Highlighting: “The Peddler and the President” by Ann Koffsky. Apples and Honey Press. 45 pages. 2025. ISBN 978-1-68115-637-8.
It’s easy to think of history as something shaped only by presidents and politicians, but in “The Peddler and the President,” author Ann Kofsky shows that sometimes it’s the quiet strength of friendship that changes everything. This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the little-known but entirely true story of Harry Truman and Eddie Jacobson, two boys from Kansas City whose bond eventually helped lead the United States to recognize the State of Israel in 1948. The book brings history to life for young readers and reminds us all that loyalty and courage can echo far beyond childhood. The Jewish Link sat down with Koffsky to speak about the book and what makes this story so meaningful today.
Koffsky’s inspiration for the book was sparked by a chapter in Gary Ginsberg’s “First Friends,” a collection of stories about friendships behind the Oval Office. She knew the story was unique, and was eager to explore not the political intricacies of 1948, but the heartfelt bond between two men who trusted each other implicitly. The story follows Truman and Jacobson from their days as young soldiers during World War I through their postwar business partnership, and ultimately to the Oval Office. What might have seemed like an unlikely bond—a future president and a Jewish haberdasher—turned out to be the foundation for one of the most important diplomatic decisions in U.S. history.
The most poignant moment in the book arrives when Chaim Weizmann, the respected Zionist leader, traveled tirelessly from country to country seeking support for the creation of a Jewish state. By 1948, he was exhausted and desperate to speak with President Truman. But Truman, frustrated with political pressure and criticism, had closed the door on the issue entirely, refusing to meet with anyone about it. It’s then that Eddie Jacobson stepped in. Initially hesitant to bother his old friend or ask for a personal favor, Jacobson ultimately appealed to Truman not as a politician, but as a friend. He walked into the Oval Office and quietly, sincerely asked Truman to meet with Weizmann. And Truman listened.
The book focuses sharply on the friendship between Truman and Jacobson. Koffsky is clear: “Without the friendship, this story didn’t happen.” That personal connection is the emotional core of the book and its dramatic climax. For a historical story aimed at children, one of Koffsky’s major challenges was choosing what to include and what to leave out. “I was very razor-focused on the friendship,” she said. “If a detail illuminated their bond, I kept it. If it didn’t, I left it out.” That meant skipping over complex figures like Theodore Herzl and Ze’ev Jabotinsky, or deep dives into the Arab-Israeli conflict, and instead focusing on how two friends stayed connected through time and changing roles.
Still, the book was meticulously researched. Koffsky used the Truman Library extensively, including audio interviews with Eddie Jacobson himself. “Everything in the book happened—there are no embellishments,” she emphasized. That sense of historical integrity is especially rare in children’s nonfiction and adds to the book’s credibility and emotional weight.
Koffsky also sees the book as an opportunity to teach children that Jewish and American histories are deeply intertwined. “Everything happens in the same world,” she noted. “We often forget that American and Jewish history are part of one story—not separate ones.” “The Peddler and the President” touches on themes of antisemitism and advocacy with subtlety, but still maintains a light, child-friendly tone. Like her other works, it’s driven by “drama, character development, and the question: How do we make this something kids want to keep turning the page on?”
That sense of momentum is helped by the vibrant, expressive illustrations by Pedro Rodríguez, whose artwork brings the story’s historical settings and emotional beats to life. From the dusty streets of Kansas City to the solemn atmosphere of the Oval Office, Rodríguez’s style manages to balance playfulness with gravity. His illustrations invite kids into a time period they might otherwise find distant or abstract, making the history feel immediate and human.
“The Peddler and the President” is a refreshing, powerful reminder that change often begins with a single conversation between two people who care about each other. It’s a book that belongs on every shelf—not just for its historical value, but for its heart.
You can find “The Peddler and the President” on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For free coloring pages and more from Ann Koffsky, visit annkoffsky.com or follow her on Instagram at @annkoffsky.
Caroline Altschul is a senior at SAR High School.
