“Drawing on extensive academic research and personal experiences during an extended stay in Portugal, Irene Shaland paints a vivid picture of the Sephardic Jewish experience in Iberia from Antiquity through modern times.” –GTA Books. Take a minute to check this book out:
Hello dear friends, readers, and followers! And happy, healthy, safe, and joyous New Year to you all!
As many of you know, I have not been presenting much for most of 2023 due to us traveling, researching, and working on our books. I am opening up the New Year with one of my Portuguese lectures. Here are the details, if any of you would like and be able to attend.
Title: “Rediscovering Portuguese Secrets: Little-Known Jewish History that Changed the World”
Date January 9th
Time: 11:00 AM EST
Booking institution: Baltimore Zionist District (BZD)
Venture on a journey with the BZD and renowned author and historian Irene Shaland as we delve into the enchanting tapestry of Portugal’s Jewish history, a narrative often overlooked by many.
Uncover the fascinating yet lesser-known stories of Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula since Biblical times. From the rich Sephardic or Spanish-Portuguese Jewish heritage influencing Portugal’s evolution during the Roman and Visigoth eras to the remarkable Age of Discovery and navigating the shadowy epochs of the Inquisition and persecution.
Explore the resilience of Jewish faith and traditions as they endured in secrecy, extending to World War II when Portugal emerged as a safe haven for countless European refugees. We’ll also touch upon the contemporary landscape, highlighting the modest yet flourishing Jewish community thriving in present-day Portugal.
Join us to explore the Portuguese secrets that have shaped history, weaving a tale of survival, resilience, and cultural evolution.
To learn more about the organization and to register, go to the BZD website: https://bzdisrael.org/ or call: 410-484-4510
In this post we wanted to share a few images of a lovely town of Adeje where we stayed during our recent trip to the island of Tenerife, Spain.
On the road again. After flying from Cleveland to Atlanta and then to Madrid, we were waiting for our flight to the Canary Islands. Also known as the Canaries, this archipelago consists of eight larger islands and a few smaller ones. As our base, we chose the island of Tenerife, the largest and the favorite of many visitors. And why were we going there? To celebrate Alex’s BIG birthday! He was going to be 70 years young.
Our hotel Iberostar Selection (adults only) Sabila in Adeje was a luxury resort. Adeje is full of top-tier hotels, most are trying to look like the Taj Mahal or a Buddhist Temple or whatever. We chose this tasteful, understated one, famous for its art hall, culinary arts, high level of comfort, and services. And we were very happy both with the Art Deco facade and with what we were surrounded with inside.
Here we are on the main boulevard in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, near our hotel.
Costa Adeje, Tenerife, the Canaries. Welcoming and heart (and body) warming ocean. Black sand beach. Volcanic peaks with hats made of clouds. What is there not to love?
Spectacular sunsets over the ocean.
This is how we celebrated Alex’s anniversary at a lovely and very popular seafood restaurant La Salitre.
I wanted to mention two dishes, known well to most of us and probably frequently cooked at home: gazpacho and paella. Both were done very differently from what we were used to, however, in a blend of the Andalusian and Canarien styles. Gazpacho was yellow: from yellow tomatoes and peppers; paella came with every seafood group cooked in a different sauce. All food was superb!
Please join Alex Shaland for this all ages writers workshop at the Coventry Branch of Heights Libraries!
Alex will also share adventures from his book, “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari: A Story of One Little Penguin who Wanted to Meet the Wild Animals of Africa.”
Coventry Branch Library Address: 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Among many other children’s book authors, Alex Shaland will be showcasing his new book “Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar.” In addition, Alex’s previous book from the Adventures of Jackie the Penguin series “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari” will be on display.
I am happy to share good news: in addition to the paperback edition, the eBook version of my latest book “Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar: Jackie Meets the Animals of Madagascar and Learns to Care About Nature” is now available at Amazon.
This book, the second in the “Adventures of Jackie the Penguin” series, is for children and their parents who love animals and want to learn more about the diverse wildlife of our planet. It is a captivating story told by a small African penguin called Jackie who, together with his two human friends, departs on a journey throughout the magical island of Madagascar. Our heroes came in search of unusual and mysterious animals, and they will not be disappointed.
Young readers are invited to join Jackie and meet adorable lemurs, colorful chameleons, tiny frogs, strange insects, beautiful birds, and other fascinating wildlife. No matter whether large or small, these creatures are very special because most of them do not exist anywhere else on Earth.
It comes as no surprise that Jackie falls in love with these animals, especially after learning many interesting facts about them. But at the same time, he observes scorched and bare land, where not so long ago there stood a forest full of life. Eventually, Jackie begins to understand the importance of protecting the environment.
A child’s learning can and should be fun. With this idea in mind, Alex Shaland wrote Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar and the previous book, Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari. Both books are part of the Adventures of Jackie the Penguin series, where bright color photographs accompany vivid descriptions of all exotic animals and help the child “see” the world through the eyes of their new friend, Jackie the Penguin.
I am happy to share the good news: Alex Shaland’s new children’s book “Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar” is now released.
In this book, Jackie meets adorable lemurs, colorful chameleons, tiny frogs, strange insects, beautiful birds, and other fascinating wildlife. No matter whether large or small, these creatures are very special because most of them do not exist anywhere else on Earth.
It comes as no surprise that Jackie falls in love with these animals, especially after learning many interesting facts about them. But at the same time, he observes scorched and bare land, where not so long ago there stood a forest full of life. Eventually, Jackie begins to understand the importance of protecting the environment.
Review of “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari” by a 5th Grade Student Link to book: https://amzn.to/3FjmS6Q
“(CHAPTERS 1 AND 2) In the first chapter when the penguin says their name it seems funny that they talk. But also the pictures are really detailed and realistic! Not just that but the detail and writing sounds like we are actually in the story, not just in it reading. Some books I just look at but here is one I can actually enjoy and picture myself in!
It is funny to see Jackie is in Africa where not most penguins live here in real life. I think most Land animals live there in Africa, penguins are sort of a mixture of land and water animals. I like how they mentioned that they are a bird but one that can’t fly. Real facts are always good for people just so they don’t get confused on what is real and what isn’t.
New friends are very rare to see in person so it makes it more fun to read when there are true facts like I said and not just facts are good but the illustrations seem better than I can draw!!
( CHAPTER 2 THROUGH 10) It is nice that you mentioned the United States in the book. Usually all books I read don’t include that in there so it’s amazing that they included our hometown. Not to mention the writing and detail they put in the words, JUST AMAZING!
Once again in chapter 3 there are great facts! Along the way I saw how Alex and Irene are humans and Jackie is a penguin. How do they communicate really well? I actually think that the storytelling is really nice, But there was one part where I could think you guys needed to describe more about because I saw that in some parts there are definitions on the side so maybe do that? About their communication, no harm or bad stuff I’ve thought about yet!
(CHAPTERS 3 THROUGH 10) In these chapters it seems like Irene, Alex and Jackie are getting along to the point where they can travel together WHICH IS WHAT THEY DID! And, how does Jackie survive in Africa with not a lot of water? Maybe you guys could include penguin friends that Jackie meets? Other than Alex and Irene maybe?
(CHAPTERS 11 THROUGH 13) These chapters were Awesome, I really think Jackie might need another book!
(CHAPTERS 14 THROUGH THE END) I absolutely love the “who is little tommy” chapter, it is so cute and nice learning about tommy and the wild safari animals.
It was funny at the end when Jackie asked if they were going to see “THE FASTEST ANIMAL ALIVE” which is true because cheetahs are very fast, faster than a normal cat! Impressive!
I enjoy the waterbuck because I learned that they live in swampy and grassy areas like I don’t think they would survive in a desert cause there’s no swampy areas.
For kudu the great I think those facts were amazing! They helped me to learn a lot more about Kudu! The Antelope with blue legs chapter was funny and also makes me want to learn a lot more about antelopes!
I went to see actual safari animals yesterday and I saw a ZEBRA!! I can’t think of anything about the zebra page because I was focused on how good it was. I can’t think about anything else that has problems or something we should change, the book was amazing!
While working on our upcoming trip to France, I came across a wonderful resource that would be very helpful for any history buff.
The website is called “The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe.” It was created in the 1990s by a group of historians and journalists with the goal of “leading the curious traveler to discover an unknown Europe.” The site is very easy to use: just click on the link
If your child would like to read Alex’s book “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari” before or after the event, copies of his book can be purchased at Amazon https://amzn.to/3FjmS6Q
or put on hold through the library catalog: CCPL’s catalog.
Alex Shaland and his children’s book “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari.”
