The Tower of Life

Tower of Life Reviewed in the NYTimes!

“This masterfully illustrated biography argues that even the Nazis, though they may have been able to physically erase a shtetl, were powerless to destroy deep human connections to family and home.”—Eugene Yelchin, The New York Times Book Review, Nov. 5, 2022. (read full review)

Booklist STARRED Review for Tower of Life

“A magnificent and moving tribute to a loving community and an extraordinary woman.”—Booklist STARRED review for The Tower of Life

Read the full review here.

Jewish Book Council Review

THE TOWER OF LIFE received a wonderful review from the Jewish Book Council. “Stiefel paints a truth­ful por­trait appro­pri­ate for those just begin­ning to learn about the Holocaust. Susan Gal’s art­work, mean­while, is both dra­mat­ic and acces­si­ble, an invi­ta­tion to look at Eliach’s life with com­pas­sion and awe.” Read the full review here.

JBC Writers’ Conference

Join me and authors Liza Wiemer, Sarah Darer Littman, and Nancy Churnin (moderator) for this important panel on Using Kidlit to Build Allyship Within & Outside the Jewish Community. Nov. 8, 2022 6 PM ET.

Society of Illustrators Original Art Show

Artwork from THE TOWER OF LIFE, illustrated by Susan Gal (Scholastic 10-4-22), has been selected for the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, which will be exhibited at their gallery in New York from October 26, 2022-January 7, 2023. This exhibit showcases original art from the year’s best children’s books as determined by a jury of outstanding illustrators, art directors, and editors. Congrats to Susan! So well deserved.

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

THE TOWER OF LIFE: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, illustrated by Susan Gal (Scholastic, 10-4-22), has been selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Pre-Order New Books

MENDEL’S HANUKKAH MESS UP (Kalaniot, 9-6-22) & THE TOWER OF LIFE (Scholastic, 10-4-22) are both available for pre-order. Check them at Bookshop.org.

New book art

THE TOWER OF LIFE, illustrated by Susan Gal, coming from Scholastic 10/4/22.

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

THE TOWER OF LIFE: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, illustrated by Susan Gal (Scholastic, 10-4-22), has been selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.