I’m the author of award-winning picture books, both fiction and nonfiction. My most recent work, The Remembering Candle, illustrated by Selina Alko (Barefoot Books, 2025), won a National Jewish Book Award, a Sydney Taylor Book Awards Notable, and a Julia Ward Howe Book Awards Notable.
Bottle Tops: The Art of El Anatsui, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Lee & Low Books, 2022) won a Children’s Africana Book Award. Eighteen Flowers for Grandma: A Gift of Chai, illustrated by Jesse White (Red Comet Press, 2024) was a Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of the Year.
The Lost Sea Garden is my middle grade debut. This novel will be published by Red Comet Press in 2028.
My writing explores family stories, creative journeys, culture, and activism. Before becoming a children’s writer, I worked for economic justice organizations and co-wrote the resource guide, Creating Change Through Family Philanthropy: The Next Generation (Soft Skull Press, 2007). I also blogged about activism in children’s literature. I studied art history and anthropology at Tufts University and received a master’s degree in regional planning from Cornell University.
I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Authors Guild, the Boston Authors Club, Grub Street, and the London Writers’ Salon.
Signed copies of my books are available from Porter Square Books.
I enjoy connecting with young readers and writers at schools, bookstores, libraries, and cultural organizations. Learn about my author visits.
In addition to writing, I offer critique services for picture book creators.
Short bio:
Alison Goldberg is the author of award-winning picture books, both fiction and nonfiction. The Remembering Candle won the National Jewish Book Award, a Sydney Taylor Notable, and a Julia Ward Howe Notable. Bottle Tops: The Art of El Anatsui won the Children’s Africana Book Award and Eighteen Flowers for Grandma: A Gift of Chai was a Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of the Year.
Alison’s work explores family stories, creative journeys, culture, and activism. Her middle grade debut, The Lost Sea Garden, is forthcoming from Red Comet Press in 2028. She lives in the Boston area with her family. You can visit her online at www.alisongoldberg.com.
Interviews and posts:
- “Candles and Memories” (Book of Life Podcast, 4/12/26)
- “Interview with Alison Goldberg, author of The Remembering Candle” (Jewish Books for Kids, 10/12/25)
- “The Sleeping Bag Story and Fictionalizing Fragments of Memory” (Barefoot Books blog, 8/6/25)
- “Q&A with Alison Goldberg” (Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, 2/7/25)
- “Questions About Creativity Can Inspire Picture Books” (24 Carrot Writing, 10/30/24)
- “Meet-the-Author” (TeachingBooks, 2024)
- “Interview with Alison Goldberg, author of Eighteen Flowers for Grandma” (Jewish Books for Kids, 8/25/24)
- “Exploring the Art of Research with Author Alison Goldberg” (24 Carrot Writing, 5/31/22)
- “Art from the Everyday: A Guest Post by Alison Goldberg” (Lee & Low Blog, 5/18/22)
- “Get to Know… Alison Goldberg!” (Jarrett Lerner, 12/21/18)
- “Goals for Promoting Your Debut Picture Book” (24 Carrot Writing, 7/9/18)
- “Sharing a Love of Reading” (Scholastic News Kids Press Corps, 5/18/18)
- “10 Recent Picture Books With a Lot of Heart” (PragmaticMom, 2/14/18)
- “Celebration of Life Day and Interview with Alison Goldberg” (Celebrate Picture Books, 1/22/18)
- “I Love You for Miles and Miles” (Karlin Gray, 1/8/18)
- “Love and excavators” (Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe, 12/22/17)
- “Two-Debut Interview” (Picture the Books, 12/21/17)
- “Interview with Alison Goldberg” (Pine Reads Review, 12/15/17)
- “Author Spotlight: Alison Goldberg” (Kidlit 411, 12/15/17)
- “Alison Goldberg: Will Write for Cookies” (Vivian Kirkfield, 12/9/17)
- “Children’s Book Authors And Their Little Free Libraries” (Book Riot, 5/12/17)
- “Meet Alison Goldberg, #Kidlit Picture Book Debut Author” (Writers’ Rumpus, 3/14/17)
