arts & entertainment The word on new Chanukah books for kids. Penny Schwartz J TA Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah! Illustrated by Olga and Eleksey Ivanov (Marshall Cavendish; $12.99); ages 1-4 A brightly illustrated book version of the popular song features double-page paintings of a family — and their smil- ing pet dog — celebrating each of the eight nights of Chanukah. Sing along as they light the menorah, dance the hora, eat latkes and play dreidel. An endnote explains the origins of the Hebrew and Yiddish versions of the song, a mainstay of the holiday. Music and lyrics are provided. (A PJ Library selection) Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Shahar Kober (Kar-Ben; $7.95); ages 4-8 Board a Chanukah train ride set in Israel, the latest addition to the award-winning series of Engineer Ari books that will espe- cially delight train-loving kids. A stubborn camel provides the obstacle as Engineer Ari heads home with a trainload of Chanukah treats and toys. A Bedouin farmer named Kalil comes to the rescue, and together they celebrate the first night of Chanukah. Lively cartoon-like illustrations animate the fun and hopeful story. An author's note explains the building of the first railway line between Jaffa and Jerusalem. Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles Tami Lehman-Wilzig with Nicole Katzman; illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau (Kar-Ben; $7.95); ages 4-8 "Is it Hanukkah? Is it Hanukkah?" Jacob's big brother Nathan repeats the question, and many others, again and again, annoying Jacob. Jacob tries to understand that his brother's autism causes him to think and act differently, but sometimes Jacob loses his patience. Jacob is embarrassed in front of new neighbors when Nathan blows out the Chanukah candles as if it were a birthday celebration, but he defends Nathan when a new friend makes fun of his brother. The family's creative response brings everyone together in a fun-filled Chanukah celebration. The story tackles a serious issue without being heavy-handed. (A PJ Library selection) Chanukah Lights Michael J. Rosen, Robert Sabuda (Candlewick Press; $34.99); ages 5 and up This gift book, a stunning collaboration between award-winning writer and poet Michael J. Rosen and master pop-up art- ist Robert Sabuda, is one that kids might have to pry away from their parents — or they can enjoy together. Rosen in simple language traces the history of celebrating Chanukah and its aspiration for freedom from ancient times to today, from the ancient Temple to the desert, across oceans, to shtetls and the cities of immigrant fami- lies, to an olive grove on a kibbutz in Israel. Sabuda's mesmerizing paper creations emerge miraculously from the folded pages. The artwork is outstanding in both its detail and the simplicity of the images it evokes. The Story of Hanukkah David A. Adler; illustrated by Jill Weber (Holiday House; $14.95); ages 4-8 Who was that guy Judah Maccabee, and what does he have to do with Chanukah? Parents and educators seeking an informa- tive and engaging book about the historic origins of the holiday will be attracted to David Adler's signature straightforward style. Adler, the award-winning and popular author of more than 200 books for children, including The Kids' Catalog of Hanukkah, is skillful at enlightening readers unfamiliar with the two-millennia-old story of the great military victory of the Maccabees over religious persecution by their Greek rulers and the miracle of the oil. Jill Weber's illustrations evoke ancient times with the golden glow of the Temple and dramatic battle scenes of mighty Greek warriors on horses and elephants. The story ends with a modern family celebrating Chanukah. Back pages include Weber's recipe for lathes and instructions for playing dreidel. The Golem's Latkes Adapted by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Aaron Jasinski (Marshall Cavendish; $17.99); ages 4-8 Master storyteller Eric Kimmel delivers a deliciously mischievous Chanukah spin on an Old World legend of the Golem of Prague, a kabbalistic creature with magi- cal powers to help the Jewish people. When Rabbi Judah of Prague leaves his new housemaid Basha with a long list of chores for the holiday celebration, he cau- tions her not to leave the hard-working golem alone in the house. The only way to get the golem to stop working is to tell him, "Golem, enough!" Kimmel writes. Kids will delight in the inevitable hilarity when Basha takes off to visit her friend and leaves the golem alone making latkes. The fried potato pancakes pile up higher and higher, out the windows, and take over the city streets. A festive ending gathers the whole city for a lathes-eating Chanukah celebration. Jasinski's memorable illustrations show the fantastical golem painted more like a Gumby-style robot than a frightening ghoul. Double-page spreads place readers in the action, from the cobblestone streets of Prague to the mountain-high towers of golden potato lathes. Candlelight for Rebecca Jacqueline Dembar Greene; illustrations by Robert Hunt (American Girl; $6.95 paperback/e-book available for Kindle and Nook readers); ages 8 and up Set in 1914, Jacqueline Dembar Greene's historical novel is the third in a series of six popular American Girl books featur- ing Rebecca Rubin, a Jewish girl who lives with her family on New York City's Lower East Side. Originally published in book form in 2009, it is newly available for electronic reading devices. Rebecca is uneasy when her class is assigned an art project to make a Christmas table decora- tion because her Jewish family doesn't cel- ebrate Christmas. Rebecca grapples with timeless, universal questions about accep- tance and religious freedom that resonate with readers from all backgrounds. Playing Dreidel with Judah Maccabee A play by Edward Einhorn (Theater 61 Press; $14.95); ages 12 and up Edward Einhorn is the artistic director of a New York-based theater company who served as the director of the Festival of Jewish Theater. Einhorn's play is a fantasy that travels in time between a modern- day synagogue and ancient Israel. As the young Jonathan spins a dreidel, singing the familiar dreidel song, he is startled by the appearance of an old man dressed in armor. The conversation between Jonathan and Judah Maccabee starts out like a comedy routine, each questioning who the other is, but over eight days a warm relationship develops between the young adolescent and the ancient battle-weary warrior that sheds a contemporary light onto the long arc of Jewish history and ritual. Educators may find this a unique play for performing or reading aloud. Jews •PP- Nate Bloom Alat I Special to the Jewish News SE. The following films open on Friday, laCt Dec.16: (1) Alvin and the Chipmunks: mow Chipwrecked is the third entry in the Chipmunks animated/live actions films since 2007. This sequel finds the singing car- toon critters ship- wrecked on a remote island. Jason Lee returns as Dave Seville, the group's manager/father figure, with David Cross, 47, again Cross w 66 December 15 • 2011 appearing as Ian Hawke, their record company head. By the way, Alvin and the Chipmunks first appeared on a 1958 record, created by Dave Seville, the show-biz name of the late Ross Bagdarsarian. He named the Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon and Theodore) after the first names of the executives of his record company, all of whom were Jewish. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows again finds Robert Downey Jr. starring as the famous 19th-century Brit detective (he first played Holmes in 2009). In this film, Holmes battles criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), aided by Dr. Watson (Jude Law) and helped a bit by his much lazier brother, Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry, 54). Holmes believes Moriarty is behind the death of the Austrian crown prince and what looked like suicide Fry was murder. That rev- elation helps unlock a larger puzzle that could change the course of history. Susan Levin Downey, Robert's wife, produced the film; she is pregnant with the couple's first child, a boy. Robert, whose paternal grandfather was Jewish, wed Levin in a Jewish ceremony. Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a self-centered writer who returns to her hometown deter- mined to snare her happily married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). She forms a bond of sorts with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt), who sometimes acts as her conscience. The screenplay is by Diablo Cody (Juno), with Juno and Up in the Air director Jason Reitman, 34, helming the film. Bloomfield Hills native Elizabeth Reaser, the step- daughter of the late Bill Davidson, plays Reitman Wilson's wife.