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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Sharing Shalom
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Boulder
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
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LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born c. 1981; children: two.
EDUCATION:Holds bachelor’s degree (political science and Jewish studies) and master’s degrees (Middle Eastern studies, education); took writing courses at University of California, San Diego.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Educator and writer. Has taught English, Spanish, and social studies to children, as well as English to adults.
AVOCATIONS:Yoga, exploring nature.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2025, review of Sharing Shalom.
ONLINE
Jewish Book Council website, https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/ (August 5, 2025), author profile.
Maria Marshall website, https://www.mariacmarshall.com/ (August 5, 2025), “The Picture Book Buzz—Interview with Danielle Sharkan.”
Mary Boone website, https://www.boonewrites.com/ (September 10, 2024), “Six Questions with Danielle Sharkan.”
Picture Book Builders, https://picturebookbuilders.com/ (August 13, 2024), Rebecca Gardyn Levington, author interview.
Six Questions with Danielle Sharkan
Writer: Mary Boone
Mary Boone
Sep 10, 2024
Danielle Sharkan grew up in the Chicago suburbs. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Jewish Studies and master's degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and Education. Danielle has taught English to kids and adults in three different countries. Her stories are inspired by nature, her life experiences, history and culture. Danielle now lives in Boulder, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her two children and Goldendoodle, Charlie Brown. Danielle's new picture book, Sharing Shalom, is illustrated by Selina Alko and published by Holiday House.
1. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kidlit authors?
Everyone’s journey looks different. It is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, wins and losses, joy and heartache, near misses, apologetic passes and frank rejections. Keep participating, keep learning, keep honing your craft. Write from your heart. Write your truths. Write the story only you can tell. As long as you don’t give up, you will get there.
2. What three things bring you joy?
My kids, nature, yoga, and good food (ok, I cheated, but food is so good!)
3. What do you feel you’ve gained from being a part of the children’s writing community?
The children’s writing community is amazing. I have not only learned how to be a better writer, but I have also gained critique partners, mentorships, twitter pitches, contest wins, and life-long friends. As a result of being part of the community, I can now confidently call myself an author!
I probably wouldn’t have made it this far without the support and encouragement of a lot of people, so I’d like to give a shout out to a few. Jenna Waldman brought me into the kidlit community and has guided me throughout my journey. I saw my first contest win with Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis’ Fall Writing Frenzy, which earned me a critique with the fabulous Vivien Kirkfield. Shortly after, I placed in Vivien Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words contest, and then was chosen by Elisa Boxer for Justin Colon’s PBCHAT Mentorship. A few months later, I was offered representation by my agent, Charlotte Wenger, and six months later I got my first book offer for Sharing Shalom!
4. Where did you get the idea for Sharing Shalom? What was your inspiration?
I wrote this book in Fall 2021. I wanted to write a meaningful story. A story only I could tell. I thought back to my childhood. I tried to mine experiences that were impactful. I grew up in a suburb of Chicago that was orderly, calm, and traditional. There was some diversity, and I was never the only Jewish person around. That being sad, I never really felt different for being Jewish, until High School, when I traveled overseas. Never, except one time. I had almost forgotten about it. I was in third grade, and sometime around winter break, I was watching the news with my parents. We listened to a story about an act of the vandalism at my synagogue, along with other Jewish centers in the area. I didn’t understand why it happened. We didn’t talk about it. Hebrew School was closed for a few weeks, and when we returned, nobody talked about it. I felt like a sense of shame and confusion. Why would someone do this? As a parent, I was becoming worried about the increase of anti semitism and hate crimes I heard about in the news. I wanted to write a book that would help parents and children talk about this difficult topic. I also wanted to help instill a sense of pride to young Jewish and non-Jewish readers and help celebrate the richness diversity.
5. Was this always the title for this project?
This project went through three different title! The original title was Not So Different. Then, it became Leila’s Links. These titles didn’t convey the essence of the story. Sharing Shalom, was the product of a brainstorming session with my agent, Charlotte. It was perfect, not only because of the sweet alliteration, but because it perfectly captures the heart of story.
6. What was the most challenging thing you faced while writing this book?
A challenge I faced while writing this story was how to explain hate/racism/anti semitism to a child. Emotionally, I was mad that I even had to explain it. I imagined having this conversation with my daughter. I didn’t want to have this conversation with her. But I know that there will be a day when I will have to. And when I do, I want to her to be proud of who she is. I don’t want any child to feel ashamed for her heritage, culture, background, or religion.
But I think the most challenging part was trying to put myself in the minds of the people who perpetuate these crimes. What do they really believe? It was extremely difficult to answer to Leila’s question, “But why?" Selina’s beautiful, bittersweet illustration does an excellent job showing the depth of emotion a child might have after experiencing such an incident, and to elicit empathy from the reader. In the end, I think that emotional response may be more powerful than any explanation.
Home Uncategorized Sharing Shalom, Interview with author Danielle Sharkan + a GIVEAWAY!
Sharing Shalom, Interview with author Danielle Sharkan + a GIVEAWAY!
Rebecca Gardyn Levington August 13, 2024
Today on the blog, I am absolutely honored to interview author Danielle Sharkan about her gorgeous, timely, and important book, SHARING SHALOM, illustrated by Selina Alko. It releases on Sept. 17th with Holiday House.
The story is about a little girl who is very proud of her Jewish identity, customs and traditions until someone purposefully destroys her family’s synagogue in a hateful act of antisemitism. This is a topic that, sadly, is extremely timely, as acts of antisemitism are (and have been) on a steep rise in this country and around the world, even before the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7th.
I relate so much to Leila, both as being a child who felt different for being Jewish in a town that didn’t have many Jews, and now as an adult, worried that being Jewish may cause some people to hate me even when they know nothing about who I really am — or worse, despite already knowing who I really am. I relate to how Leila wants to “blend in” so that no one knows she’s Jewish. So many Jewish kids (and adults) are dealing with this right now. They struggle to be proud of who they are and yet also want to be sure they don’t stand out too much and risk becoming a target of hate or violence.
I love that in the end of SHARING SHALOM (spoiler alert), Leila’s community comes together to help repair the synagogue and Leila feels like she is accepted for being herself. The book beautifully shows children how, while some people choose to bring ugliness and hate into the world, others choose to bring helpfulness, empathy and tolerance.
And now, here’s my interview with Danielle….
RGL: Danielle, thank you for writing such a beautiful book to help parents and teachers discuss antisemitism with children in a very tangible and accessible way. I understand from your author’s note that this story is based on an incident that occurred at your family’s synagogue in Skokie, IL in 1990. When and how did you decide that this was a story that was important to tell for young readers today?
Hi Rebecca! Thank you for featuring me on Picture Book Builders. I’d be happy to tell you how the seeds of this story emerged. When I first discovered the kidlit world, and wanted to write a picture book, I was sure I’d write a funny book. The first few books I attempted at (before officially learning how to write a picture book) were in rhyme and did not really have a plot! When I took my first class at UCSD with Marcie Colleen, right when Covid began, I poured my heart into a story that I was sure would sell immediately, or at least get me an agent! Neither happened! So, I began the journey recommended by my dear friend, Jenna Waldman, and I joined 12×12 and Twitter kidlit. I found a critique group and then another one Justin Colon set up, and entered some contests. I was on my way to learning how to really write a picture book. While I found delilght and comfort in funny, light-hearted stories, it was my first story based on an event in my childhood that got me a PBCHAT mentorship and the interest of a few agents. So, I decided to write another story based on my life. I asked myself what was something important and meaningful that happened to me as a kid that I would be able to write about. For a few years already, there had been increasing antisemitic incidents, and rising hate crimes in general. I had to dig deep to remember this hate crime that happened when I was in third grade. I wondered how I would explain this to my children, if heaven forbid, they experienced something like this. (My daughter almost did when she was two, but luckily I took her home early the day her preschool recieved a bomb threat, that turned out to be false.) With all these ingredients in the pot, Sharing Shalom was born.
RGL: You did a wonderful job of showing Leila’s emotions in this book, especially how much it hurts when you feel like you can’t be yourself for fear that others won’t accept you. I especially like when Leila asks her mom about what happened, as you are modeling to kids that it is okay to talk to a grown-up about things that scare you. You say in your author’s note that you don’t remember talking about the incident with anyone, however. Did you not feel at the time that you could freely ask the adults in your life about it or did the adults in your life tried to shield you from it? Or was there some other reason?
I remember hearing about the vandalism on the news with my parents. But we didn’t talk about it. And I remember knowing that Hebrew School was closed an extra week or two because of it. When we returned, everything was as it was before, and we still didn’t talk about it. It was the first time in my life that something like that happened to my community. I felt like there was a sense of shame and fear. I think that the vandalism was a shock to the community, a suburb of nearly 40,000 Jews and around 7,000 Holocaust survivors, that just about ten years famously fought against a group of Neo Nazis who had planned to march through the suburb. Although my own family had immigrated to America long before the Holocaust, the legacy and trauma of persecution was still very poignant. And I think that as much as my family felt assimiliated as Americans, and while we were free to practice our own religion, this hate crime was a reminder of a darker past that nobody wanted to talk about. I think it’s part of the story of Jewish survival. Moving forward. So to answer your question, I think it’s a combination of trying to shield us and also fear, shame, and not knowing how to talk to kids about it. That’s why I felt it was important to write this story.
RGL: The art by Selina Alko, which looks to be a mix of collage and paint, is absolutely stunning. It is so bold and powerful, just like your text. As someone who has worked on several Jewish-themed books, some with Jewish illustrators and some with non-Jewish ones, I am curious if you felt it was important that the illustrator for this particularbook be Jewish? Did you have any input into the illustrations and/or choice of illustrator? And what is your favorite spread?
I agree, Selina did a beautiful job in her bold illustrations. My editor told me she wanted to find a female Jewish artist, and that she had someone in mind. She was ecstatic when Selina signed on to the project. Although I am now so proud that Sharing Shalom is created by two Jewish women, which gives it authentic represenation, at the time I was open to all illustrators. I’ve found that there are many people in the publishing industry, and in the world, with ties and empathy to the Jewish experience. I felt that being open to a non Jewish illustrator would be ok, since one of the themes of the story is tolerance and coexistence.
My favorite spread, that is such a hard question! I really can’t choose, so I’m going to have to cheat. Haha. I think the most powerful spread is when the community sees the vandalism. The most heartwarming spread is when Leila talks to her mother about it. And the spread that makes me the most proud is when Leila holds her head up high to “share shalom.” But now to answer your question, my personal favorite spread is when Leila is clutching her Hebrew notebook, imagining all the Biblical stories she’s learned in Hebrew School.
RGL: What was the submission process like for this book? Was a picture book about an antisemitic incident a tough sell with some editors? Or did you quickly find the right editor who understood the importance of telling this story? I can honestly see it going either way, which is why I’m asking!
Great question, it was such a rollercoaster ride! The day after we submitted this project, an editor emailed my agent saying how it’s a much needed story, and they’re taking it to acquisitions. We were told it was a very good sign. However, in the meantime, another editor reached out asking if I’d do an R&R. While I was waiting for the first editor’s response, I worked on the R&R. Unfortunately, that editor wasn’t able to get it through the marketing team, but fortunately, the second editor ended up making an offer! This whole process was about a month and half long.
RGL: Lastly, my favorite question to ask my guests: What is one question no one has yet to ask you about the making of this book that you would love to answer? (And what’s the answer? 🙂
A question no one has asked me yet is: Was “Sharing Shalom” the original title?
And the answer is: No! The first title was “Not so Different” the second title was “Leila’s Links” and only then did I land on “Sharing Shalom,” the final and most fitting title, after brainstorming with my awesome agent, Charlotte Wenger.
RGL: Thank you, Danielle, for sharing your beautiful book with us today!
And yes, my friends, there is a GIVEAWAY! Danielle has generously offered a picture book critique (non-rhyming, fiction or nonfiction, up to 1,000 words) to one lucky reader! I will announce the winner in my next post, scheduled for Sept. 10th!
AND also…. the WINNER of last month’s giveaway — a signed copy of Kelsey E. Gross’s gorgeous picture book, SUMMER: A SOLSTICE STORY or a picture book critique under 700 words is….
**QUINETTE COOK!!**
Quinette, please email me at RebeccaWrites4Kids@gmail.com and I’ll connect you and Kelsey for your prize! Congrats!
Danielle’s Bio:
Danielle lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her family, where she teaches, writes, practices yoga, and walks her goldendoodle, Charlie Brown. Sharing Shalom is her debut picture book
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Danielle Sharkan
Mint chocolate chip ice cream, goldendoodles, hot yoga, and exploring nature with her kids are some of Danielle’s favorite things, in addition to reading and writing picture books, of course.
Author photo of Danielle Sharkan.
Danielle’s stories are inspired by her lived experiences, natural wonders, and her commitment to Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place. She has taught English, Spanish, and Social Studies to kids of all ages. She rediscovered her love of picture books when her daughter was in preschool, and set out to become an author shortly after. Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, she now resides in Boulder, CO.
Her debut picture book, Sharing Shalom, releases on September 17th.
Welcome Danielle, thank you for coming to talk about your debut book!
Hi Maria, thank you so much for having me here!
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write and/or illustrate? How long have you been writing and illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write and/or illustrate?)
I have always loved writing. In 3rd grade, my father encouraged me to enter a contest in my local newspaper, and I won first place! Ten Spooky Ghosts was published just before Halloween, and I still remember the pride I felt when my teachers and even the principal congratulated me after it was printed. Fast forward to my Sophomore year in High School. We were assigned to write and illustrate a children’s book and given the option to send it out to publishers! I didn’t get an offer, but later that year, my teacher nominated me and one other student to team up with a software company to create original early reader stories, which they would then digitalize (this was in the 90's 😊) That year of High School rekindled my love of creative writing.
However, my most recent journey into the world of kidlit began just before the pandemic. I learned about PJ library, a Jewish publisher, which offers incentives for original stories. In the spring, I was sick with pneumonia and decided to write some fun, rhyming stories that I thought would instantly sell! I sent it out without an agent, without a critique group, without having studied the art of writing picture books or rhyming. Needless to say, I didn’t get an offer, but it did motivate me to write more and keep trying.
The next year, my friend posted that she had just gotten agented and sold her first story! I reached out to her and she told me what to do: join Twitter (X), Kidlit 411, 12x12, all the things! That was in mid-2020, and I’ve been writing and involved in the kidlit community ever since!
I like writing upbeat, fun, creative, and lyrical stories (even though my debut is a more serious topic). I like word play and lyricism. I like to write stories inspired by events in my own life that I would have liked to have when I was younger.
It is so good to meet you! Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
As a child, I loved Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. I loved Dr. Seuss’s eccentric characters, his rhyming, word play, and how his words brought me to alternative realities that were so improbable yet believable all at the same time. Yet, I loved how there's a deeper truth that speaks to even the youngest of kids.
Dr. Seuss was an amazing talent and did so much for kidlit. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Sharing Shalom?
Book cover - kids with arms locked together.
The seeds of the story were planted over several years. After writing for about a year, I thought to myself, what is something meaningful I can write about from my own life? It was 2021 and antisemitic events and hate-crimes in general were increasingly in the news. Around that time, my daughter was in preschool and there was a false bomb threat. Luckily, she was not there at the time, but the teachers had to quickly move the children to a safe location. I couldn’t imagine what they told the preschoolers. It was then that I remembered the one time a hate crime happened in my community. I thought back to that event, and Sharing Shalom was born.
I am so sorry for the kids, but grateful it was a false threat and everyone was okay. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for Sharing Shalom?
It took a little less than a year. First, I had to get agented, which happened a lot quicker after writing Sharing Shalom. I wrote the story in the summer of 2021, and got agented in November 2021. Our first two subs were different stories. We subbed Sharing Shalom in March, and got interest right away from one editor. A few weeks later, we got an R & R request from my current editor. The first editor couldn't’ give us an offer, but my editor loved the R&R and made an offer around April 2022!
You're right, that is relatively quick. Congrats. Says a lot about the manuscript. What was the toughest aspect of writing Sharing Shalom? And what was the most fun part of creating this book?
The toughest part of writing Sharing Shalom was when Leila asked her mom why someone would vandalize their synagogue. The most fun part of creating this book was getting the offer and then watching my words come to life in art form!
That would be a lot of fun! What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written and/or illustrated a manuscript?
It may not sound that unusual, but during the pandemic, I would stay up late at night and just write in my bed. (not recommended for maintaining good posture and/or relieving back aches!)
Maybe not, but comfy and quiet. When you first saw Selina Alko’s illustrations, did anything amaze or surprise you? Which is your favorite spread?
Selina’s art blew me away. The color palette is incredible. She did an amazing job of capturing the heart of the story through pictures.
Internal spread - on the left a girl holding her machberet, Hebrew notebook. On the right, an imagined treasure map.
Text © Danielle Sharkan, 2024. Image © Selina Alko. 2024.
I just love the drawing of Leila with her machberet, Hebrew notebook. Her deep yet innocent gaze, and beauty and strength shines through.
I also love the spread of the children holding hands and singing together, along with the Hebrew prayer. You could really get a sense of solidarity, friendship, and love through that image.
I wasn’t sure how Selina would depict the most difficult section, in my opinion: Leila asking her mother why their synagogue was vandalized. I think the way she paired such a difficult, heavy topic with a simple illustration and symbol of love was a great decision.
I agree that the illustrations are gorgeous, powerful, and very emotionally sensitive and poignant. Is there anything special you want your readers to know about Sharing Shalom?
When I wrote Sharing Shalom, there was an uptick of racism and hate-crimes happening across the country. When my critique partners or other writers read earlier drafts, many said they could identify with Leila’s experience, even though they weren’t Jewish, and they would tell me their stories. That was meaningful to me.
I would love for both Jewish and non-Jewish parents and teachers to read Sharing Shalom to their children and students. I hope it will increase understanding and empathy for the Jewish experience. And I sincerely wish that it will sow the seeds of peace for young people and help fight against racism, stereotyping, and intolerance.
I wish for that too, for everyone. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I have a few stories in the works in different genres, nonfiction, and creative nonfiction.
Best of luck with all of your projects. What is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
Photo of Strawberry Hotsprings, Colorado.
I love hot springs, and two of the most beautiful ones I have visited are Strawberry Hot Springs in Colorado and Gan HaShlosha in Israel.
On my bucket list is visiting Antelope Canyon in Utah. The colors and rock formations look incredible!
I hope you get the opportunity to go there. Thank you, Danielle, for sharing about yourself and your debut picture book with us.
It’s a pleasure, and thank you so much for interviewing me, and featuring Sharing Shalom.
Book cover - kids with arms locked together.
Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on Sharing Shalom.
For more information about Danielle Sharkan, or to contact her:
X/Twitter: https://x.com/daniraeshark
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle_sharkan/
Sharkan, Danielle SHARING SHALOM Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 9, 17 ISBN: 9780823455560
A young girl heals as her community comes together following an antisemitic incident.
Attending Hebrew school helps Leila feel connected to her family and heritage, but after the synagogue's window is broken, being Jewish suddenly doesn't feel good or safe. Wondering if her classmates hate her for being different, she tries to hide signs of her Judaism, from her Star of David necklace to the bagel with lox she brings to school for lunch. But when Leila's diverse classmates help repair the window, she's reminded that she still belongs and that being Jewish is something to be proud of. Hebrew letters and prayers and Jewish symbols are beautifully woven into both the text and the collage-style illustrations, reinforcing the tale's unique Jewishness alongside its universal message about the importance of allyship. With sensitivity and candor, Sharkan demonstrates how pride in one's identity can lead to shame and fear in the wake of a hate crime. In an author's note, she mentions that her story was based on a real-life childhood experience and speaks to the rise in antisemitic incidents around the world; books like these will help young people process complex emotions. Although hate takes forms that can't be as easily addressed as a broken window, this is nevertheless a lovingly crafted, age-appropriate doorway into a difficult topic. Leila and her family are light-skinned, while their neighborhood is diverse.
An especially important book for the current moment that will empower children to stand up in the face of bigotry. (glossary, bibliography)(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Sharkan, Danielle: SHARING SHALOM." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A825128231/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1fd070fa. Accessed 18 June 2025.