Event Praise

“Anne-Marie's Matzah Ball Books, Noshy Boy and Shmutzy Girl sold really well at the 20th Annual Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival in Vancouver BC. The colourful, joyful, humourous children's books were a hit with both children and adults. What a great idea to introduce the expressive Yiddish language to children in a simple story and to add to that was Anne-Marie's enthusiasm for presenting her books to the children with songs, games and quizzes. Her participation as a visiting author at your Young Authors' Tea was a highlight of our festival.”
- Reisa Smiley Schneider, Cultural Arts Director, Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, 2004

“Anne-Marie Asner was a delightful new author to work with. Her children's books Noshy Boy and Shmutzy Girl appealed to both youngsters and adults. In addition to reading from her books, Anne-Marie involved the children in a series of fun learning activities which helped instill Yiddish words or phrases. Needless to say, each book that is purchased and shared within a family is helping to preserve the Yiddish language that so many of our grandparents grew up with!”
- Marilyn Weintraub, Assistant Director, Jewish Book Festival, Jewish Federation San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, 2004

Reader Praise

"Emily loves the book. She has read the book to her little sister every night."
- Wade Osborne, father of Emily, 8 years old

"Every night I read Brielle a book before bed then I put the book on the shelf. Not Shmutzy Girl. She sleeps with it. If I try to take it away she says, 'No, Mommy. It's my book!'"
- Theresa Gamble, mother of Brielle, 3 years old

"My son asks me everyday about the other books in the series. 'When can I get them?' He won't look at the back cover (pictures of Matzah Ball books to come) because he's so excited, and impatient, to have them."
- Della Nelson, mother of Shawn, 5 years old

"I love it! The colors are great and bright and cool. I have it as my coffee table book. Everyone who comes over loves it."
- Cheryl Wei, 30 years old

"For lack of a better word, Shmutzy Girl is a perfect stocking-stuffer gift. It's great for baby showers, graduations or a 'just-because-make-you-smile' present for all ages. I bought one for my best friend, one for a former professor, one for a teacher colleague and, of course, one for myself."
- Tracy Mason, 32 years old

"We LOVE Shmutzy Girl! We put her in our 'Hot Zone' (near the register.)"
-Storyopolis, Premier Children's Bookstore, Los Angeles