The Winnipeg writer has won his second U.S. book prize for his 1993 children's book, The Always Prayer Shawl.
Earlier this week, Oberman learned he has been awarded the Sidney Taylor American Librarian Award, named after an American children's author.
The timing couldn't be better. Oberman's play of the same name, presented by the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, opens Thursday at the Warehouse Theatre and runs to March15.
"This is a season of harvest."
Last fall, The Always Prayer Shawl won a U.S. National Jewish Book Award in the children's picture book category.
Oberman, 45, wrote The Always Prayer Shawl - the story of a boy and his grandfather and the traditional prayer shawl that binds the generations - with his own son in mind.
"I wrote it for my oldest son, Adam," he said. "I wrote it as a gift from my grandfather, in a way. He was dead, but ! wrote it to introduce my grandfather to my son."
What began as a very personal story, set in Winnipeg's north end, blossomed into a book that has touched many lives - Jewish or not, young and old.
"It has an appeal not just to children," he said. "Because it's a life-cycle story, it touches a lot of people. We're all part of that life cycle."
And although it's the story of Jewish tradition, Oberman said its theme is universal. Wherever he goes, people tell him it is as though he has told their own family's story.
"Whether it's the charm bracelet the Chinese tapestry or whatever they received, it's still their story," he said.
On the horizon, Oberman plans to travel to the United States to talk about his book, which is now in its fourth printing by Boyds Mills Press. It is distributed in Canada by McClelland and Stewart.
He's at work on another children's book, he has another short play that will premiere at Prairie Theatre Exchange later this month, and he teaches English part-time at Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate.
"It gets me away from whatever's inside my head," he said of his teaching job. "I get on my own nerves sometimes.
Oberman was one of several writers recognized Saturday at Many Faces of Jewish Writing at Rosh Pina Synagogue. Carol Matas, Meira Cook, Carol Rose, Laurie Block and Beryl Walsh were some of the other featured writers