Calgary’s Jewish Book Festival will be held Nov. 22 – 29: It’s a Page Turner! 

by Jana Zalmanowitz, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

(AJNews) – As days get colder and shorter, the Jewish Book Festival offers Calgarians the opportunity to open their minds and find Jewish stories in unexpected places. This year’s festival has something to pique the interest of book lovers of all genres.

AJNews sat down with festival chair Danyael Halprin, a Jewish author (A Magical Passover Starring the Tooth Fairytale, RE:BOOKS Publishing), journalist, and former Calgary Herald book reviewer, to find out what attendees can expect. Along with the JCC’s Arts and Culture Manager Yanina Rabinovich, Halprin has curated a lineup that reaches beyond traditional literary fare.

It may get playful

“Everyone knows about Barbie,” Halprin says, referring to the doll’s Jewish creator, Ruth Handler, but the Teddy Bear also has Jewish roots. Created by Rose and Morris Michtom, founders of the Ideal Toy Corporation in 1903, this iconic stuffed animal is only one example of the impressive contributions Jewish entrepreneurs made to the American toy industry.

Their great-grandnephew Michael Kimmel will be flying in from New York to represent their legacy of play with his book The Playmakers (W.W. Norton & Company). Kimmel is a distinguished professor emeritus of sociology and gender studies at Stony Brook University (SUNY). One of the leading writers on men and masculinity, he’s authored several books on the topic, including Angry White Men (Hachette). His personal connection and research background give him a distinct perspective to tell these tales of invention. 

Against the backdrop of familiar characters like Popeye and Mr. Potato Head, Kimmel explores early 20th-century Jewish American immigration, changing attitudes about childhood, and how the toy industry became an opportunity for Jewish immigrants who faced barriers in other industries. 

The Jewish influence on popular culture doesn’t end with toys. Calgary’s own Abby Miller will explore another familiar medium in her presentation, Comic Books Are Jewish Literature. Kimmel writes about the subject in his book, and Miller also dives into how comics became a viable outlet for Jewish creatives. After attending, you may realize that many of your favourite childhood characters are Jewish or have Jewish connections (hint: maybe Superman?).

It brings history to life

Halprin is excited to have two historical fiction authors as part of the lineup. “They’re both amazing storytellers and write such well-developed characters. Every chapter leaves you in suspense.”

Calgary lawyer Joanne Kormylo wrote her historical fiction The Resistance Daughter (Hodder & Stoughton) to better understand her father who was a Canadian RAF bomber pilot and prisoner of war in World War II. Using his photographs, illustrations, and entries from his wartime log as research, Kormylo created a fictional heroine who stars in her novel. 

“Kormylo is a non-Jewish author writing about a teenage girl smuggling Jewish kids out of the Warsaw ghetto as part of the Polish resistance,” explains Halprin. It’s an example of the stories of heroic non-Jews who risked their lives to protect Jewish people during the Holocaust, offering a message of courage and hope in a dark chapter of history. 

With The Resistance Daughter’s impressive ratings on Goodreads and its global distribution, Calgary is lucky to claim Kormylo as a homegrown author. “She’s kind of a big deal,” says Halprin.

Born in Jerusalem and now a resident of Calgary, author Zev Cohen brings another WWII-era story to life. Based on his parents’ Holocaust saga, his self-published book Are You Still Alive? takes readers through a journey from Nazi-occupied Poland to the new state of Israel. Cohen’s impressive educational background in history, work in international relations, and personal family ties to the story, means audiences can expect historical accuracy and emotional authenticity. 

While Cohen is able to transport readers to another time and place, he connects with his local community as a volunteer at the Calgary Jewish Federation Library. Aspiring writers may also be interested in Cohen’s plans to establish a Jewish writer’s circle. 

You’ll find a variety of genres

The Jewish Book Festival is also featuring the graphic novel, a genre that seems to be having a moment. Vancouver’s Hart Snider will be presenting The Basketball Game (Firefly Books), which is also an animated short produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by Snider himself. Set in an Alberta summer camp in 1983, Snider’s book will resonate with middle school readers and beyond. Snider’s role as filmmaker gives him the ability to captivate audiences through different mediums of storytelling. You may already be familiar with him as writer and director of the documentary Catherine O’Hara: All of Us Shine. His documentary editing work has screened at prestigious festivals including TIFF, Sundance, and Tribeca, and streams on Disney+, Crave, Amazon Prime, and CBC Gem.

Toronto’s Danila Botha has won awards for her short story collections as well as her debut graphic novel Vidal (At Bay Press), winner of the 2026 Canadian Jewish Literary Awards for Graphic Literature, which she’ll be presenting at the festival. Through her vibrant illustrations, she brings her great uncle Vidal’s experiences to life—-his Sephardic culture, his work with the underground resistance in Paris, and his time in Auschwitz. 

For those with early readers, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, Toronto’s Richard Ungar offers a family friendly flavour. Partnering with PJ Library and its popular Friday morning program, Ungar will read from his latest book Challah from Heaven (PJ Publishing) to welcome Shabbat. 

The variety isn’t limited to the scheduled presentations. Books are available for purchase at the festival, spanning age ranges and genres, from picture books to literary fiction to nonfiction. What they share is a Jewish connection, whether through their authors or subject matter. 

Multimedia crossover

For those who might be more inclined to watch than read, this year’s Jewish Book Festival is partnering with the Beth Tzedec Calgary Jewish Film Festival to explore books and the films they inspired. The Choice, adapted from the book by Dr. Edith Eva Eger and The Campaign based on Warren Kinsella’s The Hidden Hand (Signal), both earned a spot in these joint festival collaborations and feature guests in attendance who will further bring the book from screen to real life.

The Choice follows two Israelis impacted by the events of October 7th and Holocaust survivor and psychologist Dr. Eger, as her work becomes a lifeline of resilience for them amidst great loss. Iris Chaim is featured in the film as she grapples with the loss of her son Yotam, who was taken hostage by Hamas and then mistakenly killed by IDF troops after escaping captivity in Gaza. Chaim and her son Tuval will both be in attendance at the film.

Kinsella will be present for a Q&A period following the screening of The Campaign. Well known for his commentary on Israel and his criticism and correction of misinformation about the country, especially after October 7, Halprin sees value in having a well-respected journalist and non-Jewish voice contribute to these conversations. “Having a non-Jewish person dispel the vitriolic anti-semitic propaganda is a much-needed voice.” 

Whether your interests lie in film adaptations, current events, comic books, history, romantic fiction, or the opportunity to discover unexpected Jewish connections, the Jewish Book Festival offers plenty of reasons to come out and explore. Beyond books, the festival opens with a Chanukah Market featuring local artists and businesses.

“I’m really proud of the lineup that Yanina and I have put together—we are showcasing award-winning authors, dynamic speakers, and great books. I’m excited for people to come!” Halprin says. 

The Jewish Book Festival runs from November 22-29 at the Paperny Family JCC. Click here for the hours and the full festival lineup. The organizers would like to acknowledge and thank the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary and the Calgary Jewish Federation for their support.