Born:
  New York, New York,
United States Of America

Current Home:
New York, New York,
United States Of America

Nina Jaffe

Biography

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Nina Jaffe is an award-winning storyteller and author who is internationally known for her retellings of Jewish and world folklore. Recent titles include The Mysterious Visitor: Stories of the Prophet Elijah (1997 Sydney Taylor Award); A Voice for the People: The Life and Work of Harold Courlander, which was selected as a Smithsonian Notable Book for 1997; and The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth From Puerto Rico. She is the author of the critically acclaimed In the Month of Kislev: A Story for Hanukkah; Patakin: World Tales of Drums and Drummers and While Standing On One Foot: Puzzle and Stories and Wisdom Tales From the Jewish Tradition co-authored with Steve Zeitlin. The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales was the recipient of the Sydney Taylor Award for Best Jewish Children's Judaica Picture Book in 1993. In 1996, While Standing on One Foot received the Arnie Izard Storyteller's Choice Award and the Prix Verseles - the prestigious children's literature award of the Ligue des Families in Belgium.

A native New Yorker, she holds a degree in World Music from Wesleyan University and an M.S.Ed in Bilingual Special Education from Bank Street College of Education, where she is currently on the graduate faculty as a specialist in storytelling, folklore, and music. Nina Jaffe is the co-founder of The Center for Folk Arts in Education, a partnership between Bank Street and City Lore: The New York Center for Urban Folk Culture. As a storyteller, she has presented Yiddish folktales and poetry at the Children's' Museum of Indianapolis for the Holocaust Exhibit Remember the Children: Daniel's Story. Other performance credits include: The Connecticut Storytelling Festival; The 92nd Street Y “Oral Tradition Series;” The Storytelling Institute at Long Island University; The Public Library of Montreal; The Museum of Natural History.

In December 1998, Nina represented the United States in the Third International Festival of Storytelling in the Canary Islands of Spain. Nina lives in New York City with her husband, Bob, a learning specialist, and their son, Louis.

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  This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous by Nina Beck Manhattan It Girl Riley Swain is no pudgy wallflower. She's brash, bold, fashionable, and yes, fabulous. Riley has no qualms about kissing her best friend's crush, or bribing her dad's lawyer. But this spring break, Riley's dad and wicked stepmother are shipping her off to New Horizons, a two-week fat camp in upstate New York. And it's miserable: like military school without carbs. But then Riley gets to know adorable Eric, who sees beyond Riley's tough exterior. Soon, Riley might just realize $8.99 Paperback Book | Grades 10-12

  
  This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous
  Grades 10-12 $8.99
  
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  The Teacher Store

  This Girl Isn't Shy, She's Spectacular by Nina Beck Samantha Owens is sick of being a good girl. So she's skipping out on her stuffy boarding school and finishing up her senior year in New York City. There, Sam reunites with her former fat-camp roomie, the irrepressible Riley Swain, and is drawn into Riley's high-glamour, high-fashion world of deluxe makeovers, dates with wealthy boys, and wild nights out. Then Sam meets D., the gorgeous, wicked boy who once broke Riley's heart. Sam is supposed to hate D., but she can't. And D. can't seem to st $16.99 Hardcover Book | Grades 10-12

  
  This Girl Isn't Shy, She's Spectacular
  Grades 10-12 $16.99