Orly Castel-Bloom

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One of the leading voices in contemporary Israeli writing, Orly Castel-Bloom is a celebrated Israeli novelist, feted for her unique post-modern prose. After studying Film at the Beit Zvi Institute and Tel Aviv University, Castel-Bloom published her first collection of stories in 1987 to critical acclaim and has been a leading voice in Hebrew literature ever since. Castel-Bloom’s work has been translated into 14 languages, her creative output encompassing novels, short story collections, and a children’s book. Her numerous awards and accolades include the Tel Aviv Foundation Prize (1990), the Alterman Prize for Innovation (1993), The Neuman Prize (2003), the French WIZO Prize (2005), the Lea Goldberg Prize (2007), and the Rishon Le Zion Prize for Creativity in the Hebrew Language (2016). An Egyptian Novel was awarded the Sapir Prize—Israel’s premier prize for fiction—in 2015. The jury’s citation noted that “in this story, [Castel-Bloom] broadens the canvas of Hebrew literature, in a unique manner setting out a decidedly Israeli story, one which has never been told before.” Biotope, her most recent novel, has been shortlisted for the 2024 Sapir Prize. The French translation of Biotope won the 2024 Prix Transfuge for the best Israeli novel. Castel-Bloom has taught at Harvard, UCLA, UC Berkeley, NYU, Oxford, and Cambridge. Presently, she teaches creative writing at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.

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Two unforgettable masterpieces by the groundbreaking author Orly Castel-Bloom: From the futuristic, fantastical Tel Aviv in Dolly City to meticulous realistic descriptions of the city in Biotope!

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Grandma Washes My Hair

Picture Book

Illustrations: To be announced

Publisher: Keter

Year: 2027

32 pp. (approx.)

 

Translation rights: World
Audio visual rights: World
Transations: English translation available

 

Orly Castel Bloom, renowned worldwide for her innovative writing and brilliant literary voice, is back on our shelves with a heart-warming addition to children's literature. 

 

Why does shampoo make our eyes burn and tear? 

Why does sand always get stuck in our hair?

Why is it that sometimes, when we try to solve one problem, we create a new one instead?

 

A sandy afternoon turns into a soapy adventure when a child comes home from kindergarten with a head full of sand, knowing that he must wash his hair. Grandma steps in to save the day, but her well-meaning attempt only makes things worse – she doesn’t rinse all the shampoo out, leading to tears and an upsetting return to the bathtub. And so, an everyday event turns into a minor drama. Luckily, although grandma is no good at bathing, she knows how to tell a great bedtime story!

Grandma Washes My Hair is a surprising and funny tale about big feelings, bathtub battles, and the people who love us best.

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Orly Castel Bloom: Fiction