Interview: Lesléa Newman
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your newest picture book, RAINBOW COOKIES, “showcases a young kid rallying the troops for a good cause…[in a] warm tale of community and togetherness” (Bulletin). It’s a “heartwarming” (Publishers Weekly), “sweet story about the effectiveness and impact of community and kindness” (Kirkus). “With an emphasis on friendship and love rather than fear or negativity, this book will gently guide conversations with young children that leave them feeling empowered” (Kirkus). Why are stories about Pride important for today’s young children?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: Books about Pride are important for children in families with LGBTQ+ members because they provide the opportunity for readers to see themselves and their loved ones depicted on the page and feel validated and that they belong. It is also important for children who don’t have LGBTQ+ members in their family to read these books and learn about the beauty and diversity of the world in which we live. I hope readers of RAINBOW COOKIES will come away knowing that, as the book says, “Love Is Love,” and as the Dalai Lama so famously said, “Be kind whenever possible. And it is always possible.”
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your picture book, SOMETHING SWEET: A SITTING SHIVA STORY, “is a sensitive introduction to grief and to Jewish mourning rituals” (Kirkus). “Compassionate and accessible, this story assures readers that solace can be found even in sorrow” (Publishers Weekly). “Told with nuance…[it’s] a wonderful addition to the difficult topics of death and grieving” (Booklist). How do you craft culturally specific stories that can resonate with children of all backgrounds?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: While I am writing from a Jewish perspective, which is my lived experience, I am writing about the human experience which is what binds us all together. Everyone experiences grief at some point in their lives. So everyone can relate to what Joshua is going through after he loses his grandfather. Many beginning writers feel that readers won’t relate to their stories unless they keep them vague and leave out detail. The opposite is true. The more specific your characters are, the more human they are, and that’s what makes them relatable. As Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop said, books can be windows, mirrors, and sliding doors. Children see themselves in stories that depict characters of similar cultures and backgrounds and feel validated. Children learn about others while reading about characters of different cultures and backgrounds and learn empathy and compassion. And either way, the story is a sliding door through which a child can enter. In SOMETHING SWEET, I wanted the reader to experience the rich, beautiful, comforting rituals of sitting shiva, whether or not they have ever done so in real life before.
SARAH STEINBACHER: “A soaring ode to community, tradition, and family” (Kirkus, starred review), your picture book, JOYFUL SONG: A NAMING STORY, “sets a standard for inclusivity that highlights the invisible ties that bind people to one another” (School Library Journal, starred review). “This welcome, positive, inclusive story…portrays a child infectiously excited about a new sister and about a Jewish ritual” (Horn Book, starred review). It’s “a loving tale that beautifully celebrates family, faith, and the bonds that unite us” (Booklist). How can stories about community help young children?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: When children (and adults!) know that they are held, respected, and supported by community, they feel safe in the world. Zachary shares his excitement about his new baby sister with his entire neighborhood and congregation and his joy is infectious. In JOYFUL SONG I created the kind of world I want to live in and I hope young readers come away with a new appreciation for the beauty of community.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your picture book, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON, is “a celebration of modern-day fatherhood” that can help “young people learn what it means to be an emotionally intelligent person” (Kirkus). What do you hope young readers take away from the story’s nuanced depictions of fatherhood?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: I hope that children—of all ages!—see that there are as many ways to be a father as there are fathers and no one way is better than any other. The variety of dads in LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON show that dads can do all kinds of things, including things that our society often doesn’t associate with masculinity such as sewing and baking, and the most important thing a dad can do is be loving and kind.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your rhyming picture book, THE FAIREST IN THE LAND, is “a pink and purple sparkling celebration of self-expression” (Kirkus, starred review) that “reminds readers that they are who their imaginations say they are” (Booklist). What do you like most about writing in rhyme and what do you find most challenging? What tips do you have for writers who are trying out rhyme for the first time?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: I am a first and foremost a poet (I have a completely separate career as an author of poetry collections for adults) and I love love love playing with language. When looking for an end rhyme, often a word comes up that takes the story in an entirely new direction. One of my favorite stanzas in THE FAIRST IN THE LAND is: “The princesses had so much fun/they had themselves a ball./Soon other members of the court/would join them in the hall.” The word “ball” here means both a great time (as in “I had a ball”) to a formal social event. As far as advice goes, writers of rhyming verse often have more trouble with meter, rhythm and scansion than they do with coming up with end words that rhyme. My best advice is to read your work out loud, or better yet, find someone else to read your work out loud to you. Then you’ll hear where the rhythm falters and you can make adjustments.
SARAH STEINBACHER: School Library Journal said your gender-neutral picture book, I CAN BE…ME!, is about “children having fun without the onus of expectations…Any child can aspire to anything, and their gender is not one of the conditions of the outcome.” It’s “a powerful affirmation of self” (Publishers Weekly). How have you seen the kidlit market change over the years? And if you could change anything about the current market, what would it be?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: There is definitely much more diversity across the board in contemporary children’s literature then there was when I started out (in the late 1980’s!) and if I could change anything about the market, I would make it even more welcoming to diverse voices. It’s so important for all of us to amplify voices from communities who historically have not been given the opportunity to tell their stories. We are all enriched by reading about as many different people as possible. I often ask my students, “If you had nothing to rebel against and nothing to conform to, who would you be?” In other words, what if there were absolutely no expectations around gender or anything else? That’s what I tried to convey in I CAN BE….ME! A world where everyone can be completely free.
SARAH STEINBACHER: You’ve had many cats over your life. You’ve even written several books about cats. What do you love most about them?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: My cat is sitting curled up right beside me as I answer this question! Cats have such a warm, comforting presence. They communicate so well without having to say a thing. And contrary to popular belief, they are extremely affectionate (on their terms!). To earn the trust and love of a cat is a great gift. I love writing about special relationships between cats and their humans such as Ketzel and his human, Moshe Cotel in KETZEL, THE CAT WHO COMPOSED, which is based on a true story about a feline musician; and WELCOMING ELIJAH: A PASSOVER TALE WITH A TAIL in which a hungry, stray cat is welcomed into the home of a Jewish family during a Passover seder.
SARAH STEINBACHER: You’ve written over 80 books and won numerous awards, including two Stonewall Honors, the Sydney Taylor Book Award, and two National Jewish Book Awards. What advice do you have for new authors on building a kidlit career that lasts?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: If you want to be in it for the long haul, you have to be incredibly patient and persistent. Besides developing a consistent writing practice which goes without saying, it’s important to be a good literary citizen. Be part of the kidlit community. Attend readings, book launches, and conferences. Uplift other writers by buying their books, attending their events, and showcasing them on social media. The kidlit community is made up of so many amazing people. I feel so lucky to be a part of it. Join us!
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your books have experienced numerous challenges and bans throughout the years. How do book bans affect children? And what can we do about it?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: Kids are smart and they get the message that often the reason a book is being challenged or banned is because some people don’t like the kinds of people that appear in that book. If that book is about a family like theirs, kids get the message that some people find them and/or members of their family unacceptable. And that is harmful. Another way book bans affect children is that if a challenge is successful, kids won’t have access to books that would make a positive difference in their lives (for example, a boy who likes to wear dresses and paint his nails won’t have access to a book like SPARKLE BOY which could be very affirming for him). What can we do? Fight book bans. Use our voices loudly and proudly. Attend school board meetings. Write newspaper editorials. Write to our representatives. And most importantly, keep writing books that promote respect, acceptance and celebration of all.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What writing moment are you most proud of? And what do you hope defines your legacy as an author?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: That’s a hard question! There are many proud moments. Any time I put the finishing period on a manuscript I am proud that I came up with an idea, saw it through, and completed it. I am always proud to hold an actual book in my hand. I am proud when my own community recognizes me whether it be the Jewish community (Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award), the LGBTQ+ community (Golden Crown Literary Society Trailblazer Award), the poetry community (National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship), or the local community (2008 -2010 Poet Laureate of Northampton). As far as my legacy goes, what I want to be remembered for is being kind and generous to other writers. I have had many proud moments when students of mine have published books that we have worked on together. That brings me tremendous joy.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s the toughest thing facing the kidlit world today? And what gives you hope for tomorrow?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: We are facing a lot of tough things: constant book challenges on the local, state, and national level, cuts in school and library funding, censorship, declining interest in books to name a few. What gives me hope? Just yesterday I read RAINBOW COOKIES to a bunch of very young children and the smiles on their faces—that not only gave me hope, but also reminded me why I do what I do. I firmly believe that love wins every time. And if that isn’t happening right now it’s because there’s more to the story.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?
LESLÉA NEWMAN: Ah, I’m so glad you asked! I have several exciting books coming out next year:
CELEBRATE SHABBAT WITH MOMMY, MAMA, AND ME, illustrated by Zara González Hoang, (Random House)
HAPPY SHABBAT FROM DADDY, PAPA, AND ME, illustrated by Zara González Hoang, (Random House)
WELCOME: A WISH FOR REFUGEES, illustrated by Jaime Kim, (Scholastic)
SONG OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS, illustrated by Vesper Stamper, (Enchanted Lion)
BLESS THE WORLD, illustrated by Noa Mishkin, (PJ Publishing)
And I also have a poetry collection for adults titled THE LAST FLAME LAST coming out in the fall of 2026 from Finishing Line Press.
Follow Lesléa through her website, her kidlit website, and on Facebook.
*****Order Lesléa’s newest picture book, RAINBOW COOKIES, available now.*****
