Light Up

A look at some new
books, and classic
treasures, for
Chanukah.

4 .

BY ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM

-

44Mg.*43W

T

here's something about Chanukah that sends children's book publishers reeling. Each year, a big batch
arrives from new authors, as well as longtime favorites. Even popular gentile authors, like Tomie de
Paola, have written Chanukah books. The only time to rival Chanukah is Pesach, when you can expect
children's holiday books as numerous as matzah crumbs after a seder.
The question is, are they good?
Fortunately, some truly outstanding Chanukah (and Pesach) books have been published over the years.
Unfortunately, this year's Chanukah crop doesn't seem to have turned up any classics. If you're shopping at your
favorite bookstores, here are a few you might see:

Light The Candles: A Hanukkah
Lift-the-Flap Book, by Joan Holub,
with illustrations by Lynne Cravath
(Puffin Books).
This is a pleasant enough little
picture book for children 5 and
younger. There's no profound story
here; the fun is in the gimmick.
One page shows a boy making
applesauce, and when you lift a flap
you see him eating the applesauce
with his latkes. Nice enough fluff.

Moishe's Miracle by Laura Krauss
Melmed, v‘rith illustrations by David
Slonim (HarperCollins).
With each turn of the page, you'll
feel as though you've already read
this story many times, many places.
There are a few new twists and
turns, but you'll meet up with the
familiar demons, nagging wife, gen-
erous guy who gives away more than
he can really afford, and a bit of
magic

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BOOKS

12/15
2000

324

on page G26