In Memoriam: Judith Hope Blau

Judith Hope Blau died this month. In The New York Times obituary, it outlines her career as an artist and toymaker. She made jewelry out of stale bagels, painting on faces and characters. But I knew Blau as an author, thanks to her one book — about bagels, of course — The Bagel Baker of Mulliner Lane. Published in 1976, and sadly now out of print, the picture book celebrates the humble bagel. Blau explains in an author’s note that the tale is based on her grandparents, Russian immigrants who settled in the Bronx.

Grandpa Izzy is a baker, whose bagels are beloved by his neighbors. Grandma Sonny runs the cash register in the shop and puzzles over Izzy’s odd behavior. Why are there always bagels showing up in strange places in their apartment? Why does Izzy talk about “duck-agels” and “elephant-agels”?

One winter, as both Hanukkah and Christmas are about to arrive, a blizzard hits Mulliner Lane. Izzy, keeping bakers’ hours, is already in the bakery before the snow started and is snowed in. Sonny is worried, and the neighbors all pitch in to help dig him out, giving up their holiday preparations. It take a full day for the snow removal to clear the bakery door. When they open it, the neighbors discover Izzy dancing amid a panoply of bagel friends.

He has spent his time baking and decorating, making gifts and decorations for all the residents of Mulliner Lane.

I loved the silly and lively illustrations of the book. Blue uses color selectively to point the eye. The bagels are always full color, while the people and setting are sketched in black. And the bagel characters are delightful. (I can see how her bagel art became popular.) I also loved the way the neighbors supported each other.

I’m glad that this book was a part of my childhood, and may Blau’s memory be a blessing for the many she touched with her art and humor.