Reviews
This important online magazine reprinted Chapter 8 of the Secret Buttons, “All Who Are Hungry,” in its entirety.
“A delightful cast of characters brightens this portrait of a dark period of history.”
Reviewer Norm Cohen keeps a focus on the importance of illustration, then leads his readers to a Q&A with Ellen.
“Caterina Baldi’s art does more than decorate pages; it captures the frantic energy of the train station, the breathless tension of border checks, and the delicate crocheting of buttons.”
In this essay, “Teaching, Learning, and Writing About the Holocaust,” Ellen Shapiro asks, “Isn’t there enough Holocaust literature out there already? Why would I — or should you — add another book to the mix?” And answers by showing how and why middle-graders and young teens need to read about characters their own age who are brave, successful protagonists.
“By placing young girls at the center of the story and allowing them to confront fear with intelligence and creativity, Shapiro delivers a moving and empowering narrative.”
“At its heart, this is a story about the threads that hold us together when everything else falls apart.”
“Beautifully designed, with richly detailed illustrations by Caterina Baldi, The Secret Buttons reads like the diary of an astute observer, capturing the destructive nature of fascism and the transformative power of survival.”
“As danger grows, Anni and Rosie discover that their small talents—knitting, courage, and quick thinking—can change lives.”
“Resistance here is quiet and dangerous, never romanticized. The author handles faith with similar care. Ritual exists alongside doubt, anger, and refusal. Caterina Baldi’s illustrations deepen the text rather than decorating it.”
“Moving and beautifully told... sheds light on lesser-known experiences of Jewish children during World War II.”
Events
Monday and Tuesday, March 1 & 2
All Day
CUNY Graduate Center
365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
I will exhibit and sell my books and meet with teachers, tutors and educational therapists to learn more about how reading, writing and spelling are taught today in order to develop new products to meet their needs.
Saturday, March 28
2:00 pm
Irvington Public Library
12 South Astor Street, Irvington
NY 10533
Tuesday, February 24
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Private event
Congregation Sons of Israel, Briarcliff Manor, NY
Thursday, March 26
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Free and open to the public at
The Warner Library
121 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
Tuesday, April 7
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Scarsdale Public Library
54 Olmsted Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Discussion of The Secret Buttons with families with children grades 4 to 8
Video Interviews
and Podcasts
Recorded on Tuesday,
January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Influencer Cyrus Webb and Ellen talks about the meaning of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the relevance of The Secret Buttons. The interview also posts on iHeart Radio, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Amazon Music, and other podcast platforms.
Dan expertly guides Ellen through the plot points in her novel and how they were developed and illustrated.
Ellen was honored to be one of the inspirational women to speak with Kate about her motivation and inspiration to illuminate a dark time in history and make it exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking for young readers. (Audio only.)
Taped Monday, January 12
L.A.-based author and journalist Jill Ferguson speaks with Ellen about design, books, and Ellen’s mother’s story and how it shaped her desire to write and share a positive message about surviving religious discrimination and wartime terror.
LIVE on WCUW-FM (Worcester, MA)
8:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, February 8
It was great to speak with musician and spiritual teacher Mitch Gordon—we have much in common. Mitch is on the board of Teach the Shoah, an international nonprofit that teaches people to be storytellers and embody the stories from actual testimony from the Holocaust.
Taped Wednesday, January 21
This hourlong conversation between Sixties activist and former New Hampshire State Senator Burt Cohen and Ellen touches on topics ranging from how small things that were smuggled helped win wars; the parallels between the Nazi era and today’s crackdown on immigrants; and how book illustrations are created.
Taped Monday, February 2
From the University of Maryland, John Rush and Ellen discuss racial profiling and immigration in the days leading to WWII in Europe and now in the USA — and the differences in public reaction.
Taped Thursday, January 22
Ms. Boyer and Ellen focus on the life story, talents, and accomplishments of Ellen's mother Elizabeth Nussbaum Shapiro (1915–2007), who left Nazi-occupied Austria (and her medical education) to become a domestic servant in England. And who became a PTA president and owner of a needlework shop in Inglewood, California.
Taped Thursday, January 22
Mary Jane and Ellen get deep into their family histories, especially the arts of knitting, sewing, and the kind of crocheting used to make "secret buttons."
Will air on Saturday 1–24 on 950 AM and 104.5 FM Sacramento, CA; on BBS Radio nationwide and WNEW-AM, New York; and will be posted on.kahi.com for one week.
LIVE in NY, NJ, CT on WGCH-AM
7:21 a.m. ET
Tuesday, January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
On “The Voice of Fairfield and Westchester Counties,” Robin and Ellen compared today's protests against ICE to citizens' lack of empathy for Jews and others being taken away during the Holocaust.
Will be streamed at www.wgch.com
LIVE on WKNY-AM
9:30-9:45 a.m. ET
Tuesday, January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
From Kingston, NY, Warren Lawrence spoke with Ellen about the Secret Buttons characters and how they are the story were developed.
Live via Zoom 2:00-3:00 pm
Monday, April 13
Yom Ha’Shoah
Ms. Raskin interviews experts, celebrities and authors in the areas of self-help, wellness, spirituality and inspiration.
URL to come