At the encouragement of my teenage daughter, I set up an Instagram account (I realize I’m late to the party on this) to help promote Just Say Welcome and encourage pre-orders. Well, she was right because just two days later, my book was ranked #1 on Amazon for new releases in Jewish children’s fiction books! I know these rankings change quickly, but for today, I’ll take the win! Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered and supported me!
I saw this lovely sign on my walk this morning and had to share 😊
Thank you to Shari Wladis at EdTech EASE for the lovely, five-star review of my book, Just Say Welcome! Educators and parents, be sure to check out the other great reviews and resources at EdTech EASE. It looks like a great site for families, teachers, and anyone interested in children’s literacy.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award, named after the author of the All-of-a-Kind Family book series and sponsored by her daughter, Jo Taylor Marshall, is presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. It is the only award focusing solely on Jewish children’s literature.
The Sydney Taylor Shmooze blog was created in 2020 to educate the public about the award and “create a public venue for the critical discussion of Jewish children’s literature.” The blog includes reviews of juveline books of Jewish interest that are eligible for the Sydney Taylor Book Award, and reviews are written by a dedicated team of volunteers.
I am thrilled that my book, Just Say Welcome, was recently reviewed by Claire Freeland. You can read it here!
Just had to share this heartwarming story featured on The TODAY Show of a Texas high school principal, Jason Mutterer (lovingly known as Coach Mutt), who wrote personal notes (with a $1 bill inside) to all 443 of his graduating seniors this year. There is something special about a handwritten note and something even more special about a principal who took the time to get to know his students well enough to write heartfelt messages to them all. Coach Mutt still treasures a note that a teacher wrote to him when he was in high school, and there’s no doubt his act will encourage this graduating class to similarly pay it forward. Is there a note or gesture like this that made you feel seen, loved, and welcome? And is there someone you could send a handwritten note to today?
I try to donate blood regularly but don’t always remember. Last week, however, I had some extra time and made an appointment at the OneBlood donation center down the street from me. I just felt the urge to do some good that day, and it helped that they were offering $50 in reward gift cards too! At the risk of sounding like a restaurant review, the donation center felt very welcoming. The phlebotomist was really friendly, and we talked about everything from where we were from to raising kids. Donating blood is usually a pretty solitary, quiet activity, but this felt like meeting a new friend. Just another example of how you can feel welcome in unexpected places when people go out of their way to welcome you.
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the Little Free Library (LFL) organization and how much I love being a steward for an LFL outside my synagogue. I also shared that a couple years after installing the library, I also installed a Little Free Pantry next to it. Both sharing boxes follow the same model of taking what you need and giving what you can. I had received the pantry for free through a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. This was during the pandemic when kids weren’t necessarily in school to receive free breakfast or lunch and families were struggling. The pantry gets used often, which makes me feel both happy and heartbroken. I am glad we’re filling a need, of course, but it’s hard to know that the small pantry can’t feed everyone. Fortunately, my rabbi and his family have offered to cover the costs of installing another pantry box so that we can provide more food to the community. I have been searching for just the right weather-proof cabinet to withstand the Florida sun and rain.
Serendipitously, a community member messaged me through our synagogue Facebook page to ask if we could add a second pantry box so that she can leave more food. How beautiful is that? Within a few days of sending that message, the woman then let me know that she had acquired wood for free from a cabinet company that didn’t need it. Her neighbor is a carpenter and offered to build the pantry box for us! What a perfect example of the power of community. Hopefully I will post again soon with pictures of the pantry addition.
As an avid walker, I enjoy being outdoors, getting exercise with my dog, and taking notice of the nature around me. I also like to find little treasures, whether that be a lucky penny or a painted rock. In fact, one of my favorite treasure hunts is Geocaching. The Geocaching community is fun, supportive, and full of people who simply enjoy the challenge and thrill of hide and seek. I have even hidden a couple caches in my own neighborhood.
Imagine my surprise when I spotted a treasure under a tree while walking my dog. It was a plastic carrot that I assumed was left over from an Easter egg hunt, but when I opened it up. I discovered it was a “Joy Drop” (since that’s what the note inside said). Also inside was a bracelet and a note that said “You’re the kind of person who makes others smile” on one side and “Every step you take forward matters, even the small ones…” How cute is that? And what a sweet way to make people in the community feel connected and happy. I snapped these photos of the Joy Drop but placed everything back in the carrot and left it under the tree. It was enough for me to just find the treasure, and now I hope it makes the next seeker smile.
If you haven’t heard of The Week Junior, it’s a weekly current affairs magazine for kids ages 8 to 14. The content is varied and covers national and international news, as well as sports, culture, science, nature, crafts, recipes, games, and topics that are both timely and appealing to tweens and teens. What I love about the magazine is that it keeps kids current on what’s going on in the world without talking down to them. I love reading The Week Junior myself! But the other aspect of the magazine I appreciate is its focus on kindness and kids who improve their communities and the world around them. Kids can read stories about their peers making a difference and feel empowered to do the same.
Recently, the magazine shared a round-up of ideas for spreading kindness that came from their Junior Council, a group of 12 students who are mentored by The Week Junior editors and complete research and writing projects for the magazine. As I read through the kids’ ideas, I saw so many wonderful examples of not only creating a kind community but a welcoming one. From recognizing unsung heroes to respecting learning differences to making new students feel welcome, these ideas are actionable and admirable–and they make me hopeful about the community these kids are creating and the world to come.
Between my writing for a local magazine, my children’s book about welcoming refugees, and my volunteer work through my synagogue and other organizations, I think a lot about community. That’s why when I heard about The Central Florida Pledge, I signed it immediately. The Pledge is a call to action to build a community rooted in dignity and respect, and it came about from the grief, outrage, fear, blame, and harrassment many–particularly those in the Jewish and Muslim communities–experienced after the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel. The Pledge is a reminder that we can support one another and stomp out hate of all kinds. To date, more than 4,000 individuals and 100 organizations have signed The Pledge. Will you?
Emily Raij