Nancy Patz
Nancy Patz most recently illustrated The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays. It is an excellent example of her well researched and beautifully executed watercolor and ink artwork. She visited the British Museum, Library of Congress and Walter's Art Gallery to view Hebrew manuscripts to obtain authentic images for her borders and costumes.
Writing and illustrating books has been the focus of Nancy's life for the past fifteen years. She has always been a painter, and studied art at Goucher College and Stanford where she obtained her degree. Prior to writing and publishing her first book, Nancy taught and lectured about art while raising a family.
When she made her initial venture into the publishing world, she selected publishers who produced books similar to her manuscript and she selected an editor whose name was spelled like her daughter's. Luck and talent won out, and Nancy published her first two books with Franklin Watts. She then went on to produce Moses Supposes His Toeses are Roses and 7 Other Silly Old Rhymes (1983, Harcourt, Ages 3 to 8, $13.95) and Gina Farina and the Prince of Mintz. Gina is a most contemporary young girl in a fairy tale story with a surprise ending; unfortunately, the book is now out of print. Moses has a Pennsylvania Dutch theme with art based on hand-painted certificates called fraktur.
Continuing on a cycle of a book every year, 1989 brought Sara Bear and Sweet Sidney (Four Winds, Ages 4 to 8, $13.95), a charming story about a bear couple and the coming of spring. 1990 produced No Thumpin', No Bumpin', No Rumpus Tonight! (Atheneum, Ages 4 to 8, $13.95) in which a young boy and his elephant pal prepare a surprise birthday breakfast for Mom. In 1991 To Annabella Pelican from Thomas Hippopotamus (Four Winds, Ages 5 to 8, $ 13.95) made its debut. It is a touching story of the desolation Thomas feels when his best friend, Annabella, moves away. In all, a delightful collection.
Nancy is now working on sketches and will be heading to Portugal; and I am looking forward to her next book.
To learn more about this author, visit The Children's Book Guild.
Reviews
The Family Treasury of Jewish HolidaysMalka Drucker
Illustrated by Nancy Patz
Many books present the Jewish holidays in some form or fashion, but here's one truly worthy of its title. It's a real treasure, not only for the children in the family but for the parents too. A 10-chapter anthology of Jewish holidays, this rich continuum goes well beyond ritual to a wealth of Jewish history and symbolism-a much needed and welcome source for parents. Additionally it includes related songs, recipes, crafts and read-along selections. Many of us who feel wise when it comes to holiday traditions, like making latkes and charosis, fall short at adequately answering all the "whys" that children ask. For instance, why do the rabbi and cantor wear cloth shoes instead of leather on the High Holy Days? Now I have the real answers to this and many other questions. 1994, Little Brown, Ages All, $22.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Bagel
ISBN: 0-316-19343-7
Added 1999
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