José and The Pirate Captain TOLEDANO: A Different Kind of Pirate Tale

Jewish Pirates Explore The Oceans José and The Pirate Captain Toledano hits stores this May (March 16, 2022) This Purim, a unique Jewish tale of triumph over adversity is getting ready to launch.  This hot new release expands on a story first told in an award-winning short film, “The Pirate Captain Toledano” which explores a mysterious corner of pirate history: Jewish piracy during the Spanish Inquisition. As refugees from the Spanish Inquisition searched for a safe haven, some took to the sea, and action and adventure inevitably followed. José and The Pirate Captain Toledano will appeal to pirate fans of all ages and will be available in print and digital formats.  ​Explaining his fascination with Jewish pirates, author Arnon Z. Shorr says,"Unlike your typical pirate who's driven by greed or a thirst for adventure, the Jewish pirates of this era had a whole other motivation to pillage and plunder - they were refugee-vigilantes, fighting back against the empire that expelled them." About José and The Pirate Captain Toledano:  HC: 978-1-7284-4606-6 $18.99  PB: 978-1-7284-2009-7 $8.99  Author: Arnon Z. Shorr  llustrator: Joshua M. Edelglass  Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing  Size: 6 x 9  Page Count: 96  Details: Full‐Color Illustrations  Age Level: 8‐12  Grade Level: 3‐6  ​Pub date: 5/1/2022  Description:  Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, José and the Pirate Captain Toledano is a coming‐of‐age story that centers on José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand‐ to‐hand combat and ship‐to‐ship action, and the powerful story of a dark time in history when people took different paths to survive. About the Writer Arnon Z. Shorr, a filmmaker and screenwriter, loves telling stories. Half‐ Sepharadi / half‐Ashkenazi, a Hebrew speaker in America, a Jewish privateschool kid in a mostly non‐Jewish suburb, whenever he’d set foot in one world, his other foot would betray him as different. That’s why he tells stories that embrace the peculiar and the other. For more about Arnon, visit www.arnonshorr.com. Formerly of Los Angeles, he lives in Boston.  About the Illustrator  Joshua Edelglass’ work has appeared in publications including The Jewish Comix Anthology, Tikkun Magazine, and The New Haven Review. His artwork has also appeared in numerous exhibitions, including Pow! Jewish Comics Art and Influence at the Brooklyn Jewish Art Museum. He has watched Star Trek II more times than is probably healthy. For more information about Josh, visit www.joshuaedelglass.com. He is the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah New England and lives near Boston.