A Cherished Storyteller

The Fellowship  |  March 1, 2019

Mirik Snir

Born during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Mirik Snir was raised and educated in Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, along with her 11 siblings. Mirik loved writing from a young age, and published her first book in 1982. Since then, she has published more than 90 books for children. Her books aim to introduce children to Hebrew from infancy, but are also suitable for people learning Hebrew as a second language. Snir also tries to bring children closer to the Bible, using biblical stories and language in her books.

You can learn more about this beloved Israeli author at her website. While most of her books are in Hebrew, a few have been translated into English, including When I First Held You: A Lullaby from Israel. Of her work in Hebrew, Snir says: “You have to teach Hebrew so children will love Hebrew. Love all that is related to Hebrew. It’s important.”

Having grown up in a large family, Snir continues to hold family close. She is married with nine children and 15 grandchildren, and four of her children and one of her grandchildren have illustrated her books. Besides being loved by her family and her readers, Mirik is also cherished by her homeland, Israel. She has received many awards for her work, including the Prime Minister’s Hebrew Writers Prize, the Israel Museum Prize, the Gutman Prize, and the Ze’ev Prize.