Mother-Daughter Team Talks about Creating Books Together

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Laura B. Weiss -- School Library Journal, 3/7/2007

Volumes have been written about the fraught relationship that can exist between mothers and daughters. But author Yona Zeldis McDonough and her mother, artist and illustrator Malcah Zeldis, appear to be a harmonious duo.

The two women have collaborated on biographies for children, including Hammerin' Hank: The Life of Hank Greenberg (2006), Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela (2002, both Walker), and Anne Frank (Holt, 1997)

SLJ spoke to both women at Malcah's New York apartment, where her paintings line the walls.

Malcah: I've been attracted to great leaders and greatly altruistic human beings. I wonder at their strength. They've been jailed and persecuted. I'm in such awe of these people; I've filled my art with all these people.

Lots of mothers and daughters couldn't work together. How did this start?

Yona: I wasn't planning to write for children. You know how mothers are; she said: "I think we should do a book together." I said, "No, no I can't." She said, "Yes, we can." And she was just determined like a little pit bull.

Malcah, tell me about your art and how you came to paint the way you do.

Malcah: I was an artist before I became an illustrator. My illustrations look just like my art. It doesn't change even though I'm doing it for children. I'm a self-taught painter. In doing a book like Anne Frank I feel that I am participating in some way in educating people about what happened, and, through my own empathy, I'm able to convey to people the tragedy. It seems to work very well with children, my style, because the style is not that realistic. It is not so horrific that it can't be represented.

You spent a lot of time in Israel. It seems to have had an impact on your art.

Malcah: I was there for nine years. I went to a kibbutz, and it was a remarkable experience. I had never met such altruism. It's part of my admiration of great leaders and people who can sacrifice themselves and have goals. That's certainly connected.

I read that your husband objected to your pursuing your artistic ambitions.

Malcah: I don't know how that became so important. At one point, he said my work was childish. He didn't encourage me. I don't think it was my art so much as the bad marriage. It's very hard for an artist to figure out why they did it when they did it. There are such a variety of reasons and events that come together to help you finally be able to express yourself.

How old were you when you started painting?

Malcah: I was in my 40s.

Yona: Yes, but my mom has said to me that she felt she had the freedom to paint when I was out of the house all day for the first time.

Who comes up with the ideas?

Yona: We brainstorm, we talk on the phone, and now that we've done a few we have some thoughts about what works and what doesn't.

It sounds like you really divided things in a way that make sense.

Malcah: There was never anything to work out.

Yona, weren't you a rebellious teen?

Yona: No [my mother is] very laid-back and permissive so I didn't have a lot to rebel against.

Malcah: I always had enormous respect for my daughter and thought she was so brilliant, and I felt that I wasn't.

Some mothers would be very threatened.

Malcah: I loved her and wanted the best for her.

Spoken like a true mother.