Eric A. Kimmel

  • 66

    Catalog books

  • 50

    Works

  • 1990 to 2018

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Eric A. Kimmel writes imaginative retellings and original stories rooted in Jewish tradition and world folklore. His work ranges from picture-book favorites like The Chanukkah Guest and Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins to middle-grade novels exploring rites of passage, blending warmth, humor, and moral clarity for young readers.

Kimmel also turns to global tales, adapting legends from Japan and the Aztec world alongside contemporary Jewish life. Short, vividly illustrated books such as Gabriel’s Horn and Joseph and the Sabbath Fish showcase his gift for lyrical storytelling and accessible myth-making that invites children into old stories anew.

Best Place To Start

One Good Tern Deserves Another

Holiday House • 1994 • standard commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Retellings of Jewish folktales and holiday stories • Picture-book storytelling with warm, humorous voice • Folk and myth adaptations from diverse cultures

Genres and themes: Children's picture books • Jewish holiday and tradition • Folktales and legends • Humorous moral tales

Who this author is best for: Good for parents and teachers seeking engaging, illustrated retellings of Jewish holidays and classic folktales for young readers.

Start with one of the holiday picture books (Herschel and the Hannukah Goblins or The Chanukkah Guest) to sample his storytelling voice; explore the longer titles for older readers.

Top Books To Start With

  1. One Good Tern Deserves Another

    Holiday House • 1994 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1994 • 188 pages.

  2. The Two Mountains An Aztec Legend

    Holiday House • 2000 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 32 pages.

  3. Be Not Far From Me

    Simon & Schuster • 1998 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  4. Squash It: A True and Ridiculous Tale

    Holiday House • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 40 pages.

  5. The Magic Dreidels: A Hanukkah Story

    Holiday House • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 30 pages.

  6. The Old Woman and Her Pig

    Holiday House • 1996 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1996 • 28 pages.

  7. Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age

    Penguin Group USA • 1995 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1995 • 143 pages.

  8. The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol

    Holiday House • 1995 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995 • 64 pages.

  9. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

    Holiday House • 1994 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1994 • 30 pages.

  10. The Gingerbread Man

    Holiday House • 1993 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993 • 32 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • The Two Mountains An Aztec Legend is the easier short commitment, while One Good Tern Deserves Another asks for more reading time up front.
  • One Good Tern Deserves Another gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while The Two Mountains An Aztec Legend leans later in the catalog.
  • Be Not Far From Me is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from One Good Tern Deserves Another.

More Books By Eric A. Kimmel

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