The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Tami Lehman-Wilzig, Anita Barghigiani and Rembrandt's Blessing
- Maria Marshall
- 1 day ago
- 13 min read
Tami Lehman-Wilzig is an American-Israeli which means she thinks and talks simultaneously in English and Hebrew, making her fluent in Hebrish.
She’s a wife…a mother…and a doting grandmother of two adorable grandchildren!
And…Tami is an award-winning children's book author. Writing has been her passion for a very long time. Her other passion is her Jewish heritage. She’s been lucky enough to be able to combine the two so that she can share both passions with you.
Tami is the author of 16 books, including On the Wings of Eagles, illustrated by Alisha Monin (2025), Luis de Torres Sails to Freedom, illustrated by Oliver Averill (2023), The Boston Chocolate Party, co-authored with Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz, illustrated by Fede Combi (2022), Soosie: The Horse That Saved Shabbat, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt (2021), Stork's Landing, illustrated by Anna Shuttlewood (2014), Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles, co-authored by Nicole Katzman, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau (2011), Hanukkah Around the World, illustrated by Vicki Wehrman (2009), and Lotty's Lace Tablecloth (Jewish Heirloom Stories), illustrated by Ksenia Topaz (2007).
For more about Tami, see our earlier interview (here).
Anita Barghigiani was born near Pisa. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, she took part in many festivals as a scenographer and photographer.
In 2010 she attended the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for the first time and fell in love with children’s books! She then decided to study Illustration and Entertainment Design at NEMO Academy of Digital Arts. Since then, she’s worked as an illustrator for publishers and as a painter and decorator for Dolce & Gabbana. She currently lives in the forest in the mountains of Tuscany where she works, plays the guitar, and actively helps animals as a volunteer.
Anita’s the illustrator of 56 books, including The Apple Argument by Jane Yolen (2024), Jerome Lejeune: Saintly Geneticist by Ana Braga-Henebry (2024), Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions by Alexi Sargeant (2023), Felix and the Feelings Formulas by Kate Bartlein (2022), Tell Me a Story Babushka by Carola Schmidt (2022), The Boogieman by Amy Culliford (2022), Stop Counting the Stars (Stories Just for You) by Vicky Bureau (2022), Younis by Amal Naser (2021), and Allegro: A Musical Journey Through 11 Musical Masterpieces by David W. Miles (2018).
Their newest book, Rembrandt’s Blessing, releases on September 9th.
Welcome Tami and Anita,
Anita, let’s start with a few questions for you. Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you illustrate? How long have you been illustrating? What is your favorite book to illustrate?)
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, so illustration has always been a natural part of my
life. Over the years it has become not only my profession but also my way of observing and telling stories about the world around me. I especially love illustrating books that combine natural elements with human figures, because I enjoy capturing the relationship between people and their environment.
I usually prefer to draw in the evenings, when the day slows down and there’s a kind of quiet focus in the air.
That’s the moment when ideas seem to flow more freely.
It's great to "meet" you, Anita. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve created an illustration?
As for unusual places, the most surprising one has been on top of a volcano during a trip. It was such a powerful landscape, and sitting there with my sketchbook felt like an unforgettable experience that still inspires me today
I can just imagine how impressive and powerful a setting that must have been. Sorry Tami, I’m going to do it again. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Rembrandt’s Blessing?
TAMI – No need to apologize. I love your asking this question! Rembrandt’s Blessing is a story that was long in the making, beginning 20 years ago when my husband and I first traveled to Amsterdam and visited Rembrandt’s house. It was fascinating to see how he lived and worked, the costumes and props he collected, his numerous works of art. BUT, what really stood out to me was an entire room devoted to sketches and paintings of Jews. It was astounding, so I asked “why?” and the answer was straightforward: “these were his neighbors.” You can imagine how that got me thinking. It led me on an engrossing research journey. BTW: last year we returned to Amsterdam for the third time and decided to revisit Rembrandt’s house. It had undergone a refurbishing, with more technology included and unfortunately the one room that so captivated me is no longer there. Now only some sketches and portraits of various Jewish neighbors are interspersed among the rooms.
Oh, that’s too bad, it was intriguing to think of a room containing portraits of his neighbors. I hope the art wasn't lost. Anita, what about the Rembrandt’s Blessing manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
ANITA - What appealed to me about Rembrandt’s Blessing was the chance to work on a painter I truly love and
admire. Reading the story gave me the feeling of stepping into his world, discovering details from his life that the author included and imagining how he related to the people and the places around him. I found it fascinating to see Rembrandt not only as a great artist but also as a person deeply connected to his surroundings.
For me, illustrating these aspects was both inspiring and challenging, because I wanted the images to carry that sense of intimacy and humanity. It was a meaningful experience to translate these emotions into pictures and to imagine how art can open a window onto the relationships and bonds that shaped his life.
You did a great job capturing his life and spirit in the illustrations. Tami, what was the hardest or most challenging thing about writing Rembrandt’s Blessing? And what was the most fun?
TAMI – This was such an enjoyable book to write. I learned so much about the period in which Rembrandt lived, his great love of the bible, his dedication to authenticity, the friendships he formed with his Jewish neighbors. I could go on and on.
So, the greatest challenge was to decide which specific aspect to center my attention on, and to make sure the details were correct. Since I am dedicated to being a Jewish content, picture book author, the Jewish angle was my focus but here too there were so many dimensions to choose from. I whittled it down to the friendship and working relationship Rembrandt formed with Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel. It grabbed my attention and captured my imagination.
The fun part was weaving together a fictitious scenario on how they met. I had read that the children of the neighborhood loved looking at all of Rembrandt’s props and costumes, and decided that was it! I was going to set the stage by developing a fictional nephew for the rabbi. He and his friends will come and ask Rembrandt if they can play dress-up. Afterwards, I’ll use the nephew as a conduit for the many scenes connecting Rembrandt with the rabbi and his family. All of this simply tickled my imagination. I loved doing it!
I love the room that a historical fiction grants the writer to add elements to assist in telling children about an event. Anita, what’s the hardest part of illustrating picture books? What was the toughest part of illustrating Rembrandt’s Blessing? What was the most fun?
ANITA - In general, the hardest part of illustrating picture books is always finding interesting compositions. In the case of Rembrandt’s Blessing, the most challenging part was the historical research, making sure not to create any inconsistencies in costumes or settings. I find this very important, because the details of the time period need to align with the story and its historical context.
The most fun part was reinterpreting Rembrandt’s face in my own style throughout the different stages of his life. In general, it was really enjoyable to draw someone who was himself an artist and depicted other people through his own work.
I think you succeeded wonderfully in this challenge. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of Rembrandt’s Blessing?
TAMI – I said at the beginning that it took twenty years to get this book out, but that’s not a fair timeline. The trip I referred to planted the seeds. I had a long career as an advertising copywriter, so I was always involved in non-stop, deadline-oriented work projects, leaving precious little time for other writing. Simultaneously and time permitting, I also tried to research as much as possible. Writing the story actually waited until I retired from advertising. But since I was brewing the story for so long, once the plot was clear in my mind, the actual writing of the first draft to publication of text and illustration was about two-and-a-half years. A half year from first draft to submission draft, and then the usual two years to produce a picture book.
ANITA - I don’t remember the exact timeline, but the process was very smooth and didn’t require many changes. Working closely with the author and the publisher is very important to me, and in this case we did a really great job as a team.
Definitely says something about letting a manuscript steep for a bit. Anita, not being an artist myself, I am impressed that the illustrations required few changes. Tami, when you first saw Anita’s illustrations did anything surprise, amaze, or delight you? Which is your favorite spread?
TAMI – I was delighted with the research Anita put into creating illustrations authentic for the era and to recreating the rabbi’s persona. But what really amazed me was her use of brush stroke swishes of color. They are there from the opening double spread and play an important role in the next few double spreads, reappearing in later double spreads. They lend so much character to the book, especially since Rembrandt was a master of using color to create specific moods and effects.
Text © Tami Lehman-Wilzig, 2025. Image © Anita Barghigiani, 2025.
Do I have a favorite spread? I have many!!! But if you want me to pinpoint, the second double spread where Rembrandt is painting portraits, is magnificent. The scene of the neighbors’ faces showing dark eyes and hair, and olive skin is a standout; and the double spread of Jakob delivering his uncle’s printed book to Rembrandt is simply a WOW!
I love the swishes of color, too. The double spread gorgeously captures the development and change in style as Rembrandt grew into being an artist. Anita, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
ANITA - Yes! It’s the spread where we see Rembrandt growing up and continuing to draw through the different stages of his life, because I really saw myself in that journey. In fact, the reference for Rembrandt drawing as a child is an old photo of me as a little girl, drawing on a meadow.
It's so interesting that you both chose the same spread! Tami, what's something you want your readers to know or learn about Rembrandt’s Blessing?
TAMI – This is much more than a story about an artist. It’s a story about mutual acceptance of “the other” and how it can lead to friendship with a lasting impact. As a Jew and an Israeli I am feeling the pain of centuries’ long antisemitism which never seems to stop. Give it an opportunity and it will rear its ugly head. All I have to do is look at my own family’s history and present you with countless examples, starting with the Spanish Inquisition. Today antisemitism is once again rampant. This story role models how Christians and Jews can find a common denominator to live together in harmony. There is so much that binds us together and that is what we have to look for. When I say “us” I mean people of all faiths. In Rembrandt’s case, he found a soulmate in the rabbi. Both were religious. Both loved the bible. Both shared another common interest: printing. Let’s stop with the hate and move on to living and sharing mutual experiences just like Rembrandt and Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel did.
Anita, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Rembrandt’s Blessing? If so, could you share one or more with us?
ANITA – Besides the example I mentioned earlier, in one of the spreads there is a painting on the wall that includes a sailboat, an element I often put in my illustrations. I love the sea and the sense of freedom it represents, as well as the idea of traveling, both physically and through imagination. Including the sailboat in the painting was a small personal touch, a way to leave a little signature in the work and connect it to my own interests and inspirations.
Ooh, I love that! Thank you for sharing this with us. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
TAMI – Since I have an advertising background I work hard on promoting my books. So right now, my biggest project is promoting all three of my new books! Yes, I have another book coming out in October entitled The Henna Helper. It’s tough keeping pace with the release dates, but I’m trying. As for writing projects, I am currently juggling four different stories, two of which are at the advanced first draft point but still not there. I don’t like revealing my stories when they’re at this stage. Let’s just say that one is a biography of an Israeli Nobel Prize winning woman scientist. Another takes place in Italy – and yes, Anita, if it gets accepted it would be so cool to have you illustrate it! The third is a bible story about a character never written about; and the fourth is just in the imagination brewing stage.
ANITA - Unfortunately, I can never talk about ongoing book projects, but at the moment one thing I’m really proud of is a series of paintings I’m creating for a solo exhibition. I had wanted to start painting on canvas again for a long time, and working on this book really helped me reconnect with that practice. These paintings allow me to explore new techniques and ideas that are different from my illustration work, and it’s been exciting to experiment with colors, textures, and compositions in a more personal and free way. This project feels like a very natural continuation of my artistic journey, and it’s giving me a lot of energy and inspiration for future work.
Good luck Tami with the promotions. And the upcoming books sound intriguing, We’ll have to keep our eyes open for them. Best of luck Anita with the exhibition. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
© M Marshall
TAMI – Israelis love to travel, so I have seen my fair share of European, Far Eastern, Australian and American national parks, city parks, and gardens. Hands down, for me nothing compares to the Grand Canyon. I will always remember and see in my mind’s eye how the colors of the canyon changed with the position of the sun and time of day. Simply magnificent.
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote.
© Lanzarote Guide.
ANITA - That’s a wonderful question. I live in the forest, so one of my favorite places is definitely my own forest. But I also love desert landscapes, and one of my favorite places is on one of the Canary Islands in Spain, in the Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. It’s an environment completely opposite to where I live, yet it’s full of unique colors and sensations that I find truly inspiring.
Thank you, Tami and Anita, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your new book.
To find out more about Tami Lehman-Wilzig, or to contact her:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlwkidsbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamilehmanwilzig/
To find out more about Anita Barghigiani, or to contact her:
Website: https://anitabarghigiani.weebly.com/
Review of Rembrandt's Blessing
This stunningly illustrated historical fiction explores how the friendship of Rembrandt and Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel resulted in the creation of Rembrandt's painting Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph through the lens of a fictional child.
Rembrandt's Blessing
Author: Tami Lehman-Wilzig
Illustrator: Anita Barghigiani
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Ages: 5 - 9
Historical Fiction
Themes:
Art, European history, Jewish history, and friendship.
Synopsis:
Inspired by the true story of the friendship between Rembrandt and Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel.
Painting scenes from Bible stories is Rembrandt's passion. Many of his Amsterdam neighbors are Sephardic Jews, and the children often come to play with the costumes at the renowned painter's house. Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel encourages his neighbors to pose for Rembrandt's biblical scenes. He helps the painter understand the descriptive words in the Hebrew bible. At the rabbi's home for Sabbath dinner, Rembrandt watches his friend cup his hands over his children's heads and say a blessing, which gives him an idea for a very special painting.
Opening Lines:
Young Rembrandt loved Bible stories.
He imagined what the Bible's
heroes and heroines looked like,
and began to draw them,
What I LIKED about the book:
Based on the number of paintings Rembrandt created of biblical stories and his later friendship with Rabbi Menashe Ben Israel, Tami Lehman-Wilzig developed an interesting historical fiction exploring Rembrandt's childhood and development into an artist (image in interview).
Text © Tami Lehman-Wilzig, 2025. Image © Anita Barghigiani, 2025.
By creating three neighbor children who ask to "play pretend with [his] clothing collection," Tami Lehman-Wilzig offers the child reader a relatable way into the adult painter's life. And provided Anita Barghigiani a wonderful opportunity to create a fun imaginative adventure for the kids and an explanation for the two men meeting - "Jakob tells me you paint Bible stories." I loved the way swirls, splotches, and swoops of color play with and complement the bold, vivid, realistic illustrations. Highlighting or framing Rembrandt's art and offering a sense of whimsy and imagination. All while creating a stunning and true representation of historical Amsterdam, the clothing, and Rembrandt's masterpieces.
Text © Tami Lehman-Wilzig, 2025. Image © Anita Barghigiani, 2025.
Gradually we see their friendship grow, the rabbi helps Rembrandt understand the Hebrew text and culture, they share the Sabbath (and experience that influences one of his later paintings), and Rembrandt illustrates a book the rabbi writes. One again, by using the fictional Jakob to bring his uncle's published book to Rembrandt, it allows for a wide-eyed smiling child to show the reader the finished product. Combined with the swishes and splotches of color and the graphite and colored pencils, the illustration exudes a child-like enthusiasm and wonder and keeps the reader engaged in adult endeavors. Adding the fictional children and created dialogue, thus making it a historical fiction instead of a nonfiction biography, was such a great idea.
Text © Tami Lehman-Wilzig, 2025. Image © Anita Barghigiani, 2025.
Continuing to explore the connection to young Jakob and this family, the book ends with the completion of one of Rembrandt's paintings. And author's note details the elements of the story that are true, offers additional information on "The Jewish Custom of Blessing Children," and includes photographs of three of Rembrandt's paintings and the exterior and interior of his house and painting studio. This is an engaging book that brings a classical artist to life and explores a strong, important multi-cultural friendship.
Resources:
like the child Rembrandt in this book, take a notebook and a pencil or pens outside and draw what you sense through your eyes, ears, and nose. Be realistic or whimsical, but most of all have fun and see what you discover.
if you had access to bunch of dress-up clothes and items, like Jakob and his friends, what stories would you pretend or make up?
can you create an image of one of your heroes or heroines, using pencils, crayons, paints, or paper collage, or write a description and maybe a story about them.
