Talking to Danielle Joseph about The Mitzvah Fairy

Today, I’m beyond delighted to feature an interview with author Danielle Joseph, for her new picture book, The Mitzvah Fairy, out this month from Kar Ben Publishing. The Mitzvah Fairy, with happy, colorful illustrations by Christine Battuz, follows the gentle journey of its titular main character, who spends his day decked out in fairy wings, doing good for others, or as his father explains: “treating others the way we want to be treated, that is a mitzvah.” From bringing soup to his ailing Bubbe to watering plants for a neighbor, and even picking up trash at the playground, Joseph’s otherwise unnamed mitzvah fairy spreads joy to his community. In the process, as the author’s note and matching game at the end of the book explain, he also spreads Jewish values such as visiting the sick, taking care of the earth, and doing good deeds for others.

I’ve been privileged to know Danielle for over a decade now, meeting her first when we were both debut authors! Here’s what she had to say about this new treasure of a book!

Joy Preble: First off, thank you, Danielle, for this sweet lovely book. As soon as I read it, I knew immediately that I’d be gifting The Mitzvah Fairy quite often! I’m also always fascinated about the inspiration for stories. Did the plot idea come to your first or was it a vision of your good-deed doer main character?

Danielle Joseph: Thanks, Joy! The idea of a mitzvah fairy came to me first. I thought it would be cool if someone went around spreading joy and then as the story progressed, it ended up being a little boy. My boys loved to dress up when they were younger, so I had a lot of fun with that aspect of the book, too.

JP: Well, since my first name is Joy, you know I have to be 100 percent for a book about joy! And Jewish joy at that! And speaking of that aspect, like The Mitzvah Fairy, two of your other more recent books, Ruth First Never Backed Down, and Sydney A. Frankel’s Summer Mix-Up (which is one of my favorites), also have Jewish main characters. Can you talk some about writing Jewish characters and stories?

DJ: Honestly, when I first started writing I was afraid that no one wanted to read about Jewish characters. It wasn't until I wrote Sydney A. Frankel's Summer Mix-Up that I included a bit of my own Jewish self into a book. I think it's important for all kids to see themselves in books and I'm proud to write Jewish characters. I didn't see many Jewish characters in books when I was growing up. This is why diverse books are so important, all kids deserve to see themselves represented in books.

JP: Yes! It’s so important, and I am glad that both of us are now writing stories with Jewish characters! The only book I saw myself in as an elementary student was Sydney Taylor’s All-Of-A-Kind Family and its sequels, and even then as much as I loved it, the series was set in the early 1900s In New York on the Lower East Side, so definitely not contemporary! You know, when you and I first got to know each other over a decade ago when we were both debut YA authors, I was writing a book with a Jewish main character. It didn’t sell, but I never stopped wanting to write stories I could see myself in.

But back to you! Speaking of diversifying what we write, since your debut YA author days, you have written for many age levels, both fiction and non-fiction. Can you talk a bit about that journey and about the types of projects that call to you as a writer? Has that process evolved over the years?

DJ: I have always been drawn to projects by the voice. What does the character have to share with the world? I started out by writing young adult fiction and I identify so much with the teen voice and everything they are going through. Then I went on to write picture books. I especially think that interest came along when I had my own kids and read to them every night. And along the way I wrote a middle grade novel too and that was so much fun. I have always been a huge Judy Blume fan and writing a humorous middle grade was a great experience. Then when I was doing some research for another middle grade project, I stumbled on an article about freedom fighter Ruth FIrst and was fascinated with her journey. She had so much courage to stand up for others and I wanted to share her journey with readers. With all my projects, I always seek to write the truth, be authentic, whether that's in fiction or nonfiction.

JP: Yes! Authenticity. When I teach writing, I always push my students to write authentically, to tell the stories that are theirs to tell. And speaking of how we develop our own stories, although you have lived mostly in the States, you were born in South Africa, and your husband in Haiti. I’d love to hear about how those diverse locations influence your writing.

DJ: These locations really influence my writing because they are a part of my identity, my family, and my everyday life. Even though I moved from South Africa when I was young, we went back often to visit and I always brought a bit of South Africa back home with me each time. When my kids were younger, I knew I wanted to write a picture book about Haiti, about their heritage and that is how I Want to Ride the Tap Tap was born.

JP: Sounds like you have fodder for many, many stories to come! And speaking of that, what’s next for Danielle Joseph?

DJ: I just finished writing a Jewish time travel novel, which was such a fun project to work on. Currently, I writing a young adult novel and a picture book. I love working on different types of books. I have more ideas than time! Thanks so much for having me here, Joy!!

JP: Thank you, Danielle!

Everyone can find out more about Danielle and her books here:

https://daniellejoseph.com