Linda Marshall Children's book author
WRITER OF BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND OTHER COOL STUFF
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
Illustrated by Francesca Assirelli
Publisher: KarBen/Lerner, 2011
ISBN10: 076135218X
ISBN13: 978-0761352181
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Synopsis:
“How can a vegetable be ‘rude’?” Talia wonders, when she mis-hears her grandmother asking her to gather “root” vegetables for a Rosh Hashanah stew. As Talia digs in the garden, she collects the twisted, ornery carrots and parsnips – the “rude” vegetables that she thinks her grandmother wants -- and finds a good home for the rest.
“A delectable tale reminding us of the power of an act of kindness to compensate for a misunderstanding.”
— Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of
“When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”
From Kirkus Review:
A little girl’s misunderstanding, the harvesting of some root vegetables and a recipe for stew merge for an amusing Jewish New Year story.
From Publishers Weekly:
This laugh-out-loud title keeps the little jokes coming….
This lovely New Year’s book can be read and enjoyed year-round.
As I was writing this, I thought of my own garden and all the carrots we TRIED to grow. We had much better luck with Brussels sprouts!
~Linda
Talia and the YUM! Kippor
Illustrated by Francesca Assirelli
Publisher: KarBen/Lerner, 2015
ISBN-10: 1467752401
ISBN-13: 978-1467752404
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Synopsis:
Talia of Talia and the Rude Vegetables fame is back with another pun-driven story of misheard words and malapropisms. When grandma talks about preparing for breaking the Yom Kippur fast, Talia instead hears the words as 'breakfast' and 'Yum' Kippur, setting a funny series of events into motion with her misunderstanding.
Note: Book includes a recipe for Talia's very YUM kugel! Try it. You'll like it!
From Publishers Weekly:
"the pun-driven jokes keep the mood upbeat”
“a fine introduction to an important Jewish holiday, as well as a reminder that intangible things like forgiveness can be as delicious as the best kugel"
From Kirkus Review:
“Marshall adeptly exploits the nuance of language and its use in context to introduce the significance of the holiday's atonement through prayer and fast in a simple way for young children. The long, slow—the opposite of fast!—day alone with Grandma gives Talia the opportunity to think about her own shortcomings and to apologize. The folk-style illustrations in deep tones evoke this sweet and endearing little girl's day with her loving elder.”
“Both a loving family story and a deft introduction to the significance of the holiday.”
Interview Read an interview on The Whole Megillah
One year, just after Rosh Hashanah, I made a little joke..."What if YUM! Kippur came next?" Talia (and there is a real Talia) giggled at my joke. That gave me the idea that there might be a book in there…And, even more importantly, that I had the opportunity to explain Yom Kippur in a way that's understandable and, even more importantly, that I had the opportunity to explain Yom Kippur, a holy day of introspection and atonement.
~Linda
Talia and the Haman-tushies
Illustrated by Francesca Assirelli
Publisher: KarBen/Lerner, 2017
ISBN-10: 1512408255
ISBN-13: 978-1512408256
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Synopsis:
It's almost Purim, and Talia's sure that Grandma said they're going to bake "haman-TUSHIES." Eww! But as Talia helps Grandma with the recipe and learns the story of Purim—from the bravery of Queen Esther to the schemes of wicked Haman—she discovers a lot about these holiday cookies that she didn't know. The third in Marshall's play-on-words Talia stories including Talia and the Rude Vegetables and Talia and the Very YUM Kippur.
I’ve always loved making hamantaschen. It’s such a great group project. My mother used peanut butter and chocolate kisses for fillings…Mmmm…delicious!! So, for Purim, I wanted to write a book about Talia that included Hamantaschen and turned things wrong side up — so I came up with Haman-TUSHIES!
~Linda
