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Welcome, readers, writers and babka lovers, too! We have such a splendid treat for you today. Lisa Rosinsky with Barefoot Books is here sharing a new fantastic fall-themed book on their list, Bring Back the Babka! When brothers search for their mom's missing Babka around their neighborhood, they receive other tasty treats and words of wisdom from each house they visit instead. This heartwarming tale filled with humor and mystery is a must read for the season. Want to know more about Lisa and Barefoot Book's new title, PLUS want a chance to win an amazing opportunity, too? Read on...
Q: Thanks so much for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit! We’re thrilled to have you Trick or Treat with us! Please tell us about yourself and your role at Barefoot Books.
A: I’ve been a Senior Editor at Barefoot for just over 7 years. I acquire, commission, edit, and art direct board books and picture books for ages 0-10.
Q: Bring Back the Babka is just one of the fun and important stories being told at Barefoot Books. What drew you and/or the publisher to this book?
A: I fell in love with this warm hug of a story as soon as I read it. It perfectly brings to life the role of food in Judaism—food as a bridge for connection, as an act of caring, and as an artifact of our history. It’s a love letter to Jewish cooking and Jewish mothers, all wrapped in a frolicking romp of a mystery with a hilarious surprise ending. And I love that it portrays a modern-day, diverse Jewish community coming together to celebrate Shabbat.
Readers, this book is certainly a warm hug! Take a look at some of the wonderful spreads below. Thanks again for sharing this story with us, Lisa!
Q: As a publisher, what might you look for as far as holiday / celebration books? Why or why not would these books be a good fit? What are you looking for right now?
A: I do look for holiday and celebration books, but I’d say that I usually want them to be more than “just” a holiday book—ex. to include some sort of overarching social emotional message that makes them a good solid year-round read as well. I’m especially looking for books on underrepresented holidays, especially Jewish holidays other than Hanukkah or Passover.
Q: Please tell us about one of your Halloween / Fall-themed acquisitions and what, in particular, drew you to it?
A: Benita and the Night Creatures is our spooky-themed release this fall! It’s all about young Benita, who is just trying to read a book in bed, but keeps getting interrupted by a variety of colorful Peruvian monsters jumping out of her closet and trying to scare her. Finally, she yells QUIET! and the monsters, in disbelief, curl up next to her to see what could possibly be holding her attention…and they all get lost in her story together. It’s written by Peruvian American author Mariana Llanos and illustrated by Peruvian artist team Cocoretto, and we acquired this book because we loved the humorous celebration of reading and the twist on a classic bedtime monster story.
Readers, we had the pleasure of featuring this wonderful book and author during our Trick-or-Treat event earlier this month. If you missed the interview, click here!
Q: What advice do you have for capturing the reader’s interest at the very beginning, and then keeping them engaged?
A: Memorable voice, sensory detail, a strong plot—these are all things I look for when I’m reading manuscript submissions.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Halloween (or fall)?
A: Busting out my flannel shirt collection.
Q: BONUS QUESTION: What’s your favorite Halloween Candy? OR What candy pairs the best with your book?
A: I guess if I had to pick a Halloween candy to pair with Bring Back the Babka, I’d pick anything chocolatey—because chocolate babka is the best!
Thanks again for joining us, Lisa! We can't wait to check out all your amazing titles at Barefoot Books!
Q: Would you like to leave a Trick or a Treat for the readers?
A: A Treat! I'd like to offer one skip-the-slush pile pass to a reader.
Oh WOW! Thanks for such a sweet treat!
Contest Details: To enter to win this amazing giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) make sure to leave a comment below thanking Lisa for stopping by.
#SeasonsOfKidLit's Trick-or-Treat Winners will be chosen on or about November 5th.
Note: Those who leave a comment on all posts will be eligible to win one (1) of ten (10) Rate Your Story Speed Passes, perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Agent Mentee Lynne Marie & Author Heather Macht.
About Lisa Rosinsky:
Lisa Rosinsky is a senior editor at Barefoot Books, where she edits and art directs (and occasionally writes) board books and picture books for ages 0-10. She dropped out of pre-med in college to study poetry instead, which was a great life decision. Originally from Maryland, she now lives in Massachusetts, where the ocean is significantly chillier. lisarosinskywrites.com
For more about Lisa, check out the below links:
Twitter/X: @LisaRosinsky
Website: lisarosinskywrites.com
For more about Barefoot Books, check out the below links:
Instagram: @barefootbooks
Twitter/X: @BarefootBooks
To browse all the amazing titles at Barefoot Books, click here.
A special thanks to David Rodriguez Lorenzo for the amazing custom-signatures!
