In each installment of "Three Questions With" we ask a different PJ Library author or illustrator questions about their work, their process, and interests. Today we're chatting with Mara Rockliff, author of the PJ Library book Chik Chak Shabbat.
Are any of the characters in Chik Chak Shabbat based on real people?
Well, I feel a certain kinship for the exasperated writer, Mr. Moon. Although it wouldn’t be an accident if I put a monster robot into a romance novel and it squashed the hero flat.
They don’t appear as characters, but the book was inspired by a neighbor family that hosted a huge potluck every Friday night. It wasn’t a traditional Shabbat, but they lit the candles and said ha motzi (the blessing) over challah, and invited all the kids and grown-ups, Jewish and non-Jewish, to join in. For the story, I also drew on my memories of childhood Shabbats--so I guess Goldie Simcha, the main character, is me as well.
Find more books like Chik Chak Shabbat
A lot of your stories deal with communities and neighbors coming together – what does the word “community” mean to you?
When I was a teenager, I got out of a good chunk of Saturday morning services by helping to prepare the kiddush meal. I liked the kitchen better than the sanctuary. It was warm and bright, with people of all ages working together, telling stories and joking around. Also, there was food.
Since then, I’ve lived in big cities, small cities, and small towns; I spent three years on a rural commune and another three in a “cohousing” neighborhood; and as a new Esperanto speaker, I’ve been welcomed into a small, friendly community that spans the globe.
At its best, every community has something of that kitchen atmosphere. Everybody helps, and everyone belongs. You get to hang out with people you’re not related to. And there is always food.
What’s your favorite dish to bring to a Shabbat potluck?
Hosting Shabbat dinner? Try one of these kid-friendly chicken recipes.
I’m partial to the King Arthur Flour recipe for lemon bars. Easy to make, and everybody loves them. I once made them for some people we were staying with in Nicaragua. The ingredients were challenging to find (powdered sugar is not a staple there), but the lemon bars were a hit.
Mara Rockliff is the author of the PJ Library selection Chik Chak Shabbat and many other children’s books, including Cook Prize winner Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France. Mara loves to travel, and author appearances have taken her as far as Kinshasa, Congo and Doha, Qatar, but her favorite “business” trip was PJ Library’s Author Israel Adventure. To learn more about Mara and her books, visit mararockliff.com.
June 5, 2018