Celia Gurevitch Jewish Community Library

Chaikin: Light another candle

The first thing that will grab you Miriam Chaikin‘s “Light another candle” is the intricacies of motifs of the pencil drawings that are no the margin on many of the pages. They are done in the same style as the rest of the, more integrated, illustrations by Demi (yes, s/he has no last name mentioned), including the occasional bright red filling of an area, like a coat, boat, jar… The next thing you will notice when you look at the table of contents is the title of the first chapter: “There is but one God”. By naming this way the opening chapter Chaikin ensured that the second part of the book’s subtitle (“The story and meaning of Hanukkah”) also gets the attention it deserves. This first chapter not just tells the story up till the point where the Temple had been defiled, but also explains why the Maccabeans were fighting.

The next chapter tells the rest of the story, but the third (“How the holiday grew”) provides a part of the history of Hanukkah I did not see in other children books. The details of the Jewish calendar, Temple and law round up the “meaning” part of the book. The second half is taken up by how the holiday is celebrated in terms of foods, gelt, gifts, and customs. The book ends with a glossary and pronunciation guide, chronology of the Tempe, other books about Hanukkah and an index. This unique combination of narrative and descriptive sections makes it a comprehensive book for 9-12 year old children.

Drucker: Hanukkah

Just like all of Malka Drucker‘s series of books for children on Jewish holidays, “Hanukkah: eight nights, eight lights” is also very thorough: on slightly less than a hundred page it tells you almost everything you would want your 9-12 year old child to know about the holiday. The eight chapters are on: heroes, lights, games, foods, crafts, gifts, celebrations, and fun. As you can see the structure of the book is clear and well thought through. But any faceted organization has challenges. For example where would you put the Judith and Holofernes story? (You remember: Judith, a Maccabean, kills a Greek general and takes his head back as a trophy.) Because Judith used dairy food (and lots of it) to make Holofernes sleepy, the story is retold in the food section. That wouldn’t have been my first choice. But this is just a very minor grievance, the important feature of the book that it covers all aspects of the holiday. The glossary and basic index makes it an even better reference work. Every page has at least one illustration, mostly pencil drawings by Brom Hoban, but some are black and white photographs.

Feder: Judah who always said “No!”

Most children (and some adults) go through a phase when they just love to say “NO!” to everything. Harriet K. Feder‘s “Judah Who Always Said “No!”” will appeal to them (particularly between 4 and 8 year olds) as the hero, Judah, does exactly that. Every time he is asked to do something both as a child by his parents and later as an adult, by the Greek king, he refuses. This is a bit simplistic way of showing the Maccabean resistance, but sure is fun. I liked that the word “NO!” was set in much larger font than the rest of the text, that tells the basic story behind Hanukkah. Most of the pages are filled up with vivid aquarelle pictures (by Katherine Janus Kahn). If you are parent don’t get too concerned that this book would teach your child to say no only, because at the very end of the book there is a strong affirming YES!

Goldin: Just enough is plenty

Elijah (and the waiting for him) is associated with Pesach from the Jewish holidays. However, in Barbara Diamond Goldin‘s “Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah Tale“, it seems, he shows up at a Hanukkah table of a poor, but not so poor, family. The family consisting of Malka, Zalman, Mom and Dad (and for the holiday Aunt Hindy and Uncle Shmuel), lives meagerly and this year did not have enough money to invite lots of people, like they usually do. But they are willing to share the little they have with a peddler, who knocks on the door. Their reward is unexpected gifts for the children that the mysterious stranger leaves behind by next morning.

The quality of children book often depends on the energy, time and talent put into its illustrations. Painting with oil is one of the most time-consuming Endeavour in this realm. Nevertheless no less than 14 paintings (of Seymour Chwast) adorn this volume. They, one by one, are worthy to be lost in and get explored and not just by the 4-8 year olds it was written, painted for.

Kimmel: Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins

Eric A. Kimmel‘s “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” is a dark story both in the literal and metaphorical sense. As most of the story is set in an old, abandoned synagogue during the night it is fitting that the background of all the pages are black or at least dark blue. (Trina Schart Hyman illustrated the volume.) The story revolves around how the famous Hershel of Ostropol outsmarted goblins so villagers could celebrate Hanukkah again. Throughout the eight evenings of the holiday he sat in the synagogue and tricked the goblins, who disliked light and joy, into letting him light the candles. The reading level of the book is best suited for children ages 4 to 8.

As a background for the book let me quote the author from his homepage “I never liked most Hanukkah stories when I was growing up. They were dull. I thought I’d try to write a really good holiday story, one like A Christmas Carol. My grandma told wonderfully spooky stories. I wanted to write a story as creepy as one she might have told. Who knows? Maybe she was nearby somehow, giving me ideas. It wouldn’t surprise me.”

Right now you can listen to the story told by the author at his website and/or order the audiobook version at the same place.

Maximon: The book of Hanukkah

The full title of this book is “The book of Hanukkah, the story of the Maccabees; a saga of heroism and dedication and a miracle as retold by Saadyah Maximon, incorporating an album of illustrations in full color by Siegmund Forst.” To this I should add that the “illustrations” refer to 27 full page paintings. Considering that this is a large format book, measuring 8.5 by 12 it is an important aspect. In addition the book is peppered throughout with several dozens smaller black and white drawings.

Unlike other Hanukkah books for children (the book seem most suitable for 9-12 year olds) it does not talk about dreidel, games, gifts, or songs. “All” it does is telling the story of the events on 128 with as much historical accuracy as possible. Maximon explains in the prologue that in addition to using the only two available primary sources (Books of the Maccabees and Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews) he wanted to make sure that the legends of the people are included. Therefore he calls himself only a reteller and not an author. The motto of the book elucidates the author’s perspective: “A miracle is as true as the faith of those who believe in it.”

Oren/ Sidon: The animated Menorah

“The Animated Menorah: Travels on a Space Dreidel” contains photographs of 20 carefully designed set (by Rony Oren) from colorful playdoh and a dozen smaller pictures as well. The term “claymation” refers to animated movies with characters, objects and background made of clay (play-doh, plasticize or similar material,) but as far as I know there is no term for the kind of art where there is no motion involved. No matter, children love it: this book, which is part of the Animated Holydays series, all with the same kind of artwork, are amongst the most popular children books at our library.

At the center of the story, written Ephraim Sidon, are two siblings, who every night of the 8 day of the holiday travel in space and time (mistakenly called only space travel in the book) to encounter various events behind Hanukkah. Their ship is the dreidel, that during the day and when they play with it, just looks like an ordinary toy. The book is a fun combination of modern life (when was the last time you read in a children book about floppy disks), family activities (showing how they celebrate together every evening), history, and imaginative illustrations for 4-8 year olds.

Silverman: Festival of lights

Maida Silverman‘s “Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah” is the best book for children ages 5 to 8 I encountered that tells the story of Hanukka. It does soon 18 pages with large colorful images (by Carolyn S. Ewing) and only 2-8 lines of text on each page. But wait that’s not all. You also get a page on “the legend of the Menorah”, another one on “the legend of the dreidel,” a description of the dreidel game, instruction on how to make a dreidel and last but not least the notes and lyrics for Ma-oz Tzur (Rock of ages) song.

Wengrov: Zalman’s menorah

Who would not want to step in, at least every once in a while, back to simpler, quieter time? Charles Wengrov gives you a chance to do that in “Zalman’s menorah: A novel based on an old Chanukah folktale“. It follows a pious peddler as he makes his trip from Chabbat to Shabbat around the villages in the Tatras Mountains of Eastern Europe. The reader follows not just his physical movements but inner ones too. What I most appreciated in this book was how it shared the liturgical structure of the life of a practicing Jew, filled it with meaning. For the non-orthodox, who may not pray three times a day or not familiar with the order and content of the services this is a great book to get a warm feel for them.

The story in a nutshell: Zalman gets attacked by a band of bandits (while lighting the Hanukkah candle in a cave during a snowstorm) but gets saved by a fox-hunting king’s group. This plot may sound lacking in content, but the book is not. It is packed with wonderful descriptions of people, animals and Jewish folk wisdom. It is a great read for 11-14 year olds or interested adults. I not just enjoyed the story–which has more twists than I outlined above–, but also that I was transferred to a different time/space. The book helped making that my own.