Out of the mouths of….. seven-year-olds comes the impetus for Craig Pomranz’s new children’s book, Made by Raffi. This is Pomranz’s first foray into publishing, but the singer/actor/dancer is no stranger to the limelight.
The grandson of a lay cantor in St. Louis, Pomeranz literally found his voice as a pre-bar mitzvah and was an odds-on favorite to follow in his Zadie’s footsteps, raised in an Orthodox shul. As the youngest of four boys, Craig was typically shy, but singing infused him with self-confidence and by age 11, he’d landed his first professional gig doing voiceovers.
Shortly thereafter, Pomranz was performing in shows at MUNY, the largest outdoor theater in the country. While he enjoyed great success on the stage, being a member of an Orthodox shul posed a conflict with Friday night performances. This disparity with his synagogue peers may have fed into Pomranz’ sensitivity to differences, a basis for his new literary work. He was aware of the divisiveness and judgment that came within the religious confines of Orthodoxy.
Craig Pomranz has achieved notoriety in the New York nightclub and theater scene and has been lauded for his intimacy and charm in engaging audiences and fellow performers. He was awarded the New York MAC Award for Best Male Vocalist and the TOR Award for best actor in a musical venue. In our Zoom interview, he told me that he is soon to be performing in Corfu and after that the United Kingdom. Clearly, Craig Pomranz thrives in this capacity, however, Pomranz’ then-seven-year-old godson, helped him discover a new calling–writing a children’s book about appreciating our differences.
An inquisitive, quiet boy, Pomranz’ godson didn’t enjoy the rough and tumble, raucous behavior of his peers, and preferred a serene environment. He saw that this set him apart from the boys in his class. With the support of his parents and teachers, Raffi was encouraged to explore his love of colors, and learned to knit. He asked Pomranz if there was such a thing as a “tomgirl.” By coining the term, he raised a fascinating issue. Girls who are labeled “tomboys” are often admired for their independence, assertiveness and strength. The connotation for boys who lean towards culturally-ascribed feminine tasks is not conferred the same respect. This was all the catalyst Pomranz needed.
Illustrator Margaret Chamberlain created colorful drawings to complement Pomranz’s optimistic and sensitively written story. The 40-page picture book celebrates the individual and crosses all cultural boundaries while revealing how “maybe everyone feels different” at some point in his/her life.
While the book also applies to the LGBTQ community it is not focused on our hyper-sexualized society. The beauty of this children’s book is in its revelation that bullies are born out of fear of the unknown, but once these unique qualities are shared, they lose their ability to frighten. In this short book, Raffi, who was initially a target for classmates’ teasing, becomes admired and lionized for his incredible artistry and creativity. It is not a tale of bullying, but of resilience and casting off the “victim cloak” through support and acceptance.
While the book is targeted for the 5-9 age group, I was intrigued when Pomranz shared that after reading it, some parents recognized their own child as a bully. This hopefully led to a discussion and some self-awareness. The author told me that “we are all always working through things, wearing different skins. The goal is to embrace our differences rather than deny them.”
Currently Made by Raffi is translated into eight languages and is available in 11 countries, and may be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and all book retailer sites. Accompanying the popularity of the novel, Pomranz offers a song “Different” composed by Amanda McBroom (Bette Midler’s The Rose) and Michele Brourman (The Land Before Time series). The video may be seen above.
Republished fom San Diego Jewish World
Made by Raffi by Craig Pomranz; Raffi Binding; Frances Lincoln Ltd; 2016; ISBN: 9781847805966; $9.99