Jeff Gottesfeld

Last updated
Jeff Gottesfeld
Jeff Gottesfeld.jpg
Jeff Gottesfeld in 2023
Born
Howard Jeffrey Gottesfeld

1956 (age 69–70) [1]
Education Colby College (BA) [2]
University of San Francisco (JD) [2]
Occupations
  • Novelist
  • playwright
  • writer
Notable workTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (illustrated by Matt Tavares)
The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window (illustrated by Peter McCarty)
Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry (illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha)
The Christmas Mitzvah (illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha)
The World’s Strongest Librarian (play adaptation of the book by Josh Hanegarn)

Howard Jeffrey Gottesfeld [3] [4] (born 1956) is an American novelist, playwright, and screen and television writer.

Contents

Gottesfeld is an author of children's literature. Together with ex-wife Cherie Bennett, he has written under the pen name Zoey Dean, [5] including How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls which was developed into the series Privileged . [6] [7] Gottesfeld has also written freelance for numerous magazines and newspapers and continues to publish essays on subjects such as the effect of the Gaza conflict on American-Jewish family relations, Confederate flag, immigration policy, and trends in young adult fiction. For television, he has written for such shows as Smallville and The Young and the Restless .

Gottesfeld has won a Sydney Taylor Book Award for The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window, [8] [9] [10] while his No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan was named the Freeman Book Award’s best picture book. [11] Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry won the Christopher Award. [12] [13] [14] In addition, his play World’s Strongest Librarian won the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s Distinguished Play Award. [15]

Early life

Gottesfeld grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, attended Teaneck High School, [16] Colby College, and then the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Career

Gottesfeld has written freelance for numerous magazines and newspapers, and continues to publish essays on such subjects as trends in young adult fiction, the effect of the Gaza conflict on American Jewish family relations, Confederate flag, immigration policy, and trends in young adult fiction

His fiction ranges from elementary age children to adult. For television, he has written for such shows as Smallville and The Young and the Restless . Together with Cherie Bennett, he has written under the pen name Zoey Dean. [5] Under the Zoey Dean pen name, Gottesfeld and Bennett wrote The A-List series of books (developed by the same publishing group as Gossip Girl ), and How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which was developed into the series Privileged. [17] His credits also include novelizations for Dawson’s Creek , Smallville and for the WWE. [7]

His first picture book was The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window, published by Random House/Knopf in March, 2016. It received starred reviews in Booklist and School Library Journal. His 2020 children's book, No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan, documents the life and activism of Beate Sirota Gordon. [18] It is the winner of the 2020 NCTA Freeman Award, for the best children's book about Asia. [19] It was also a runner-up finalist for the 2020 National Jewish Book Award. [20] His March, 2021 picture book, with illustrations by Matt Tavares, is Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, published by Candlewick Press. It received a number of starred reviews, as well as praise from the Wall Street Journal. [21] [22] [23] It is about the origins of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Tomb Guards. [24] Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry, illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha and printed in 2023, was a spring showcase selection for the Children’s Book Council, winner of the Goddard Riverside Children’s Book Council Youth Prize for Social Justice award, the Christophers Award and recipient of the bronze medal of the Independent Publishers Association (IPPY) for Children’s Picture Book (All Ages). [13] [14] [12]

Gottesfeld’s Honor Flight will be released in 2026, an illustrated book about the Honor Flight organization, illustrated by Matt Tavares. In addition, We All Serve, an illustrated book about how the children of service families, known as military brats, all serve in their own way, illustrated by TeMika Grooms, will be released the same year. [25]

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
The New York Times2016Best Illustrated Children’s BooksThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [8]
Chicago Public Library2016Best Children’s Book ListThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [10]
Association of Jewish Libraries2017Sydney Taylor Book Award, Notable TitleThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowWon [9]
Booklist2017Lasting Connections (list of top 30 books of the year grades K-12)The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [26]
Notable Books for a Global Society2017Notable Books for a Global SocietyThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [27]
National Council for the Social Studies & Children’s Book Council2017Notable Social Studies Trade BooksThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [28]
Children’s Book Council2017One World Many StoriesThe Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowSelected [29]
American Alliance for Theatre and Education2017Distinguished Play AwardWorld’s Strongest LibrarianWon [30]
Children’s Book Council2020Champions of Change BooklistNo Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in JapanSelected [31]
National Jewish Book Award2020Picture BookNo Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in JapanRunner-up [32]
Freeman Book Award2021Picture BookNo Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in JapanRunner-up [11]
United Through Reading2021Audrey Geisel Friend of Military Children AwardTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierWon [33]
Tablet2021Outstanding Jewish Children’s Book ListThe Christmas MitzvahSelected [34]
School Library Journal2021Outstanding Non-Fiction Children’s Book ListTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierSelected [35]
Kirkus2021Best Picture Books of the YearTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierWon [36]
Wall Street Journal2021Best Books for ChildrenTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierSelected [37]
North Carolina Children’s Book Award2022Junior BooksTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierNominated [38]
Texas Topaz2022Non-Fiction Reading List, Unanimous Recommendations, Grades 3-5Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierSelected [39]
Association of Jewish Libraries2022Sydney Taylor Book Award, Honor BookThe Christmas MitzvahSilver Medal [40]
American Library Association2022Notable Children’s Books ListTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierSelected [41]
Indiana Library Federation2023-24Young Hoosier Book AwardTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierNominated [42]
Children’s Book Council2023Spring Showcase SelectionFood for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the HungrySelected [13]
Arkansas State Library2023-24Charlie May Simon Book AwardsTwenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierNominated [43]
Goddard Riverside Children’s Book Council Youth Prize2023Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize for Social JusticeFood for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the HungryWon [44]
Christophers Award2024Books for Young PeopleFood for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the HungryWon [14]
Independent Publishers Association (IPPY)2024Children’s Picture Book (All Ages)Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the HungryBronze Medal [12]

Television credits

The Young and the Restless (hired by Lynn Marie Latham)

As the World Turns

Port Charles

Another World

Girls Got Game: 2006

Smallville : 2001 - 2002

Films

Selected bibliography

Books

Key
†Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitlePublisher ISBN Notes
2002 Anne Frank And Me Putnam Juvenile 978-0-399-23329-6 With Cherie Bennett.
2003 The A-List Megan Tingley Publishers 978-0-316-73435-6 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. First novel of The A-List series.
2004A Heart DividedLaurel Leaf 978-0-440-22840-0 With Cherie Bennett.
2004 Girls on Film: An A-List Novel Poppy 978-0-316-73475-2 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Second novel of The A-List series.
2004Blonde Ambition: An A-List NovelPoppy 978-0-316-73474-5 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Third novel of The A-List series.
2005 Tall Cool One: An A-List Novel Little, Brown & Company 978-0-316-04157-7 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Fourth novel of The A-List series.
2005 Back in Black: An A-List Novel Little, Brown & Company 0-316-01092-8 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Fifth novel of The A-List series.
2006Some Like it Hot: An A-List NovelPoppy 978-0-31601093-1 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Sixth novel of The A-List series.
2006American Beauty: An A-List NovelLittle, Brown & Company 978-0-316-01094-8 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Seventh novel of The A-List series.
2007Turn Me OnBerkley 978-1-440-62349-3 Written under the pseudonym Cherie Jeffrey.
2007How to Teach Filthy Rich GirlsGrand Central Publishing 978-0-446-69718-7 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Developed into the TV series Privileged.
2007 Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel Little, Brown & Company 978-0-316-01096-2 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Eighth novel of The A-List series.
2007Beautiful Stranger: An A-List NovelLittle, Brown & Company 978-0-316-11352-6 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Ninth novel of The A-List series.
2008California Dreaming: An A-List NovelPoppy 978-0-316-11353-3 Written under the pseudonym Zoey Dean. Tenth novel of The A-List series.
2016The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's WindowKnopf Books for Young Readers 978-0-385-75397-5 Illustrated by Peter McCarty.
2020No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in JapanCreston Books 978-1-939-54755-2 Illustrated by Shiella Witanto.
2021Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierCandlewick 978-1-939-54755-2 Illustrated by Matt Tavares.
2021The Christmas MitzvahCreston Books 978-1-939-54794-1 Illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha.
2023Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the HungryCreston Books 978-1-954-35424-1 Illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha.
2026Honor Flight†Candlewick 978-1-536-23015-4 Illustrated by Matt Tavares.
2026We All Serve†CandlewickIllustrated by TeMika Grooms.

Plays

References

  1. ↑ United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (New York, California, Tennessee, 1991-2008)
  2. 1 2 LinkedIn Profile
  3. ↑ Colby College (Class of 1977) Yearbook
  4. ↑ https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/howard-jeffrey-gottesfeld-1185172 [ dead link ]
  5. 1 2 Biography: Zoey Dean. Scholastic Corporation (accessed September 20, 2015)
  6. ↑ Herman, Alison (2022-04-07). "You Know You Love Me: 'Gossip Girl' and the Tween YA Explosion of the 2000s". The Ringer. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  7. 1 2 Spears, Dante (2011-08-07). "Jeff Gottesfeld Interview: Author of new WWE book – SuperFan!". www.cultofwhatever.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  8. 1 2 Times, The New York (2016-11-03). "The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2016". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  9. 1 2 "Sydney Taylor Book Award" . Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  10. 1 2 "Best Informational Books for Younger Readers of 2016". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  11. 1 2 "2020 Archives - NCTAsia". www.nctasia.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  12. 1 2 3 "ABOUT". ippyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  13. 1 2 3 "Spring Into a New You (Spring 2023)". www.cbcbooks.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  14. 1 2 3 "The Christophers Awards Announced". thechristophers. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  15. ↑ Renshaw, Scott. "Not Going By the Book". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  16. ↑ About Jeff, Jeff Gottesfeld. Accessed February 12, 2020. "I grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where I went to Whittier School, Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, and Teaneck High School."
  17. ↑ "Shows A-Z - privileged on cw | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  18. ↑ "Children's Book Review: No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan by Jeff Gottesfeld, illus. by Shiella Witanto. Creston, $18.99 (44p) ISBN 978-1-939547-55-2". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  19. ↑ "Freeman Book Awards". 9 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "2020 National Jewish Book Award Winners". 5 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "TWENTY-ONE STEPS | Kirkus Reviews".
  22. ↑ "The Horn Book".
  23. ↑ Gurdon, Meghan Cox (26 February 2021). "Children's Books: 'Too Small Tola' Review - WSJ". Wall Street Journal.
  24. ↑ "Candlewick Press - Catalog".
  25. ↑ "Rights Report: Week of February 19, 2024". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  26. ↑ {{Cite book url=http://www.booklistonline.com/Special-Feature-Lasting-Connections-2016/pid=8625182 title=Special Feature: Lasting Connections; 2016, by | Booklist Online}}
  27. ↑ "Notable Books for a Global Society - 2017 List of winners" (PDF). Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) of the International Reading Association.
  28. ↑ "Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2017" (PDF). National Council for the Social Studies & Children’s Book Council.
  29. ↑ "The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window". www.cbcbooks.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  30. ↑ "THE AATE DIRECTORY OF AWARD-WINNING PLAYS & PLAYWRIGHTS" (PDF). American Alliance for Theater & Education. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Being Jack". www.cbcbooks.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  32. ↑ "2020 National Jewish Book Award Winners". Jewish Book Council. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  33. ↑ "More Story Stations, More Resources, and More Precious Storytime Moments Saved" (PDF). United Through Reading. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  34. ↑ Freemer, Rachel (November 17, 2021). "The Best Jewish Children's Books of 2021". Tablet Magazine.
  35. ↑ "Best Nonfiction 2021 SLJ Best Books". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  36. ↑ "Best Informational Picture Books of 2021". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  37. ↑ Gurdon, Meghan (December 10, 2021). "The Best Books of 2021: Children's Books".
  38. ↑ "North Carolina Children's Book Award: 2022 Results and Materials". North Carolina Children's Book Award. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  39. ↑ Woodland, Wendy (2022-01-11). "2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Announced". Texas Library Association. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  40. ↑ "Sydney Taylor Book Award" . Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  41. ↑ "2022 Notable Children's Books | Association for Library Service to Children". www.ala.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  42. ↑ "Michigan City Public Library: Reading Lists: Young Hoosier Book Award Intermediate Nominees". libraryaware.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
  43. ↑ "Bentonville Public Library - Charlie May Simon". bentonvillelibrary.org. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  44. ↑ ""Excluded," "Food for Hope" win our Social Justice Book Prizes". goddard.org. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  45. ↑ Leydon, Joe (September 21, 2006). "Broken Bridges". Variety . Retrieved 29 May 2011.
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