e4e Chef RESTAURANT book in English. The text, by first- time author Elisabeth Kushner, was the winner in a national book-writing contest sponsored by Keshet (Hebrew for "rainbow"), a national organiza- tion that works for the full inclusion and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews in all facets of Jewish life. The story revolves around Nate's desire to dress up as an alien for Purim, even though his Hebrew school classmates tell him all the other boys will be dressing up as superheroes. When he turns to Daddy and Abba for advice, they suggest that being different can sometimes be a good thing. As an example, they point not to their own family, but to the lesson of Purim, which celebrates Queen Esther, a girl whose courage to be true to herself ends up saving her people. The book, with colorful drawings by English illustrator Mike Byrne, is recommended for children ages 4-9. In a Q&A on Keshet's blog, Kushner, a children's librarian who worked for nine years at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, said she had been thinking about writing a Purim book for a long time but had been too busy. However, when she heard about the contest, "I finally stopped and said, `I'm a Jewish lesbian mom who was a librarian at a Jewish day school. I know a lot about this stuff, and I'll feel really silly if I don't do this.' So I took a few weeks to work on it, and with the additional element of queer family members, it took shape really quickly, especially since Purim is all about coming out and being who you are. "I wanted it to be a book where the parents being gay is not 'the prob- lem:' she added. "I know it's hard for a lot of people in a lot of places, but that really hasn't been my experi- ence or my family's experience, and it hasn't been the case for a lot of my friends, too. "Our kids have regular kid prob- lems," said Kushner who currently lives with her family in Vancouver, Canada, and reveals that her favorite hamantashen is poppyseed. "Just as there are Purim stories other than the Book of Esther, there are kid-in-a-gay-family stories that aren't about a classmate or teacher's homophobia." AUTHENTIC LEBANESE FOOD Want to be a part of our VIP club?? Text LEC HE F to 248.218.0320 for exclusive bi-monthly coupons! :) Open everyday for Lunch & Dinner n/ Total 70 Food Bill OFF No plate sharing and 18% gratuity. With this coupon Valid for dining-in and carry-out. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 3/31/13. www. lechefmi.com 32621 Northwestern Hwy. Farmington Hills 248 932 1300 Just in front of Sam's Club & Home Depot - tiTnict Sushi Japanese Restaurant DAILY SPECIALS i r EVERY DAY SPECIAL $7.99 Bento Box & Sushi lunch TUESDAYS Chef's Special Rolls & Tempura Rolls 50% off THURSDAYS All-You-Can-Eat Lunch $9.99 Dinner 50% off all Chef's special rolls SATURDAYS Hometown & Tempura Rolls 50% off Delivery and online ordering wwwwbninja.com - Open 7 Days a week Mon-Sat open at 11 Sunday open at 4 20% OFF Your total food bill Not good with any other offer or coupon & daily' specials Expires 3/15/13 33214 W.14 Mile at Farmington Road West Bloomfield MI 48322 248-737-4188 1794100 ❑ • — •• a — MY ' . 19 up BROTHER'S BOOK Fh CZt.c WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE MAURICE SENDAK The first edition of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, signed and inscribed with a drawing by the author. included the sale of a rare first edi- tion of Where the Wild Things Are for $18,000 that includes a humor- ous inscription to Reed Orenstein, a friend and collector of Sendak's work. The first edition was among 62 lots of Sendak items from the collection of Orenstein, who died in 2010. One of the more comprehensive collections of Sendak's work held by private collectors, it was the first of Sendak's work to come on the market since his death, accord- ing to von der Linn. Other items in the sale included another rare first edition of Where the Wild Sendak's last book, My Brother's Book, was Hours: Tue - Thu 11am-10pm Fri -11am-11pm Sat - 4pm-11pm Sun - 2pm-9pm Closed Monday • AMAZING PRICES! Beer starting at $3 00 Wine Starting at $600 heck out our website •• .mikelarcos.com . NOW SERVING BEER & WINE!!! • 2440 Orchard Lake Road • Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320 • 248-682-9500 published posthumously this month. Things Are without an inscription that sold for $6,240. While some initially criticized Where the Wild Things Are for its overly dark imagery, the tale of how a rebellious boy hero, Max, tames the dark and ghoulish creatures that inhabit many children's night- mares was instantly popular among children. The book, which has sold more than 10 million copies and been translated into 15 languages, made the Brooklyn-born son of Jewish immigrants one of the most influential children's writers of the 20th century. ❑ BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM fi MARTIAL ARTS Birmingham Martial Arts 2219 Cole Street • Birmingham MI 48009 248.646.6608 www.bmartialarts.com DIM February 21 • 2013 49