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2025 CBHL Literature Award of Excellence for Young Adults

5/12/2025

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It was wonderful to have The Miracle Seed selected as the 2025 CBHL Literature Award of Excellence for Young Adults from The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries. It's an honor to be selected by an organization comprised of Botanical and Horticultural Libraries throughout the world!
Thanks to Stacy Stoldt, Co-Chair, CBHL Annual Literature Award Committee Director of Volunteer Administration at the Lenhardt Library of the Chicago Botanic Garden for reading my statement at the annual meeting.


My Statement

I am thrilled to hear the good news that The Miracle Seed was chosen for  the 2025 CBHL Literature Award of Excellence for Young Adults from The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries.
The book was a labor of love. 
I grew up in back of a candy store in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. At that time, plants were not part of my experience. It was only when I was in college that I made my first attempt to grow something. Tomato plants were on sale at the local supermarket. The plant I brought home grew and grew until its leaves covered a window of the apartment I shared with my brother.  Unfortunately, after a summer of growth we harvested one itty bitty cherry tomato. My brother and I cut that tomato in half and feasted on the fruit of the harvest. At that time I did not know anything about the need for pollinators. (That one tomato was probably pollinated by a cockroach.) I've learned a lot since then.
My first job was teaching painting and illustration at a small college in rural Pennsylvania. As luck would have it, there was a farmer nearby that was renting plots of land. I grabbed one and grew corn, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and beans. The vegetables I harvested that year were miracles to me. A love affair with growing things began...
Since then, my day begins in the garden. Working with plants centers me before I write or paint. 
I've always enjoyed gardening and have shared my love of gardening with my grandchildren.

When I read about the amazing story of the rebirth of the extinct Judean date palm I was immediately intrigued and knew I had to tell that wonderful story.
Having my book recognized and receiving this award is very special to me.
Thank you.



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Back From Columbus

5/1/2025

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Thanks to Rabbi Josh Warshawsky of Congregation Agudas Achim for inviting me to participate in the Columbus Community Shoah Remembrance Day. It was a moving experience. 
Rabbi Brett Kopin, co-author of The Tattooed Torah and Beth Kopin, producer of The Tattooed Torah and I showed and discussed this wonderful movie. Beth brought the actual Tattooed Torah from Chicago!

Earlier that day we visited with the students of the Columbus Jewish Day School. The kids are smart, engaged and creative! Thanks to Eran Rosenberg, the Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Columbus Jewish Day School for inviting us and thanks to the staff for their wonderful hospitality.

​It was quite a memorable day.


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World War Two Blog- UK

3/25/2025

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Thanks to Jonathan Sandler for inviting me to appear
on his World War Two blog. 
graphicmemoir.co.uk/f/wwii-graphic-novelist-martin-lemelman
https://graphicmemoir.co.uk/f/wwii-graphic-novelist-martin-lemelman

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Back from Residency at Temple Israel of Greater Miami

3/19/2024

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Thanks to Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell for inviting me to Temple Israel of Greater Miami. It was a wonderful experience. The people were so warm and welcoming. I was honored and delighted to speak to the congregation about my work as a writer and illustrator. I was especially happy to speak to the young people on Sunday morning about creativity and the making of The Miracle Seed.
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Really Meaningful (and Fun) Conversation with Heidi Rabinowitz

3/2/2024

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https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-miracle-seed.html
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THE MIRACLE SEED named one of WORLD's Children's Books of the Year

2/23/2024

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Thrilled and honored to be chosen.
Click on image to get to the site
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Back From a Wonderful Trip to Chicago!

1/31/2024

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It was so great to be invited to show my work at the North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. Rachel Kamin and Marcie Eskin did so much to make the exhibit and my trip so memorable. It was a treat speaking to the kids in their 2d, 3rd, and 4th grade classes, as well as, presenting my work to the community at large. The children were super curious and a pleasure (the adults, too).
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I also had the opportunity to present my books The Miracle Seed and The Tattooed Torah via Zoom to Ms Capitão-Tavares' classes in Toronto, Canada. They had great questions and were very curious about the writing and illustrating process.
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Just received this sweet thank you note from the Earth Heros class at the University of Chicago Lab School.
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Just Received my copy of The PJ Library edition of The Miracle Seed

1/16/2024

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It's a thrill knowing that thousands of children will be receiving copies of The Miracle Seed this Tu B'Shvat, the New Years of theTrees. I got a preview when Daniel Alcheh, the super talented composer of the score for The Tattooed Torah sent me a photo of his daughter's copy a few days ago.
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Rissman Kol Ami Museum at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El             Highland Park, IL

1/12/2024

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I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to show original work from my books at the Reissman Kol Ami Museum at Beth El in Highland Park, IL. The show began in November but will still be up for another couple of weeks.

​Everyone is welcome to come to the reception and artist talk.
​
I'm also looking forward to be speaking to the kids at other times that week. It might be cold in Highland Park but it's an exciting time to celebrate Tu B'Shvat, the New Year of the Trees!

​
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New The Miracle Seed Discussion Guide

12/10/2023

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Happy to share  new educational materials for The Miracle Seed created by Ann D. Koffsky. It's really wonderful!
You can access it through the TPT website. Just click on the image below.
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    mARTin
    lemelMAN

    Welcome to my site...
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