About Rebecca Gladstone:
Rebecca Gladstone is a Miami-based cantor, board-certified music therapist, and author of the important and timely new children’s book Modeh Ani: I’m Glad to Be Me. Her work is rooted in one mission: to help individuals and families connect — or reconnect — to Judaism in a way that feels meaningful, welcoming, and emotionally resonant.
Through her practice as an independent cantor, Rebecca officiates life-cycle events and creates personalized, inclusive Jewish experiences for people of all backgrounds, especially those who feel disconnected from traditional institutions. Her music therapy practice, Gladly Music, serves clients of all ages with a focus on emotional safety, confidence-building, and self-expression. Her debut book introduces children to the Jewish morning prayer of gratitude through a singable story and inclusive lens. With a background in both therapeutic and spiritual care, Rebecca brings a unique, accessible voice to Jewish education — meeting people where they are, honoring diverse identities, and helping everyone feel like they belong.
What inspires you to write?
I’m inspired to write by a deep desire to create the kind of content I wish I had growing up—something that blends emotional connection, spirituality, and inclusivity in a way that resonates with children.
My writing is also fueled by my background as a music therapist. I’ve seen firsthand how music can support learning, emotional expression, and connection, and I try to bring those same elements into my books.
I'm especially inspired by the idea of helping children form a positive relationship with themselves, their identities, and the world around them—whether that’s through gratitude, imagination, or simply feeling seen in a story. I believe stories are most powerful when they reflect real emotions and values, and when they meet children at their level rather than speaking at them.
Ultimately, I write because I want to make beautiful, meaningful experiences for families and young readers—experiences that are playful, musical, and deeply rooted in love and intention.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I have a mix of favorite authors depending on what I’m in the mood to read. For light, feel-good fiction, I love Emily Henry and Mary Kay Andrews—they’re great for when I want to escape into a cozy, character-driven story. For more introspective or personal growth reading, I turn to authors like Jen Sincero and Brene Brown. I also love diving into books about neuropsychology and relationships, like those by Dr. Dan Siegel or the Gottmans.
As a kid, some of the authors who stuck with me most were the ones behind colorful, emotionally rich picture books—like David Shannon (A Bad Case of Stripes), Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious), and Robert Munsch (Love You Forever). Their stories left a lasting imprint, and I can see how those early influences show up in my own work today.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process began with choosing a Jewish prayer to center the story around. I landed on "Modeh Ani," a morning gratitude prayer, because I believe starting the day with intention and appreciation is incredibly important—for children and adults alike.
I began by journaling and reflecting on the deeper meaning of the prayer and how I could present it in a way that felt developmentally appropriate for children. In Jewish tradition, there's a belief that the soul departs the body during sleep and returns upon waking. "Modeh Ani" is recited as a thank-you for the return of life and spirit. I realized this concept could form the perfect foundation for a magical story.
From there, I outlined a narrative where the main character drifts into a whimsical dreamworld, then wakes up and appreciates the beauty of both dreams and real life. I wrote an initial draft using rhyming couplets to make the story lyrical and engaging.
The next step was setting those words to music. That part came very naturally—I'm always improvising melodies as a music therapist. Once I had a melody that felt right, I went back and edited the lyrics to better match the musical phrasing and flow.
After finalizing the song, I sketched out ideas for the illustrations and character design. I envisioned a dreamy, colorful world and a main character, Jamie, who could be relatable to any child. I collaborated closely with illustrator Angie Meerson to bring that vision to life, and with producer Haley Fishberger to professionally produce the song.
Three years later, what began as a journal entry has become a fully realized, singable children’s book. It’s been a long but rewarding process—one that blends my love of storytelling, music, child development, and Jewish tradition.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t typically listen to or talk to my characters in the traditional sense, but I do spend a lot of time thinking about how children might see themselves in them. When creating Jamie, the main character in "Modeh Ani: I’m Glad to Be Me," I was intentional about making the character relatable, imaginative, and open-ended in identity, so that any child could connect with the story and feel represented.
Rather than developing a character with a specific personality or dialogue, I focused more on the emotional experience I wanted young readers to have when reading the book. So while I don’t have conversations with my characters, I absolutely think about how they serve as a mirror for the children who meet them.
What advice would you give other writers?
My biggest advice to other writers is: just start. Don’t worry about having it all figured out from the beginning. Big creative projects, especially books, can feel overwhelming if you try to picture the whole finished product at once. But if you take it step by step, it becomes manageable and even fun.
Start with a small idea, a single moment, or a feeling you want to express. Let it grow from there. You don’t have to know how it will all come together yet, that part will unfold as you keep going.
Also, trust that your voice and perspective are valuable. The way you see the world might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Lastly, take your time. I know you want to just do it, and put it out there. Or at least, I know that's what I thought. I really thought I'd have this ready and out within a few months…boy was I wrong, and that's okay! However much time you need to make your vision come to life is the right amount of time.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I explored both traditional publishing and self-publishing. Funnily enough, I initially chose self-publishing because I thought it would be a faster process—which turned out not to be true! But even so, I’m really glad I went this route, especially for my first book.
Self-publishing allowed me to have complete creative control over every part of the project—from the storyline and music, to the illustrations and overall message. That freedom was incredibly important to me, especially since "Modeh Ani: I’m Glad to Be Me" blends music, spirituality, and inclusive storytelling in a very specific way. It felt good to be able to shape the book exactly how I envisioned it, without needing outside approval or compromise.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think the future of book publishing is becoming more inclusive, flexible, and creator-driven. With self-publishing and digital tools becoming more accessible, more people from diverse backgrounds are able to share their stories without needing to go through traditional routes. That’s really exciting to me.
I also think we’ll see continued growth in multimedia storytelling—books that are paired with audio, video, music, or interactive elements. As someone who works in both music and mental health, I love seeing books evolve beyond just words on a page.
At the same time, I think physical books will always hold a special place in people’s hearts—especially for children. There’s nothing quite like holding a book, turning the pages, and reading together with someone you love.
What genres do you write?: Children's Picture Book, Religion (Jewish)
What formats are your books in?: Print
Website(s)
Rebecca Gladstone Home Page Link
Link To Rebecca Gladstone Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Instagram
YouTube
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
