Eric A. Kimmel (born 1946) is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book '' Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins'' (illustrated by

Trina Schart Hyman Trina Schart Hyman (April 8, 1939 – November 19, 2004) was an American illustrator of children's books. She illustrated over 150 books, including fairy tales and Arthurian legends. She won the 1985 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustra ...

Sydney Taylor Book Award The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Jewish children's literature. Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The award was established in 1968 by the Association of Jewish L ...

winners ''The Chanukkah Guest'' and ''Gershon's Monster,'' and ''Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.'' Kimmel was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from

Lafayette College Lafayette College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter and other citizens in Easton, the college first held classes in 18 ...

in 1967, a master's degree from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

, and a PhD in Education from the

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...

in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at

Portland State University Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the next ...

, where he is

Professor Emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

of Education. Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

Awards

* 2004:

National Jewish Book Award The Jewish Book Council (Hebrew: ), founded in 1943, is an American organization encouraging and contributing to Jewish literature. The goal of the council, as stated on its website, is "to promote the reading, writing and publishing of qual ...

for ''Wonders and Miracles: A Passover Companion'' *2008:

in the Illustrated Children's Book category for ''The Mysterious Guests: A Sukkot Story.'' Illustration by Katya Krenina *2011:

in the Illustrated Children's Book category for ''The Golem's Latkes'' Illustration by Aaron Jasinski *2013:

in the Illustrated Children's Book category for ''Hanukkah Bear'' Illustration by Mike Wohnoutka *2024: Regina Medal from the

Catholic Library Association The Catholic Library Association is an international membership organization, providing its members professional development through educational and networking experiences, publications, scholarships, and other services. The Catholic Library Assoc ...

References

Living people 1946 births American children's writers University of Illinois alumni New York University alumni Lafayette College alumni Writers from Portland, Oregon Portland State University faculty Jewish American children's writers Date of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American Jews Jews from New York (state) Jews from Oregon Indiana University South Bend faculty {{US-child-writer-stub