What Emma Wrote
The Woman Behind the Words on the Statue of Liberty
Editor’s Note: Ann Koffsky’s What Emma Wrote - The Woman The Woman Behind the Words on the Statue of Liberty is a beautifully crafted picture book that celebrates courage, creativity, and the power of words. Koffsky creates a deeply moving portrait of a girl who loved language and grew into a woman determined to use her voice to make a difference.
N. Tarcan’s illustrations are filled with warmth and perfectly compliment the text. Emma Lazarus’s personal story is connected to the values of welcoming the stranger, compassion, and justice. History is made to feel immediate and the lessons Emma voiced resonate deeply today.
What Emma Wrote: The Woman Behind the Words on the Statue of Liberty, by Ann Diament Koffsky and illustrated by N. Tarcan, Apples & Honey Press, April 14, 2026.
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Bio: Ann Diament Koffsky is the award willing author of more than fifty books for kids including PING PONG SHABBAT (Little Bee Books) and the KAYLA AND KUGEL series. (Apples and Honey Press.) Her book, DIFFERENT KINDS OF MINDS (Philomel) was in collaboration with Temple Grandin. Several of her books have been PJ library selections, and her book Noah’s Swimathon received a Sydney Taylor notable designation from the Association of Jewish Libraries. Ann also creates free Jewish coloring pages for families and educators via her Substack, Coloring Jewish. She lives on Long Island, NY with her family.
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Five tiny delights:
1. Seeing the Tulips bloom in my backyard—I got the bulbs on a trip to Amsterdam, so they feel very Tulip-esque.
2. Hitting a particularly nice slam in pickleball. I’m not very good so when it happens, I am very delighted!
3. The smell of challah from my oven. Even if it’s the frozen kind. Mmmm.
4. Getting a text from a friend that their kid read one of my books
5. My kids sending me a meme they found funny. Often I don’t get it—but that doesn’t matter.
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Five tiny JEWISH delights:
The smell of challah from my oven. Even if it’s the frozen kind. Mmmm.
Ripping my sheitel off my hear after a long day of presenting somewhere. Ahhh.
Sitting next to a friend in shul. Sometimes talking to that friend in shul. ( shhh, don’t tell.)
Friday night dinner, with the candles glowing in the background. ‘Nuff said.
Discovering a “new for me” meaning in an old, Jewish text.
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