About

Joanne Oppenheim has written more than fifty books for and about children. "The Prince’s Bedtime" was turned into a ballet; "Dear Miss Breed" was made into a play; and "Stanley Hayami, Nisei Son" was adapted for a film. She spends a lot of time playing with toys (someone has to do it) and writes about them for her review, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. She lives in New York City, not far from Rivington Street, the setting for her newest book, "The Knish War on Rivington Street", where a century ago, her great grandfather had a pushcart and no doubt ate knishes.

She has received the National Council for the Social Studies, Carter Woodson Award 2007, Outstanding Science Book Awards, IRA Children’s Choice Awards, Canada Council Prize for Children’s Literature.

Other Works

Awards and Recognition

  • Knish War on Rivington Street: Sydney Taylor Notable Book, 2018, PJ Book for Children, Guides of New York Apple Award for Fiction, 2018.
  • Dear Miss Breed: Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council of Social Studies Teachers as Best Book of 2007 for the Secondary Grades; Best for Teens List of the New York Public Library
  • Have You Seen Birds?:1986 Canada Council Children’s Literature Prize, 1986 IODE Book Award, 1987 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award, and the 1987 Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award.