Sitting
Shiva by Erin Silver
A little girl grieves the loss of her mother, but she
can’t grieve alone.
When her
friends and family arrive at her house to sit shiva, laden with cakes and
stories, she refuses to come downstairs. But the laughter and memories
gradually bring her into the fold, where she is comforted by her community. By
the end of the book, she feels stronger and more nourished, and she understands
the beautiful tradition. Then, when sees her father sitting alone, she is able
to comfort him in his time of need.
Sitting
Shiva is a beautiful, heartfelt story about grief and loss,
but also about comfort and community. It shows that no matter what
religion you practice, we are all more similar than we are different.
A
note from the author explains the ritual of sitting shiva, a seven-day period
of mourning for the death of a family member observed in Jewish homes.
“Shows great empathy for a child’s
feelings when coping with loss. That Silver does this task in a unique and
emotional way that manages to convey the traditions associated with the
practice of sitting Shiva is admirable. Highly Recommended.” – CM:
Canadian Review of Materials
“With its lovely, warm illustrations and
perfectly pitched storyline, provides an accessible introduction to shiva for
readers of all ages…A sensitive, powerful treatment of a child’s grief.” – Kirkus
Reviews
“This poignant story about mourning and
finding comfort in community is universally relatable.” – Booklist
“Having first seen Sitting Shiva
in an early draft, I am totally tickled to see this great picture book finally
in print – yay Erin!!! – Brian
Sitting
Shiva is available from Orca Books here.
For
information about submitting to Orca Books, see here.
Rush
Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam by Erin Silver
Traffic. It's not only frustrating, it's hurting the
planet.
Emissions
from cars, buses, trucks and planes are one of the leading causes of pollution
in North America. Today there are more cars clogging the roads than ever
before. In Rush Hour, learn
how traffic got so bad and some of the innovative ways it's being managed
around the world. Discover what technological advances like talking cars and
electric buses will mean for the future of traffic.
Even though they can't
drive yet, kids need to take control of the wheel. From walking to school, to
carpooling with friends or petitioning the government, the next generation of
drivers has to think differently about traffic and understand what they can do
now to help protect the environment. And it starts with changing our habits,
one less car ride at a time.
Rush
Hour is available from Orca Books here.
For
information about submitting to Orca Books, see here.
Erin Silver is a children’s author and freelance writer with nearly 20 years of
professional industry experience.
Erin’s work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, The Globe
and Mail, The Toronto Star, Today's Parent, Chatelaine, and The Washington Post, among others.
Besides Sitting Shiva, Erin has
three other children’s books out now: Just Watch Me (Common Deer Press), a middle grade novel about the
perils of the online age; What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness
and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 (Second Story Press), a nonfiction picture book about the
amazing ways kids around the world helped during the pandemic; and Proud to
Play (Lorimor), featuring outstanding Canadian LGBTQ+ athletes and allies who have made a difference. More
books are on the way.
Erin has a Masters of Fine Arts in
Creative Nonfiction from King's College in Halifax, a postgraduate journalism
degree from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Toronto. She's a member of IBBY, The Writers Union of Canada, CANSCAIP and
SCBWI, and she’s a frequent guest speaker at Brian Henry’s one-day Kid Lit
wo9rkshops and weekly classes. Visit Erin at erinsilver.ca
If you’re interested in writing Kid Lit, don’t miss
the Writing for Children and for Young Adults
workshop with Patricia Ocampo, senior editor at Kids Can Press, on Saturday, July
16, in Mississauga – see here. You can always find upcoming Kid
Lit workshops and classes here {and scroll down).
See all of Brian’s
upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend
retreats here.
