Welcome to my website!
All good wishes for 2025. I would love to hear from you so be sure to contact me and send an email.
Susan Goldman Rubin
JAN
20
I'm excited to share another lovely review for DRAGONFLIES!
In this unique picture book biography, readers meet Clara Driscoll, a gifted artist responsible for designing some of the Tiffany Studio's most memorable pieces. As a child, Clara loves drawing flowers and insects on her family's farm in Ohio, and her parents encourage their daughters to pursue their education. Following her father's death, Clara and her sister Josephine move to New York City, where they study at the Metropolitan Museum Art School. When Clara's nature drawings catch the attention of Louis Comfort Tiffany, he hires the sisters, setting them on an unusual career path for white women in the late 19th century. The remainder of the book chronicles Driscoll's successes as an artist and her role as the leader of the Women's Glass Cutting department. As her story unfolds, Chapman's vivid illustrations, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and cut paper, deftly bring to life Clara's journey, accomplishments, and artistic process. In the bottom margin, they also depict life back home in Ohio as Clara exchanges letters with her family, emphasizing her strong familial connection as well as the inspiration she draws from her youth on the farm. The composition of each illustration is exceptionally thoughtful, detailed, and dynamic. Back matter includes notes from the author and illustrator, both of which feature photographs of Clara and her work, as well as additional resources. All characters cue as white. A beautifully designed addition to biography collections, spotlighting a singular female artist. - Lauren Strohecke
JAN
15
My book Dragonflies of Glass is now available as an audio book
JAN
6
I was honored to receive news that The Women Who Built Hollywood: 12 Trailblazers In Front of and Behind the Camera won the Septima P. Clark Women in Literature Book Award, 2024, given by the National Council for the Social Studies.
NOV
21
Please visit me at the NCTE conference in Boston where I'll be signing The Women Who Built Hollywood at the Astra Booth #1014 on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 4 PM - 4:30 PM
And please come and hear our panel, "Girls Just Wanna. . . Make History, Create Change, Be Respected: Narrative Nonfiction to Inspire Hope and Invite Learning," on Sunday, Nov. 24 from 10:30-11:45 am in Room 252 B/Convention Center.
NOV
5
Great news! Junior Library Guild has bought Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls and has given the book their Gold Standard Seal.
OCT
21
I was excited to receive my first copy of the PJ Library edition of Madame Alexander: The Creator of the Iconic American Doll. Some wonderful activities and discussion ideas have been added to the front and back flaps.
OCT
3
It was thrilling to see some of Clara Driscoll's original Tiffany lamps at the New York Historical Society, especially the "Dragonfly!"
JUL
22
Congratulations to my editor Carolyn Yoder on the 20th anniversary of her imprint, Calkins Creek. I am so proud to be one of her authors.
MAR
6
Here are some pictures of my visit to Le Lycee de Francais of Los Angeles when I presented my book, The Women Who Built Hollywood, to the 7th graders. They were a terrific audience with many questions and comments.
FEB
15
Great news! The CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center) recommended Madame Alexander: The Creator of the Iconic American Doll, and The Women Who Built Hollywood: 12 Trailblazers in Front of and Behind the Camera on their best-of-the-year list!
JAN
31
I was delighted to receive news that my picture book Madame Alexander: the Creator of the Iconic American Doll has received PJ Library's Author Incentive Award for picture books to encourage me to consider Jewish themes in creating future books. Thank you, PJ Library!
JAN
25
I'm delighted to announce the launch of my audiobook version of Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson. I hope you will enjoy listening to this marvelous presentation of the book.
OCT
31
I was delighted to learn that The Women Who Built Hollywood: 12 Trailblazers In Front of and Behind the Camera won the 2023 Eureka! Honor Award for nonfiction children's books.
JULY
6
On Thursday, June 29th, I greatly enjoyed talking with author and film scholar Cari Beauchamp about my book The Women Who Built Hollywood at Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica.
JUNE
29
On June 6th I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Gregory Wakeman at BBC Culture for a piece about the legacy of Steven Spielberg's movie Jurassic Park.
JUNE
13
Please join me at the The Huntington Library Store in Pasadena on Saturday, June 17th, where I'll be signing copies of The Quilts of Gee's Bend in celebration of Gee's Bend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming Books, 2025
I was thrilled to receive the first copies of my book Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls, gorgeously illustrated by Susanna Chapman.
The book will be officially published on February 11, 2025, for Women's History Month, but can be preordered on the link below to its page on Abrams website.
VIDEO CORNER
Each month I'll post a video I love!