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Way Too Many Latkes:
A Chanukah in Chelm
Hanukkah Cookies
with Sprinkles
LINDA GLASER
ILLUSTRATED BY ALEKSANDAR ZOLOTIC
(KAR–BEN PUBLISHING; 2017)
The city of Chelm, “Village of Fools,”
is the setting of this Jewish folktale.
Everyone who has tasted Faigel’s latkes
dreams of them. But she can’t remember
how many potatoes, eggs or onions are
to be used in the recipe so her husband
runs to ask the rabbi for advice: The
rabbi says to use all of them. When the
latkes are done, they realize they can-
not eat them all so the whole village
is invited to eat their latkes. A note on
Chelm stories is explained at the end of
the book. Ages: 4-9.
Honeyky Hanukah
WOODY GUTHRIE
ILLUSTRATED BY DAVE HOROWITZ
(DOUBLEDAY BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS;
2014)
Folksinger Woody Guthrie wrote this song
and the words dance through the pages
of this delightful picture book, which
includes a CD by the Klezmatics. The
illustrations are large, colorful and full of
movement. Family members play drums,
guitar and clarinet, the dog is dancing and
the menorahs are large in the windows.
“It’s Honeyky Hanukah, huggy me tight. It’s
Hanukah day, and it’s Hanukah night.” The
last two pages tell Woody Guthrie’s New
48
December 7 • 2017
York story, and how he was moved to write
songs celebrating Jewish life. Ages 3-7.
jn
DAVID A. ADLER
ILLUSTRATED BY JEFFREY EBBELER
BEHRMAN/APPLES & HONEY PRESS (2015)
The message of tzedakah and welcom-
ing strangers permeates through this
charming, brightly colored picture book.
From her window, Sara spots an elderly
man rummaging through the damaged
fruit in a crate at the side of Sol’s market.
Her family invites him to their house for
a Chanukah dinner after they meet at
synagogue services. He discovers Sara
left him Chanukah cookies with sprin-
kles, sandwiches and a menorah. Be-
sides helping out at the synagogue, Mr.
Berger used to work for a circus. Sara
would love to learn his juggling tricks,
implying that he will visit them again.
A note for families about Chanukah is
found on the last page. Ages 4-8.
Hershel and the
Hanukkah Goblins
ERIC KIMMEL
ILLUSTRATED BY TRINA SCHART HYMAN
(HOLIDAY HOUSE — 25-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
SPECIAL EDITION; 2014)
In this Caldecott Honor Book, Hershel
of Ostropol strolls into the next
village on the first night of Chanukah
expecting lights and festivities, but the
village is still and dark. Hershel is told
the goblins will not let the villagers
celebrate the holiday. The only way
to break the spell is by staying and
lighting the Chanukah candles each
night in the old synagogue. On the
last night, the king of the goblins must
light the menorah to break the spell.
Each night, Hershel outwits a larger
and larger goblin and then the king
of the goblins appears early. Though
scared, Hershel tricks the king of
goblins and saves the day, just as the
Maccabees defeated the Syrians and
took back the temple. Ages 5-8.
Th e Parakeet
Named Dreidel
ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER
ILLUSTRATED BY SUZANNE RAPHAEL BERKSON
(FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX, BYR; 2015)
This was originally one of eight Cha-
nukah short stories in the author’s The
Power of Light, published in 1980. David
and his father rescue a parakeet that has
landed on a windowsill as their Chanu-
kah menorah is burning. The parakeet
speaks Yiddish as it babbles “Zeldele
go to sleep,” (Zeldele, geh schlofen). No
one claims the bird and they enjoy the
parakeet they name Dreidel for nine
years. Now in college, David tells this
story to his friends and they discover
the parakeet belonged to his college
friend Zelda. David and Zelda marry
and the matchmaking parakeet — who
developes a taste for latkes — stays in
the family. Throughout the story there is
warmth and caring for the parakeet and
the closeness of the family is felt. The
expressive colorful illustrations appear
to tell the story without words. Ages 5-8.
Hanukkah in Alaska
BARBARA BROWN
ILLUSTRATED BY STACEY SCHUETT
(HARRY HOLT AND COMPANY; 2013)
This story was part of the anthology
A Chanukah Treasury, edited by Eric
Kimmel in 1998. Acrylic and gouache
paintings light up the pages in this
picture-book rendition. Blue and purple
hues depict the cold winter and the
darkness that covers Alaska for many
hours each day. The family goes out into
the night to see the northern lights and
is reminded of the beautiful wax colors
of the Chanukah candles as they stare
at the sky. The author’s note at the end
of the book explains the phenomenon
of the northern lights and the story and
customs of Chanukah. Ages 4-8. •
Francine Menken, MLIS, is the director of the Henry
& Delia Meyers Library and Media Center, Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in West
Bloomfield.