“From folktales to beloved series, these Jewish authors (Judy Blume, Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak and ten more) have profoundly shaped the landscape of children’s literature….If you grew up attending a Jewish day school, or if your parents just bought you a lot of Jewish children’s books in the 90s or 2000s, there’s a high likelihood you’ve come across Sylvia Rouss.
The California native is most famous for her “Sammy Spider” series, which follows a friendly spider living in a Jewish household, as he learns all about the traditions of his host family.
Rouss, an educator, was motivated to create Sammy Spider in order to help her 2-year-old students connect with their Jewish heritage. She designed her protagonist to exhibit the same curiosity and childlike wonder as her students.
The first book, “Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah,” was released in 1993. Since then, Sammy has starred in over 20 books surrounding different Jewish traditions, translated into multiple languages. There is even a Sammy Spider Children’s Haggadah.
“Although I have written picture books about other characters, Sammy Spider remains my favorite,” Rouss told the Jewish Book Council in 2017. “Today, I am happy to see that there are many wonderful Jewish children’s books and that Sammy is in good company.” By Viviana Freyer, Unpacked (click here to read the complete article).
From my first book, Fun With Jewish Holiday Rhymes, to my most current, In My Preschool, There is a Time for Everything, I am honored to have been recognized for my contribution to Jewish children’s literature.