Barbara Diamond Goldin - Children's Book Author

Barbara Diamond Goldin has written picture books, story collections, non-fiction, retellings, and historical fiction. In 1997, she received the prestigious Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries. This award is presented to the author whose collected works are a distinguished contribution to Jewish literature for children. "Goldin's consistently commendable and recommendable books combine talented writing, solid research, personal commitment and deep caring".

Barbara is currently a children's librarian. She also leads writing workshops and speaks about being a writer to school and library groups all over the country.

Barbara Diamond Goldin

For ten years she taught language arts and creative writing to 5th through 8th graders and for eleven years before that she was a preschool teacher. Her B.A. is in psychology from the University of Chicago and she did post-graduate work in teaching and school library media at Western Washington University and Boston University.

Barbara Diamond Goldin says, "As a child, I was an avid reader, letter-writer, and frequenter of the public library. When I reached babysitting age, I discovered I loved making up and telling stories to my charges who would ask to have me back so they could hear the sequels to my stories. Later as an adult I turned the stories I told into written stories.

"When writing, I dig into my past, my childhood, my family, and my personal experiences for material. I also research my subjects thoroughly and feel this adds depth to what I write. I love folklore and religion and the psychology of why people act the way they do. I find that often during the process of writing, I touch on questions and feelings that are closest to me.

"My ideas often come from my own past and my family's past, from experiences I have had and from conversations I overhear or participate in. The ideas can also come from dreams and visual images that pop into my mind, sometimes while I'm driving. Then I have to pull over, get out my pencil and paper and write feverishly, hoping I'll be able to read my handwriting later.

"My favorite place to work is in the college library near my house. I always heave a sigh of relief when I step into the peace and quiet of the library, knowing I have a few uninterrupted hours of writing ahead of me.

"I still love to write and research and discover new worlds on paper. I even discover things about myself and my family. Writing is an exciting process for me. I'm never certain when I sit down to write what the next few hours will bring."

Bibliography
Books for Children
[Click on the arrows to see book descriptions.]

** indicates that title is out of print or out of stock indefinitely. Some out of print titles are available from the author.
  The Best Hanukkah Ever, illustrated by Avi Katz, Marshall Cavendish, September 2007
  One Hundred and One Read-Aloud Jewish Stories, Black Dog and Leventhal, 2001 **
  A Mountain of Blintzes, illustrated by Anik McGrory, Harcourt, 2001 **
  Ten Holiday Jewish Children's Stories, illustrated by Jeffrey Allon, Pitspopany Press, 2000, Available
  Journeys With Elijah: Eight Tales of the Prophet, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, Harcourt, 1999 **
  The Girl Who Lived with the Bears, illustrated by Andrew Plewes, Gulliver Books, 1997 **
  While the Candles Burn: Eight Stories for Hanukkah, illustrated by Elaine Greenstein, Viking, 1996 **
  Coyote and the Fire Stick: A Pacific Northwest Indian Tale, illustr. by Will Hillenbrand, Harcourt, 1996 **
  Creating Angels: Stories of Tzedakah, Rowman & Littlefield, Inc, 2006, Available
  Creating Angels: Stories of Tzedakah, J. Aronson,1996 **
  Bat Mitzvah: A Jewish Girl's Coming of Age, illustrated by Erika Weihs, Viking, 1995 **
  Night Lights: A Sukkot Story, illustrated by Laura Sucher, URJ Books & Music, 2002, Available
  Night Lights: A Sukkot Story, illustrated by Louise August, Harcourt, 1995 **
  Red Means Good Fortune: A Story of San Francisco's Chinatown, illustrated by Wenhai Ma, Viking, 1994 **
  The Passover Journey: A Seder Companion, illustrated by Neil Waldman, Viking, 1994 **
  The Magician's Visit: A Passover Tale, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker, Viking, 1993 **
  Fire: The Beginnings of the Labor Movement, illustrated by James Watling, Viking, 1992 **
  Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale, illustrated by Erika Weihs, Viking, 1991 **
  The Family Book of Midrash: Fifty-two Stories from the Sages, Rowman & Littlefield 2006, Available
  The Family Book of Midrash: Fifty-two Stories from the Sages, J. Aronson, 1990 **
  The World's Birthday: A Story About Rosh Hashanah, illustrated by Jeanette Winter, Harcourt, 1990 **
  Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah Tale, illustrated by Seymour Chwast, Viking, 1988 **

Readers for Wright Group/McGraw-Hill:
Gear Up Series – A Biography of Benjamin Banneker, 2006; Storytelling, 2006; How the Great Mountains Came to Be, 2006.
Sunshine Series - Honey Hunt, 2001; Oseola McCarty Woke Up the World, 2001; Lilly in the Spotlight, 2001; Louis Armstrong: Jazzing Up the Music, 2001; Berry Treats, 2001.
Wildcats Series - Picture This! (Old Sam's Secret), June 2001; River Wild (RiverKeepers), September 2001
Readers for Options Publishing: Lost in Colonial Days, 2006; Whistler’s Gift, 2006.
Readers for Zaner-Bloser: Fannie Lou Hammer, 2007; Maya Angelou, 2008; Dancing in America, 2008.**
Author of retelling of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty for boxed editions of compact discs, BMG Music, 1993. Contributor of story to The Haunted House, edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg, HarperCollins, 1995; contributor of story to The Hanukkah Treasury, edited by Eric Kimmel, Holt, 1998; also contributor of articles and reviews to children's magazines and newspapers, including Highlights, Cricket, Shofar, Seattle's Child, Child Life, and Jack and Jill.
Agent: S©ott Treimel NY [st.ny@verizon.net]

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