Over the years, many writers in the memoir classes I lead have self-published their work. Until now, only three had found independent publishers:
- Hanna Bratman’s collection What’s In My Head was published by Blue Marlin Publications in 2011
- Anna Perlberg’s The House in Prague was published by Golden Alley Press in 2016
- Regan Burke’s long-awaited memoir In That Number was published by Tortoise Books in 2020
And now there are four: Sharon Kramer’s book Time for Bubbe was published by Golden Alley Press! Many of you know Sharon from my mentioning her in Saturdays with Seniors blog posts here. She was a writer in the Me, Myself & I memoir-writing class I was leading before COVID, and generously volunteered to lead it via Zoom after I was put on furlough.
A few years ago I assigned “Write About a Grandparent” as a prompt to that class. Sharon came back with a story written in the voice of her grandson talking about visiting her mother (his great-grand-Bubbe). We all loved the piece and thought that, with a little revision, it’d make a great children’s book.
So Sharon got to work. She revised and reworked, sent the story to publishers, Golden Alley Press took it on, a Yiddish glossary and Bubbe’s recipe was added, illustrator Michael Sayre added his special touch, and voila! Sharon’s masterpiece, Time for Bubbe is available. I’ll say goodbye here and leave you with more about Time for Bubbe from the Golden Alley Press web site.
“Don’t worry, Bubbe, I have all the time in the world.”
—BoychikAll the time in the world.
That’s what this 6-year-old boychick and his great-bubbe have for each other.
Join their adventures in Bubbe’s hi-rise city apartment as they nosh, play, reminisce, cook – and learn a bit of Yiddish along the way.
Snuggle up and share this story with anyone you have all the time in the world for!
Includes bonus Glossary of Yiddish Words and Bubbe’s Recipe for the Best Noodle Kugel Ever
Age range: 4 – 8
Grade level: K-3
32 pages, full color
From the author’s bio:Sharon’s grandmother came to the United States from Russia in 1888, when she was 12 years old. She read Yiddish books and newspapers. She went to Yiddish plays. When she grew up and married, her grandmother had seven children – including Sharon’s mother. They spoke Yiddish at home but spoke English when they were outside and at school.
When Sharon was a young girl, her grandmother lived with the family. She and Sharon’s mother spoke Yiddish to each other, so Sharon learned to understand many of the Yiddish words they used.
The grand-bubbe in the story is Sharon’s mother. The boy in the story is Sharon’s grandson. He knows a few Yiddish words and Sharon thinks he is a real mensch.
Editorial Reviews for Time for Bubbe:
“This book is about the special connection between grandparents and grandchildren. A young boy’s weekly visits to his Bubbe’s hi-rise apartment are filled with imagination and traditions…He loves babysitting Bubbe and she loves babysitting him…[The story] will inspire conversations about being great babysitters for children’s own grandparents.”
—Marilee Amodt, M.Ed., retired curriculum resource teacher, elementary teacher and media specialist“Time for Bubbe is so much fun to read! The six-year-old narrator’s description of weekly visits with his great-grandmother are both honest and playful. What a joy to go along for the ride, whether it’s pressing every button on the elevator…or turning Bubbe’s walker into a train. What will they do next?
These weekly visits are special to this mischievous and playful pair, and you can’t help but wonder: is the 96-year-old taking care of the six-year-old? Or is the six-year-old taking care of the 96-year-old? Time for Bubbe’s sweet ending provides the answer: every week, they are taking care of each other.”
—Beth Finke, Author of Writing Out Loud: What a Blind Teacher Learned from Leading a Memoir Class for Seniors“When her six-year-old great-grandson visits his Bubbe in her high-rise apartment building each week, they create countless adventures together….an authentic portrait of the great-grandson and Bubbe’s sweet convincing relationship…The pastel illustrations are the background for their delightful loving bond. [The] glossary of Yiddish words and Bubbe’s recipe for kugel…make the book both joyful and interactive…for folks of all ages.”
—Janie Friedman Isackson, retired educator, DePaul University, Chicago“…a wonderful book showing the relationship between a six-year-old boy and his great-grandmother. Bubbe entertains [him] with scarves from her drawer, pots and pans from her kitchen, and treats from the party room. They both enjoy making noodle kugel together…The book starts with Bubbe having all the time in the world. It ends with her great-grandson having all the time in the world. What a great way to connect the two generations with love and respect for each other.”
—Nancy Koehler, retired 3rd grade teacher, Skokie, IL“…Bubbe and the boy have vivid imaginations…crisp dialogue moves the story along at a good pace…drawings vividly show their close relationship. The sprinkling of Yiddish, such as “L-chaim” when they make a toast with apple cider, passes along a bit of Jewish culture to the kinder…highly recommended to parents, grandparents and teachers of first graders, who can share their own cultural heritage and relationships…”
—Leslie H. Laila Kramer, ESL Professor Emeritus at City College of San Francisco
Mazel Tov! I’m kvelling already.
Congrats to both of you, Sharon and Beth!
Sharon (and Golden Alley Press!) get all the credit. All I did was give the prompt!
Sounds wonderful! Congratulations!
Sharon didn’t even give a hint that she had written, much less gotten a children’s book published. It was a total surprise when she showed it to us during a Zoom session! I’ll have to buy it and give it to the Off The Street Club, so the kids can get insight to another way of life. Ironically, the club’s building was donated to them when the Jewish population faded on the West Side. The original club was in a small rental building on Jackson. They moved to the donated former Jewish school at 25 N. Karlov. Sam Annoff created the club in 1900. It’s helped inner-city kids for 121 years!
So generous of you to volunteer your time with the Off the Street Club, Sheila. And generous of you to buy a copy of the future best-selling Time For Bubbe book, too!
Thank you so much for your generous comments. Yes, Beth was a big part of this in her encouragement and ideas. And, Sheila, I agree that your volunteer work is wonderful. You are full of surprises.
Hank, I am kvelling too.
I am so impressed by Beth’s students getting published! Sharon, your book sounds wonderful. My mother helped raise her granddaughter and the granddaughter now says, “It takes a village.” The family is very close and this special relationship is one reason.
SB says you have your own Iowa writer’s workshop! Looks like a lovely book!
Now that is a high compliment. But I’ll take it! And yes, Time for Bubbe sounds like a beautiful book. I just ordered four copies from Sandmeyer’s Bookstore down the street.
Mazel tov! The copies of “Time for Bubbe” that I ordered were delivered today. After reading, I learned the love between “Bubbe” and her “boychik” is so familiar in our family and I’m sure in many others. Love the Glossary and of course Bubbe’s recipe. Beth Finke has some very special students.
I sure do! and how funny, Cheryl: I was going to order you a copy of Sharon’s book for your upcoming birthday. Guess I’ll bake you a loaf of challah bread instead….
Cheryl: I am so delighted that you enjoyed the book. I think the story is universal and definitely not just for Bubbe’s and their boychiks. Thanks for your support.
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