Children of the Book

“An exquisitely written account of mother and children reading together, framed as a tale of biblical redemption.” –Kirkus

“A gleaming love letter to books, an ode to modern motherhood, and an embrace of Jewish life, Children of the Book is relatable, poignant, thought-provoking, and utterly delightful.” –Zibby Owens, podcast host of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, bestselling author of Blank

“Ilana Kurshan’s dual memoir of her life as a parent alongside her lifelong love affair with reading is by turns laugh-out-loud funny and startlingly poignant. From lessons on friendship learned from Frog and Toad to the Giving Tree’s cautionary tale about love and boundaries, Kurshan shows how the classics of children’s literature work not just to entertain kids but to help parents emotionally connect with them. Children of the Book answers one of contemporary parenthood’s most vexing questions–how do you raise kids who love reading–with wit, verve, and style.” –Ruth Franklin, book critic, author of Shirley Jackson, A Rather Haunted Life “This book teems with the greatest care, consideration, and insight. To love both reading and parenting the way Kurshan does is to reaffirm our faith in all that is good in literature and in life. Her deep and selfless attention is a gift and a lesson in humility, curiosity, and openness. I savored every page.” –Elisa Albert, author of Human Blues

“A magnificent book about the profound experience of raising children in the constant presence of literature.” –Dara Horn, author of People Love Dead Jews and One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe

“An accessible entree into the Jewish tradition that will charm audiences of all backgrounds. Reminiscent of Anne Fadiman’s Ex-Libris, this sweet volume puts the familiar trials, tribulations, and triumphs of motherhood into conversation with one of our fundamental human texts - and in so doing, illuminates new insights into both.” –Rabbi Rachel Isaacs

Ilana Kurshan is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. She has worked in literary publishing both in New York and in Jerusalem, serving as a translator, a foreign rights agent, and the book reviews editor of Lilith magazine. Kurshan is the author of If All the Seas Were Ink, winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish literature.