For the longest time, biographies were the only non-fiction reading I did. I would explore that genre more as I got older, but I always hold a spot in my heart and read piles for biographies. And picture book biographies have become a staple to read. Two that grabbed my attention and made me need to talk about them were Outside In and Inside Out: A Story About Arnold Lobel by Emmy Kastner and Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born by Richard Michelson and illustrated by Alyssa Russell.
Kastner’s book (due mid/late September 2025), Outside In and Inside Out, is a biography told as if Lobel himself was creating it. The voice and imagery is clever and fun. This could have been a “long lost Lobel book” if you were not paying attention. The homage to the author comes alive in a sweet and sensitive way. Fans of all ages will adore learning about the myth, the man, the legend. The afterwards by the author adds to this by including her own admiration and journey to creating the finished work. The look of the book is both unique to Kastner and honors Lobel at the same time. I was not a huge fan of Lobel’s before reading, but now I have a new appreciation of the work and even the history around him.
Do you know who Fanny Goldstein was? Well, few probably do know, unless you are a historian of Jewish Book Week. This immigrant, who loved learning, who loved libraries, who loved sharing her culture, would become the (seemingly) lone wolf who created Jewish authors/book week. Her life unfolds as many immigrant lives did (having to escape her homeland, leaving everything behind to live in a slum area in the states; having her father die of disease, and trying to earn money to help her family) but with the help of friends, family, mentors and the community she was able to open the doors to not just her Jewish community but to women and other immigrants as well. 
We’ll have to wait until November 2025 to see the life of Goldstein, but in the meantime you can read my review. I was able to read both books via online reader copies. I do want to find final copies as not only do I want to give them to people, to my library and copies for myself, but to fully appreciate the illustrations of both. Kastner’s art is similar to Lobel’s quaint and quirkyness and Russell’s art is both modern with this hint of “old school.” They tried to make the colors and details pop to show the historical moments as well keep it fresh for a modern audience. I think they did a good job of that, but I do admit, the story grabbed my attention more as I have “seen” that style before with similar biographical and historical stories. That said, I did enjoy them and look forward to finding more by them.
