Today we introduce you to one of Lerner Publisher Service’s stellar publishing partners, Intergalactic Afikoman! We’re coming up on two years of distributing their joy-filled Jewish picture books and nonfiction, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share this interview with Brianna Caplan Sayres, Intergalactic Afikoman’s CGO (Chief Galactic Officer). Enjoy!
What is Intergalactic Afikoman?
Intergalactic Afikoman is an independent publisher of out-of-this-world Jewish children’s books.
Here on Earth, we are based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. At Intergalactic Afikoman, we dream of a world filled with Jewish fantasy, zany children’s books, and Jewish creativity. We also celebrate a world filled with Jewish wisdom and tradition, Jewish diversity, and mighty Jewish girls and boys! At Intergalactic Afikoman, we give young readers fun, fantasy, humor, and adventure—books that are bursting with Jewish joy!
Counting on Naamah
Tell us how Intergalactic Afkikoman started?
Intergalactic Afikoman started when our CGO (Chief Galactic Officer), Brianna Caplan Sayres, had a vision for what she wanted to see in Jewish children’s books. One day, a mission statement started pouring out of her fingers, and soon, she began taking steps to turn that vision into Intergalactic Afikoman.
How would you describe your publishing vision?
Our publishing vision is to create a galaxy that is bursting with Jewish joy!
We are committed to publishing Jewish fantasy and Jewish sci-fi. And we love to publish fun and zany Jewish children’s books.
We also publish exciting Jewish biographies and nonfiction. All of our books tend to have a fun, unique, and/or different slant.
We love to represent the wonderful diversity of the Jewish people in both our fiction and our nonfiction.
(Just a couple of fun examples of exciting Jewish diversity: We are proud that we recently published the first picture book that we know of with a Jewish nonbinary main character, Frankenstein’s Matzah by K. Marcus and illustrated by Sam Loman, and we are thrilled that our picture book, I Am Hava: A Song’s Story of Love, Hope & Joy by Freda Lewkowicz was illustrated by renowned Indian-American Artist, Siona Benjamin and celebrates the multicultural nature of Hava Nagila, the world’s most famous Jewish song.)
Any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
We are very excited about our upcoming Fall 2024 picture book, Oy, Santa!: Or, There’s a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah by Joyce Schriebman and illustrated by Gila von Meissner.
Oliver Overstreet tries to get Santa to understand how special Hanukkah is. Even though Santa knows some things―like Oliver’s friend Ibrahim also doesn’t celebrate Christmas―Oliver loses patience when Santa doesn’t fully appreciate Hanukkah customs. Especially latkes! Helping people understand Jewish traditions is a never-ending job!
This book is for readers of all faiths and responds to the mistaken idea that Jewish children are somehow disadvantaged by not celebrating Christmas. Told through email correspondence, Oy, Santa! is a story about identity, perseverance, and the importance of sharing one’s traditions in a kind way.
We are also super excited for our upcoming Spring 2025 picture book, Passover on Everest by Rachelle Burk and illustrated by Craig Orback. This inspiring nonfiction title tells the exciting true story of how Jewish mother-daughter mountain climbing team, Cheryl and Nikki Bart, celebrated Passover on top of Mount Everest.
And we look forward to everyone reading our fun and unique middle grade nonfiction title coming out in Spring 2025, Shabbat on Mars, written by real-life rocket scientist, Jeff Ward, and illustrated by Gila von Meissner. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to celebrate Shabbat on Mars? Well, this book goes through everything from Shabbat candle lighting and baking challah to lifting a Torah on Mars and playing Shabbat afternoon Gaga! The entire book is based on all the latest scientific ideas of what it will truly be like when people live on Mars.
Anything else you’d like to add?
*photo used with permission
Intergalactic Afikoman is thrilled and honored to be distributed by Lerner.
We love getting our fun, joyful, zany, and unique books about the Jewish experience into the hands of our wonderful readers — children, parents, grandparents, teachers & librarians.
We love that our books are a mirror for Jewish children – who can see modern Jewish kids like themselves in children’s books.
And, we find it equally important that our books are a window for non-Jewish children and their grown-ups, allowing them to see modern Jewish kids and Jewish culture in a fun, vibrant, contemporary and exciting way!
To learn more about Intergalactic Afikoman, visit their website, check them out on Facebook, Instagram, or X, or browse their full list of titles on www.lernerbooks.com!