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Inspirational Heroes
Book offers up role models for kids.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
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54 May 13 • 2010
rad Meltzer's daughter visits
his home office every day
with the same question. She
wants to know if her book is done yet.
The young girl, familiar with her
dad's just-released Heroes for My Son
(HarperStudio; $19.99), dedicated to
her two brothers, knows another text
is in the works with her in mind. Both
give short biographies of people whose
deeds make them positive role models.
The recent release was begun eight
Among the Jewish biographies are
years ago with the arrival of the
those of Jonas Salk, Harry Houdini,
author's firstborn. It's a departure from Paul Newman, Stephen Spielberg and
the thrillers that have become bestsell- Bella Abzug.
ers for this University of Michigan
"While these are the stories we
graduate.
all know, I was after the singular
"My daughter drives
moments that made
a harder bargain than
these people great, and
my editor:' says Meltzer,
the real trick was finding
who pays tribute to
those moments:' Meltzer
52 individuals. He
explains. "There was
will sign copies of his
never a lack of stories.
book 7 p.m. Thursday,
I was choosing among
May 20, at Borders in
riches and proving that
Birmingham.
there are heroes every-
"There's not a hero in
where?'
this book I wouldn't
The Jonas Salk story,
give to my daughter
for instance, describes
Brad Meltzer
as well, but I started
Salk's perseverance in
this for my son. When
discovering the cure for
I signed the book deal, I said, `There's
polio but emphasizes that the research
one condition. There has to be two
doctor never sought a patent or mon-
books because I have a daughter."
etary reward for his discovery.
While the book essentially describes
"The common element among the
luminaries such as Albert Einstein
Jewish people is that they're a hard-
and Rosa Parks, there also are sections working bunch who never give up:'
about Meltzer's family members and
Meltzer says. "I love that?'
space for readers to add their own
With the approach of Father's Day,
heroes. The choice of 52 has no special Meltzer wants to call attention to the
significance.
satisfaction of reading to children.
"This book is not just about morals:'
"Someone told me that when you
says Meltzer, 40, whose fictional works read with your child, it's not about
include The Book of Fate, The Tenth
what you're reading:' he says. "It's
Justice and Dead Even. "It's proof that
about the fact that you're sitting
anything is possible."
together and sharing something. It
After thinking about heroic family
doesn't matter what the content is.
members, Meltzer moved on to child-
"I've been working on this book for
hood heroes such as Jim Henson. Next
eight years, and reading it with my
came research about people he consid- children is the best part of it?' El
ered "incredible:'
"I grew up as a Jew knowing the
story of Anne Frank; and when I did
Brad Meltzer signs copies
my research, I found the story of
of Heroes for My Son 7
Miep Gies:' Meltzer explains. "Gies
p.m. Thursday, May 20, at
actually hid the Franks and saved the
Borders, 34300 Woodward, in
diary. That's the story I want people to
Birmingham. (248) 203-0005.
share:'