; the German footpath of Smoke and Ashes was presented to the youth answer Germany in a special party by President Johannes Rau, Songwriter, Germany, ; Sydney Taylor Joy Book, Association of Jewish Libraries, , and Best Books demand the Teenage, New York Tell Library, , both for Smoke and Ashes (revised edition).

WRITINGS:

(Reteller) Rapunzel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House (New York, NY),

(Reteller) The Water of Life: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House (New Dynasty, NY),

Smoke and Ashes: Say publicly Story of the Holocaust, Authority House (New York, NY), , revised and expanded version,

(Photographer) Myra Cohn Livingston, Light charge Shadow, Holiday House (New Dynasty, NY),

(Compiler) Winter Poems, picturesque by Trina Schart Hyman, Academic (New York, NY),

The Golem: A Version, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House (New York, NY),

(Compiler) Leaf shy Leaf: Autumn Poems, photographs unresponsive to Marc Tauss, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY),

Gilgul, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker, Holiday House (New Royalty, NY),

(Compiler) Spring Poems, Respite House (New York, NY), forthcoming.

Dybbuk!: A Version, illustrated by Author Everett Fisher, Holiday House (New York, NY), forthcoming.

Contributor of ebooks to books, including From The deep to Shining Sea, compiled encourage Amy L. Cohn, Scholastic (New York, NY), , and Young Reader's Companion to American History, edited by John A. Garraty, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), Smoke and Ashes was translated sting German as Der Holocaust: Ein Buch für junge Leser, Rowohlt (Berlin, Germany), , and discuss Dutch and Japanese,

WORK Touch a chord PROGRESS: Research into the earth of American immigration for cool young-adult book; ongoing search fit in Eastern-European, Yiddish-flavored tales, myths, attend to stories to retell.

SIDELIGHTS: Whether acquit yourself such traditional stories as Rapunzel or Water of Life: A-ok Tale from the Brothers Grimm, or in collections of poetize arranged on seasonal themes, bamboozle her acclaimed history of dignity Holocaust, Barbara Rogasky brings frequent flair for storytelling to loftiness fore, claim reviewers. Recalling decline early career, Rogasky told CA: "I like telling stories, absolutely enjoy children and teenagers: boss combination that led me weigh up this profession. For several existence before that, I lived wellheeled New York City and pompous on staff as an rewrite man in adult trade houses—before Frantic fled to New England. Those years and my freelance sort out as editor, rewriter, etc., gave me basic helpful tools abide insights into the mechanics disagree with writing itself." Although she "always wrote," as she explained tell apart Theresa Gawlas Medoff in break off interview for the University execute Delaware Messenger, she did cry think of herself as straight writer. "I thought of child as an editor, as unadulterated literate human being, as forgiving who had a way give up words, but not as uncut writer. I certainly never esteem of myself as someone who would write for children."

After mode of operation for nearly twenty-five years elaborate the publishing field with specified prestigious firms as Macmillan soar Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Rogasky matt-up she needed to escape Newborn York City. So she stiff to rural New England plentiful and began a career thwart freelance editing and ghostwriting. Until now it still took a give somebody the gate from someone else to play-acting Rogasky started in writing pursue children. That someone was Trina Schart Hyman, a Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, who suggested that she and Rogasky collaborate. "Trina got me started," Rogasky confided hit Medoff. "It was very resolved to get into publishing for that reason [in the mids]. It's much harder now. I would on no occasion have thought to write Rapunzel if Trina hadn't suggested it." With Hyman's clout came Rogasky's entrée into the world make out children's books and what ultimately turned out to be trig four-book collaboration. Rogasky's first combine books retell traditional tales alongside Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Notwithstanding Rapunzel is the well-known appear of a maiden who uses her extremely long hair succumb to escape captivity in a pagoda, The Water of Life review more obscure, recounting the solicit of three princes for marvellous water to heal their sinking father. About the former, Horn Book's Ethel L. Heins wellknown that Rogasky "slightly prettified birth familiar tale and doctored beck as if to assure respectability," while a reviewer for prestige Bulletin of the Center rag Children's Books dubbed the experience "adequate" though "undistinguished." That Rogasky honed her skill for dignity second tale, The Water wages Life, was evident to a few critics, including one for Kirkus Reviews, who called it "a graceful, compassionate translation," and concerning for Publishers Weekly, who alleged it as an "elegant text."

The daughter of Eastern-European Jews, Rogasky has preserved her Jewish endowment in several works. TheGolem: Clever Version, which won the Tribal Jewish Book Award, recounts influence traditional and mystical tale retard a clay giant fashioned indifferent to a rabbi to protect interpretation Jews of Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), who coop the sixteenth century were state persecuted by anti-Semites. Told "with a colloquial warmth and well-organized Yiddish idiom" to quote Booklist's Hazel Rochman, this version fence the Golem tale has antiquated expanded to thirteen chapters explain order to tell the comprehensive story of the monster strip creation to destruction. Although dinky Publishers Weekly reviewer found glory combination of horror (prejudice tolerate violence) and humor (misunderstandings with faux pas of the Golem) difficult to accept, others god the realistic portrayal of beast for the Jews in that tumultuous century. Through this story, Rogasky "lays bare the absurdity and danger of prejudice," trim Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked. The same, two other offerings enlighten readers about other Jewish beliefs whilst Gilgul portrays the conviction think about it a person may be reincarnated in response to whatever sins that person has committed subject uses the seven deadly sins of pride, covetousness, lust, annoyance, gluttony, envy, and sloth chimp subject matter, while the prospect Dybbuk!: A Version features fastidious Jewish tale about preordained affection and spirit possession. "My parents were very typical Eastern-European settler Jews," Rogasky confided to Medoff. "Though I resisted my Jewishness for many, many years, Rabid came to appreciate what they were and the heritage take precedence culture they reflected."

Although she says that it was not backhand because of her Jewish rash, the young-adult title Smoke ray Ashes: The Story of magnanimity Holocaust made Rogasky even work up aware of her Eastern-European Person heritage. "Knowing the details cut into the Holocaust taught me in any case absolute evil can exist shut in the world, and similar apprehension continues to exist," she explained to CA. She also determined that fifty members of frequent family had died in Country during the Holocaust. In Smoke and Ashes, first published difficulty and expanded and reissued admire , Rogasky uses eye-witness commerce, photographs, statistics, and commentary grasp tell the story of spiritualist the Nazis tried to put out of misery the entire Jewish population look upon Europe. For the later demonstration, dubbed "readable and evenhanded" past as a consequence o Amy Lilien-Harper of School Lessons Journal, Rogasky added sections increase in value Nazi persecutions of homosexuals, honourableness rescuers of Jews, and fastidious discussion of genocide in annoy countries. According to a Kirkus Reviews contributor, this "clearly backhand, comprehensive, sensitive, and nuanced" parcel of the Holocaust is spruce "monumentally important history." The important edition of this "stark, strapping and comprehensive" work, to rehearse Medoff, was translated into not too languages, including German, and elaborate , the author attended put in order ceremony in Berlin that coincided with the launching of description German edition, which earned trade event reviews in the German communication. Because Rogasky believes that youthful adults need to know go up to this dark time in earth, she often gives presentations denouement the Holocaust at schools, colleges, and to the general public.

In addition to folktales and Jewish-themed works, Rogasky has compiled a number of collections of poetry because, owing to she told CA, "I prize poetry. The compilations are great joy to do—a wonderful overlook to read all the versification I can find. And mock any topic lends itself trigger compilation." Among such topics hook the seasonallythemed Winter Poems, Episode by Leaf: Autumn Poems, avoid Spring Poems, each of which contains a selection of rhyming from a variety of at this juncture periods, traditions, and cultures go off at a tangent celebrate that time of yr. While some are complete poetry, others are snippets from individual works. The anthologies caught rendering attention of critics. Numbered amongst their enthusiasts are School Memorize Journal reviewer Shawn Brommer, who called Leaf by Leaf top-notch "rich, eclectic collection," and far-out Kirkus Reviews contributor, who undying the "marvelous sense of style to this attractive volume." A-okay Publishers Weekly critic wondered, dispel, if the gloomy tone spell difficult language might be statesman appropriate for adult readers. Besides in picture-book format is magnanimity "elegant" anthology Winter Poems, close quote a Publishers Weekly man of letters, who likened this exceptional book to "sun glinting on humbug, . . . dazzling." Hand in the Washington Post Paperback World, poet David Barber illustrious that Rogasky had chosen glory twenty-five winter poems with "care and scruple," creating "a beat [that] is well-rounded yet daintily unassuming" and "all very hiemal and agreeably bracing."

After publishing say no to first children's book at jump fifty, Rogasky has found fastidious rewarding second career. Reflecting delicate the writing process, she uttered CA: "Writing and research untidy heap hard work. Accuracy is vital. But it is work stroll helps give some sense hype being alive, and I problem it immensely. Maybe the one and only thing I enjoy more progression my preposterous mutt of wonderful dog, so silly-looking children flop and laugh and adults smile." "His name," she says, "and why not, is George."

BIOGRAPHICAL Suggest CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

St. James Guide explicate Young Adult Writers, 2nd trace, St. James Press (Detroit, MI),

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 15, , Deborah Abbott, review of Light enjoin Shadow, p. ; September 15, , Carolyn Phelan, review good buy Winter Poems, pp. ; Oct 1, , Hazel Rochman, debate of The Golem: A Version, p. ; July, , Hazelnut Rochman, review of Leaf via Leaf: Autumn Poems, p. ; October 15, , Hazel Rochman, review of Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust (revised edition), p.

Book Report, January-February, , Mary Hofmann, dialogue of The Golem, p.

Bulletin of the Center for Novice Books, July, , review raise Rapunzel, pp. ; September, , Betsy Hearne, review of The Golem, pp.

Five Owls, season, , Susan Stan, review lose Smoke and Ashes, p. 6.

Horn Book, February, , Ethel Applause. Heins, review of Rapunzel, pp. ; March, , Mary Class. Burns, review of The Tap water of Life: A Tale get out of the Brothers Grimm, pp. ; September, , Margaret A. Scrub, review of Smoke and Ashes, p. ; January, , Hazelnut Rochman, "Booktalking: Going Global," discussion of Smoke and Ashes, pp.

Journal of Reading, May, , Susan Murphy and Robert Little, review of Smoke and Ashes, pp.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, , review of The Tap water of Life, p. ; Sept 15, , review of The Golem, p. ; August 1, , review of Leaf wedge Leaf, p. ; August 15, , review of Smoke obtain Ashes (revised edition) p.

Publishers Weekly, July 16, , argument of Rapunzel, p. 78; Lordly 22, , review of The Water of Life, p. 97; May 13, , review put Smoke and Ashes, p. ; April 26, , review vacation Smoke and Ashes, p. 60; October 31, , review prop up Winter Poems, p. 63; Oct 21, , review of The Golem, pp. ; November 15, , review of Winter Poems, p. 69; January 10, , review of Winter Poems, holder. 70; September 3, , look at of Leaf by Leaf, proprietor.

School Library Journal, November, , Connie C. Rockman, review worldly The Water of Life, owner. 83; June, , Jack Forman, review of Smoke and Ashes, p. ; April, , Barbara Chatton, review of Light existing Shadow, p. ; October, , Sally R. Dow, review match Winter Poems, p. ; Oct, , Susan Scheps, review well The Golem, p. ; Sep, , Shawn Brommer, review slow Leaf by Leaf, p. ; October, , Amy Lilien-Harper, con of Smoke and Ashes (revised edition), pp.

Washington Post Emergency supply World, December 4, , King Barber, "The Lure of dignity Rhyme," review of Winter Poems, p.

ONLINE

University of Delaware Messenger, (Volume 9, number 2, ), Theresa Gawlas Medoff, "Children's Creator Finds Niche Preserving Jewish Heritage."