130:. He was twice the recipient of the Skipping Stone Multicultural Book Award (2009, 2003). Other recognition include a National Network of Teachers of the Year Social Justice Award 2017, two Massachusetts Book Award Finalist (2017, 2009), two NYTimes Notable Children's Books (2010, 2011), a 2007 Teacher's Choice Award from the International Reading Association, and a 2007 Publishers Weekly Best Book Award. In 2019 Michelson became the sixth recipient of the Samuel Minot Jones Award for Literary Achievement.
31:
595:, is about Abe and Willie, next door neighbors. During the day they don't play together, because Abe is Jewish and Willie is black. But at night, when nobody is watching, they're best friends. The Kirkus Review says “Set during the time of segregation, the story lends hope for a future without racism... A beautiful blend of story and art." This book was runner up for the National Jewish Book Award 2007.
600:
in poetic language that gracefully uses repetitive sentence structures and themes to emphasize the similarities between the two men’s lives. Also admirable is
Michelson’s ability to convey complex historical concepts, such as segregation, in clear, potent terms that will speak directly to readers:...an exceptional title for sharing and discussion.
553:
finds a young boy trying to understand why his elderly grandfather spends so much time in prayerful silence. When the boy's question is answered by
Grandpa Sam, the boy learns about the persecution of Jews in Poland many years before, and about how his immigrant grandfather had used the opportunities
599:
is also about the friendship between blacks and Jews. In a starred review, Booklist (American
Library Association)said “In this powerful, well-crafted story about a partnership between two great civil rights leaders, Michelson shows how the fight for human rights affects everyone... Michelson writes
577:
is similar in theme to
Michelson's Jewish-themed picture books because it centers on a strong family. Focusing on the parent-child relationship, the story is narrated by a young boy whose father runs a business across the street from Harlem's Savoy ballroom, where the family has a front-row seat to
233:
In 1976, Michelson was able to open his first art gallery which he ran for three years before moving back to the east coast and opening the R. Michelson
Galleries, a 4-story monumental old bank building with 60 ft. ceilings and marble floors located in Northampton MA, which Michelson continues
229:
Richard
Michelson is a poet, children's book author, curator, speaker, and owner of R. Michelson Galleries located in Northampton, MA. He has also curated exhibitions at the National Yiddish Book Center. Michelson is a popular guest speaker and lecturer. He has traveled throughout the world talking
213:
In 1972, when
Michelson was only 19, he set off on a tour of the mid-west, selling fine-art reproductions for three years and subsequently becoming devoted to art and literature. It was during this time that Michelson met his wife to-date, Jennifer Michelson, currently an Interfaith Minister.
133:
Clemson
University named Michelson as the Richard J. Calhoun Distinguished Reader in American Literature for 2008, and he was the featured poet for the 20th Anniversary edition of Image Journal: Art Faith Mystery. Michelson's poetry has been included in many anthologies, including
570:"possesses both power and pathos" and stands as an "urgent" reminder to readers that the Yiddish language is slowly being lost to time. A Detroit Jewish News critic wrote "One of the best Jewish children's books published in recent memory, and one of the top 25 ever published."
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serves as "a valentine to the renowned Savoy" as well as a "tribute will take young readers back to Harlem-as-it-was," according to a Kirkus
Reviews writer. The "beautifully lit, expressive watercolor" illustrations by Caldecott Medal-winning artist
161:
Michelson has lectured, and read from his works in India, Eastern Europe, and throughout the United States. He represented the United States at the
Bratislava Biennial of Children's Books in 2005. Michelson has written for the
114:
was awarded the Silver Medal. This is the first time in the award's 50-year history that one author has been honored with their top two awards. Michelson received his 2nd Silver Medal in 2017 and his 2nd Gold Medal in 2018.
578:
the parade of culture, swing music, dance, and celebrity that passes through the dance palace's doors. Showcasing the rich culture that flowered in that New York neighborhood during the early twentieth century,
194:, Michelson was the son of a shopkeeper, Maurice, and homemaker, Caroline (Kay). Michelson experienced personal tragedy in his late twenties when his father was killed during a robbery. The horrors of the
818:
217:
Michelson's wife, Jennifer, and he have two children, Marisa and Samuel. Marisa is a composer and playwright. Samuel is the Director of Operations at a high end architectural hardware company called
562:. Although the man dismisses the child's request due to the boy's youth, his collection of books create a connection between the two generations as time passes. In Booklist Hazel Rochman deemed
210:—reflects the serious nature of his reflections on history, racism, and culture, his work for younger readers is inspired by his love of, and respect for family and culture.
637:
1078:
566:
a "moving immigrant Passover story" that brings to life "the intimate bonds of love and faith across generations," while a Publishers Weekly critic wrote that
1093:
234:
to run to this day. It exhibits the works of numerous contemporary sculptors, painters, and printmakers. His gallery showcases well known artists such as
1068:
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198:
also figured strongly; Michelson's aunt, recalling her years as a young Jew living in Europe, is haunted by memories of Hitler's
150:, published by the University of Illinois Press, was selected as one of the 12 best poetry books of 2006 by ForeWord Magazine.
107:
554:
available in America to become a wealthy man before the illness of a child humbled him and caused him to return to his faith.
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add to the book's magic, according to Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan, and in School Library Journal Nina Lindsay deemed
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Daily Hampshire Gazette (Amherst, MA), May 3, 2006, Bonnie Wells, "Poetry That Speaks of Everyday Cruelties and Love."
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455:: a story inspired by Maimonides Golden Ladder of Giving, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. (Peachtree, Spring 2025)
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again finds a boy turning to his grandfather, or Zayde, for guidance, this time with the hope of learning
1048:
591:
a "charming" story in which Michelson presents "a dramatic read-aloud introduction" to the Jazz Era.
251:
30:
374:
As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Amazing March Towards Freedom
267:
191:
100:
As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom,
92:
996:
September 23, 1996, review of Animals That Ought to Be, p. 76; March 22, 1999, review of
263:
167:
154:, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, was runner up for the 2016 Paterson Prize.
246:(landscape artist) and more than 50 additional artists. It also incorporates a wide range of
298:
279:
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Michelson depicts close-knit family relationships. Reflecting his own Jewish traditions,
459:
What Louis Brandeis Knows: A Crusader for Social Justice Becomes a Supreme Court Justice,
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Next Year in the White House: The Journey to Barack Obama's First Presidential Seder
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467:, Illustrated by Alyssa Russell (Rocky Pond- Penguin Random House, Fall 2025)
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370:(verse collection), Illustrated by Scott Fischer (Simon & Schuster, 2008).
255:
424:(verse collection), Illustrated by Leonard Baskin (Marshall Cavendish, 1999).
412:(verse collection), Illustrated by Leonard Baskin (Marshall Cavendish, 2000).
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195:
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301:, and served two terms as Poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts.
199:
449:, illustrated by EB Lewis (Crown Books for Young readers, Spring 2025)
230:
to children and teachers about his love of poetry and social justice.
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Katherine Bassett; Brett Bigham; Laurie Calvert, eds. (August 2017).
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illustrated by Stacy Innerst (Astra- Calkins Creek, Fall 2025)
318:, Illustrated by Sarah Green (Astra- Calkins Creek, 2024)
64:
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436:(verse collection), Illustrated by Leonard Baskin (Macmillan, 1993).
796:"Recommended Reading from the 9th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards"
388:(verse collection), Illustrated by Adam McCauley (Harcourt, 2006).
174:
and other publications. He was the Curator of Exhibitions at the
831:"Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News"
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School Library Journal, October, 2000, Nina Lindsay, review of
77:
430:, Illustrated by Leonard Baskin (Simon & Schuster, 1996).
336:, Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger (Sleeping Bear Press, 2014).
352:, Illustrated by Zachary Pullen (Sleeping Bear Press, 2011).
202:. While his poetry for adults—published in the collections
742:"Skipping Stones | Multicultural Children's Magazine"
364:, Illustrated by Ron Mazellan (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008).
617:"Book on King-Heschel Bond Wins Children's Lit Award-JTA"
394:(picture book), Illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Putnam, 2006).
954:
Horn Book, March–April, 1994, Lolly Robinson, review of
418:, Illustrated by Barry Moser (Marshall Cavendish, 1999).
218:
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Booklist, September 1, 1993, Ilene Cooper, review of
140:
Unsettling America: Contemporary Multicultural Poetry
930:
Animals That Ought to Be: Poems about Imaginary Pets
428:
Animals That Ought to Be: Poems about Imaginary Pets
324:, Illustrated by Karla Gudeon (Charlesbridge, 2017).
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Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me
398:
Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me
70:
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960:November–December, 1996, Mary M. Burns, review of
498:, University of Illinois Press (Urbana, IL), 2006.
144:Blood to Remember: American Poets on the Holocaust
406:, Illustrated by Neil Waldman (Talewinds, 2002).
242:(photographer, actor), Randall Deihl (painter),
465:Fanny's Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week was Born
400:, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Harcourt), 2005).
330:, Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez (Knopf, 2016).
990:Publishers Weekly, August 2, 1993, review of
382:, Illustrated by Mary Azarian (Putnam, 2007).
8:
972:Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2002, review of
946:November 1, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, review of
528:(University of Central Florida Press, 1985).
221:. Their hobbies include theater and biking.
158:(Slant Books) is forthcoming in April 2023.
118:Michelson has twice been a finalist for the
928:October 15, 1996, Hazel Rochman, review of
856:"| Clemson University, South Carolina"
966:September, 1999, Mary M. Burns, review of
376:, Illustrated by Raul Colon (Knopf, 2008).
362:A is For Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet
18:
984:New Yorker, December 13, 1993, review of
940:October 1, 2000, Michael Cart, review of
934:March 15, 1999, Hazel Rochman, review of
573:Although the family is African American,
358:, illustrated by R.G. Roth (Knopf, 2010).
1032:November, 2005, Nina Lindsay, review of
1026:March, 2002, Linda R. Silver, review of
316:One of a Kind: The Life of Sydney Taylor
718:"The 2009 Skipping Stones Honor Awards"
608:
492:(University of Pittsburgh Press, 2015)
508:, Gehenna Press (Rockport, ME), 1999.
7:
91:(born July 3, 1953) is a poet and a
604:Biographical & Critical Sources
178:and owns R. Michelson Galleries in
1094:National Jewish Book Award winners
1079:Jewish American children's writers
670:"2006 National Jewish Book Awards"
14:
1004:A Book of Flies Real or Otherwise
968:A Book of Flies Real or Otherwise
422:A Book of Flies Real or Otherwise
250:art, including original works by
136:The Norton Introduction to Poetry
906:"New Poetry that Defies Formula"
29:
638:"2008 Nat'l Jewish Book Awards"
108:Association of Jewish Libraries
473: (Peachtree, Spring 2026)
122:(2008, 2006) and won the 2017
1:
522:Tap Dancing for the Relatives
204:Tap Dancing for the Relatives
1014:January 14, 2002, review of
978:November 1, 2005, review of
346:(Sleeping Bear Press, 2012).
176:National Yiddish Book Center
1069:American children's writers
238:(sculptor and printmaker),
1110:
1089:Jews from New York (state)
1084:21st-century American Jews
1002:August 2, 1999, review of
819:Teachers' Choices for 2007
768:"Social Justice Book List"
180:Northampton, Massachusetts
164:New York Times Book Review
124:National Jewish Book Award
120:National Jewish Book Award
1008:July 31, 2000, review of
537:In picture books such as
484:Sleeping as Fast as I Can
156:Sleeping as Fast as I Can
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28:
962:Animals That Ought to Be
299:Northampton Poetry Radio
104:Sydney Taylor Book Award
16:American poet and writer
533:Themes & Influences
148:Battles & Lullabies
746:www.skippingstones.org
518:(Gehenna Press, 1992).
322:The Language of Angels
128:The Language of Angels
1064:Writers from Brooklyn
1028:Too Young for Yiddish
1016:Too Young for Yiddish
974:Too Young for Yiddish
568:Too Young for Yiddish
556:Too Young for Yiddish
543:Too Young for Yiddish
496:Battles and Lullabies
471:The Passover Sandwich
404:Too Young for Yiddish
309:
290:, Diane DeGroat, and
208:Battles and Lullabies
61:Children's Literature
650:on 28 September 2011
252:Theodor Seuss Geisel
106:Gold Medal from the
1059:American male poets
992:Did You Say Ghosts?
986:Did You Say Ghosts?
956:Did You Say Ghosts?
924:Did You Say Ghosts?
881:"Richard Michelson"
698:Jewish Book Council
490:More Money than God
486:(Slant Books, 2023)
434:Did You Say Ghosts?
386:Oh, No, Not Ghosts!
152:More Money than God
597:As Good As Anybody
334:S is for Sea Glass
268:Trina Schart Hyman
192:Brooklyn, New York
835:Publishers Weekly
524:, Illustrated by
514:, Illustrated by
504:, Illustrated by
380:Tuttle's Red Barn
368:Animals Anonymous
342:, Illustrated by
264:Mordicai Gerstein
168:Publishers Weekly
112:A is for Abraham,
98:In January 2009,
89:Richard Michelson
86:
85:
23:Richard Michelson
1101:
1074:Children's poets
1022:Ten Times Better
1010:Ten Times Better
998:Grandpa's Gamble
942:Ten Times Better
936:Grandpa's Gamble
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593:Across the Alley
564:Grandpa's Gamble
551:Grandpa's Gamble
539:Grandpa's Gamble
478:Poems for Adults
453:More Than Enough
416:Grandpa's Gamble
410:Ten Times Better
392:Across the Alley
310:Children's books
297:Michelson hosts
102:was awarded the
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248:illustration
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51:Brooklyn, NY
1049:1953 births
526:Barry Moser
441:Forthcoming
350:Lipman Pike
328:Fascinating
288:E. B. Lewis
276:Barry Moser
48:3 July 1953
1043:Categories
1034:Happy Feet
980:Happy Feet
775:nnstoy.org
703:2020-01-18
589:Happy Feet
585:E.B. Lewis
580:Happy Feet
575:Happy Feet
547:Happy Feet
256:Mo Willems
44:1953-07-03
260:Jane Dyer
196:holocaust
911:30 March
890:30 March
865:30 March
840:30 March
804:30 March
780:30 March
751:30 March
726:30 March
678:30 March
654:30 March
622:30 March
512:Semblant
190:Born in
172:Nextbook
95:author.
560:Yiddish
200:Gestapo
71:Website
545:, and
225:Career
142:, and
110:, and
65:Poetry
799:(PDF)
771:(PDF)
721:(PDF)
673:(PDF)
648:(PDF)
641:(PDF)
502:Masks
57:Genre
913:2023
892:2023
867:2023
842:2023
806:2023
782:2023
753:2023
728:2023
680:2023
656:2023
624:2023
219:Nanz
206:and
126:for
80:.com
38:Born
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46:)
42:(
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