Barbara Diamond Goldin is an American children's book author. In 1997, she received the Sydney Taylor Book Award for her body of work. She also won the 1989 National Jewish Book Award for Children's Picture Book for her debut children's book, Just Enough Is Plenty, as well as the 1991 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale.
Biography Barbara Diamond was born into a Jewish family and grew up in New York City with her parents and two younger brothers; her family moved to Philadelphia when she was eight years old. She studied education at the University of Chicago, graduating in 1968. That year, Diamond married fellow teacher Alan Goldin.
Goldin began her career as a public school teacher in Gloucester, Massachusetts. After a few years, she received a master's degree in special education from Boston College. Following two years teaching special education, she decided to focus on preschool education.
The Goldins then moved to Missoula, Montana, after which Goldin decided to train in Montessori education. To do so, she spent a summer in Michigan, followed by a school year in Yellow Springs, Ohio. When she returned to Missoula, she began teaching at a Montessori preschool and opened a children's bookstore with a friend. However, after Alan completed further studies in forestry and soils, the couple moved to Goldendale, Washington, at which point Goldin sold her share of the bookstore.
While in Goldendale, Goldin worked as a children's librarian. However, after two years, the couple resettled in Bellingham, Washington for Alan's work. There, Goldin began focusing on writer, including taking courses at Western Washington University. Goldin also gave birth to her two children.
Eight years after moving to Bellingham, the Goldin family relocated to Amherst, Massachusetts. Goldin and Alan divorced, after which Goldin focused even more intently on writing, though she also continued teaching until 2001. She published her first book, Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah Tale, in 1988. The book was named a notable selection for the 1988 Sydney Taylor Book Award, and won the 1989 National Jewish Book Award for Children's Picture Book. Goldin continued publishing books relating to Judaism, as well as historical fiction.
After enrolling at Simmons University in 2008, Goldin earned a Master of Library and Information Services, after which she returned to work as a librarian.
Awards and honours In 1996, The Horn Book Magazine named Coyote and the Fire Stick among the year's best children's books.
In 1997, Goldin received the Sydney Taylor Book Award for her body of work. In 2000, the Association for Library Service to Children included Journeys with Elijah on their annual list of Notable Children's Books; the Notable Social Studies Trade Books For Young People also named it among recommended books for folktales, myths and legends. +Awards for Goldin's worksYearWorkAwardResult1988Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah TaleSydney Taylor Book AwardNotable1989Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah TaleNational Jewish Book Award for Children's Picture BookWinner1990Sydney Taylor Book AwardHonor1991Cakes and Miracles: A Purim TaleSydney Taylor Book AwardWinner1993Sydney Taylor Book AwardNotable1995Night Lights: A Sukkot StorySydney Taylor Book AwardNotable2001Sydney Taylor Book AwardNotable2002Night Lights: A Sukkot StorySydney Taylor Book AwardNotable2011Cakes and Miracles: A Purim TaleSydney Taylor Book AwardHonor
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