Alison Green, a Queen’s Park-based solicitor who writes in her spare time, took home the prize for her unpublished story Marv’s Luncheonette.
The award celebrates new, unpublished works for young children based on Jewish history, values, or tradition.
Ms Green’s story follows a chaotic day in the life of a Jewish restaurant owner, described as a “joyful celebration” of community and teamwork.
The win comes with a £1,000 prize while her manuscript will be considered for publication by Green Bean Books.
Ms Green, who also earned a place on The Jewish Literary Foundation’s Emerging Writers Programme, said: “I’m over the moon. I was a runner-up last year with a different story, so I’m delighted to have won this year.”
Judges praised the story’s energy, humour, and warmth.
Omer Hoffmann, author, illustrator, and award judge, said: “What a wonderful tale. It is pure joy to read such a colourful story that uses Jewish ingredients to create a feast of humorous characters and dishes.
“The text transforms a simple restaurant scene into a wild, unstoppable ride that grabs the reader from the outset.”
Ms Green began writing children’s stories when her son was young. She said: “I actually wrote Marv’s Luncheonette for last year’s competition but I was really struggling with the ending so I submitted a different work. This year, I thought, right, I’m going to do it, so I brainstormed it and worked really hard to finish.”
The story is written in rhyme, a style Ms Green regularly uses. She said: “When I try and write in prose, it sounds like a legal document.”
The story draws on Jewish food traditions, something Ms Green believes is universally relatable. She said: “I liked the idea of doing something about food because it’s something children really relate to and it’s such an important aspect of Jewish lives.
“We all love our food. It’s also something that brings people together, which is really what is at the heart of the story. I chose a mixture of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi dishes to reflect the diversity of the Jewish food experience.”
Ms Green also said she would love to see the book published with recipes included, and said the story was well-suited to illustration.
Rebecca Taylor, editor of Jewish Renaissance magazine and a member of the judging panel, said: “Marv’s Luncheonette is a joyful celebration of not just Jewish food but the ethos of positivity and teamwork. This delightful and energetic romp has a generous and heartfelt message at its core that evokes a sense of real community.”
Michael Leventhal, publisher at Green Bean Books, praised the story’s rhythm and spirit. He said: “The rhyme of Alison’s story propels you through Marv’s increasingly chaotic day with a mixture of fun, cheerfulness, and camaraderie.”
The Jewish Children’s Book Awards were established in 2021 to encourage new and innovative Jewish literature for young readers.
