Miss Debby's Best-Loved Children's Books: An Interview with Eric Kimmel

The Charlotte Jewish News, October 2022

By Debby Block

One of my all-time favorite authors is the award-winning author Eric A. Kimmel, who has truly mastered the art of adapting and retelling folktales. Known as a “teller of tales,” Dr. Kimmel has more than 120 published books, including 27 selected by PJ Library as top-quality Jewish children’s books!

Kimmel’s stories celebrate legends and myths from all over the world. He has retold European folktales and Grimm’s fairytales as well as tales from Africa, China, Mexico, and Japan. But the most precious gift Kimmel has given Jewish children and adults alike is the retelling and preservation of Yiddish and Jewish classics.

I was beyond thrilled that the prestigious children’s author Eric Kimmel granted me an interview for this article:

Debby Block: I understand that your maternal grandmother influenced your storytelling? Can you tell me more about that?

Eric Kimmel: My grandmother immigrated to the United States from what is now Western Ukraine. Since she shared our home in Brooklyn, New York, we spent a lot of time together, so much so that I learned to speak Yiddish. My grandmother was an amazing storyteller, and she imbued me with a sense of wonder, magic and mystery. As I write books, I want to share that sense of love and wonder with today’s children.

DB: “The Tartar’s Sword” was your first published book. Did you write other books before that?

EK: I always dreamed of writing, but when I was growing up in the 1950s, it was not acceptable to aspire to be an author. My parents wanted me to be a doctor, and I did pursue that path for a bit. During my graduate studies, however, I took a class in children’s literature. It was like I had stepped into the magical land of Oz with all its colors. From that moment, I fell in love with children’s literature!

I was forwarded an advertisement from Harper and Row Publishers saying that it was looking for fresh, new children’s literature. I called the publishers to see what they were looking for, and they asked me to send a chapter. I wrote one chapter — and only one chapter — from a book I had not as yet written and submitted it. Happily, they asked to see the entire book. From only one chapter in the middle, I then had to complete the beginning and the end of the book. Eventually that became my first book “The Tartar’s Sword” published in 1974.

DB: One of my favorite characters from your books is Herschel of Ostropol. Do you have a character who is closest to your heart?

EK: Yes, Hershele (little Herschel, in Yiddish) is my favorite character as well. Hershel stories remind me of all the tales my grandmother used to share. Even though Hershel may seem like a ne’er-do-well, he challenges the norm of the times, whether it is the rabbis or even Talmudic logic, and his heart is always in the right place.

DB: Hershel of Ostropol is the main character of several of your books, but perhaps the most famous is your award-winning “Herschel and Hanukkah Goblins” in which Herschel tricks the evil goblins, allowing Hanukkah to be celebrated again. Kids everywhere love this book!

EK: “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” is one of my favorite books as well. It is actually not a folktale but an original story I wrote. I would like to say that I am proud to write books for all kids, not just Jewish kids.” DB: What else would you like to leave us with?

EK: I believe that first and foremost, children’s books should tell a story. Children’s books should not teach a lesson or be “teachy-preachy.” If a story has a lesson … the children will figure it out!

October 30 is Eric Kimmel’s birthday. (He was born in 1946.) Join in me in celebrating this amazing author by reading one of his books to your child!

You may find many of Eric Kimmel’s books on display in the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library in Shalom Park. You may visit the library in person, to select a book, or you may email or call to reserve a book at (704) 944-6783 or library@jewishcharlotte.org.