34 | NOVEMBER 11 • 2021

E

ach year before Chanukah, publishers release
Jewish-themed books in hopes they will become
holiday gifts for children. These new books may
become favorites for the youngsters in your life.
• Shield of the Maccabees – A Hanukkah Graphic
Novel by Eric A. Kimmel with art by Dov Smiley is
historical fiction for children. Award-winning author
Kimmel has crafted a story in 129 pages about two
boys — one Greek, one Jewish — who learn from one
another’s cultures and bridge the gap through friendship.
When war comes between the Greeks and the Maccabees,
the boys join their separate armies and
fight, but re-engage over their common
desire for peace. The story ends with
the miracle of the destroyed temple’s
menorah flames lasting for eight days.
Kids ages 10 and up will especially
enjoy this fast-paced graphic novel.
• Larry’s Latkes by Jenna Waldman
(illustrated by Ben Whitehouse) fea-
tures a Chanukah food truck oper-
ated by Larry Gator, who whips up
Grandma Golda Gator’s top-secret
latke recipe. This year, he experiments
with other fruits and vegetables with
little success until he realizes he must
mix them in with grandma’s potato
latke recipe for something old and
something new. The text rhymes, the
illustrations are very cute, and the final
latke recipe is worth trying for your
family Chanukah celebration.
• Hanukkah at Valley Forge by
Stephen Krensky is another piece of historical fic-
tion set in a cold December in Valley Forge where
General George Washington despairs after surveying
his exhausted, hungry and freezing troops after two
years at war. When he encounters a Jewish soldier
lighting Chanukah candles, he learns the story of a
small band of Jewish fighters long ago who mirac-
ulously defeated a powerful army — a reminder to
Washington that miracles are possible. This book,
with painterly illustrations by Greg Harlin, was

Books for Chanukah

A batch of Jewish-themed tomes to delight and teach children.

KERI GUTEN COHEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

GIFT GUIDE

$17.95
Ages 5-8

AN IMPRINT OF BEHRMAN HOUSE
www.applesandhoneypress.com

by Jenna

Waldman

illustrated

by Ben

Whitehouse

Waldman • Whitehouse
Larry's LATKES
APPLES & HONEY PRESS

Larry's LATKES
Jenna Waldman grew up

in Rhode Island, where she loved

cooking potato latkes with her

grandmothers. She lives in the

San Francisco Bay Area, where

she creates odd new pancake

recipes to test on her husband

and two boys. She is also the

author of the book Sharkbot

Shalom. You can visit Jenna at

jennawaldman.com.

Ben Whitehouse was born

and raised in Birmingham, UK.

He lives in Chepstow, Wales with

his lovely partner, Yvonne; their

beautiful son, Timmy; and their

crazy border collie, Sparrow. He

worked in the animation industry

as an animator and stop motion

puppet maker before becoming

an illustrator. You can visit Ben at

benwhitehouseillustration.com.

Big Larry has a latke truck
he brings out once a year.
The customers wait round the
block when Hanukkah is near.

Everyone knows that Big Larry

makes the best latkes in town.

This year he’s throwing a

Hanukkah party for all his

friends, and the latkes need

to be extra special.

Big Larry goes on a quest to find

some brand-new flavors. But

peaches are a soggy mess, and

turnips are a flop. Big Larry’s

kitchen is a latke disaster! Good

thing he has some help from his

friends.

AN IMPRINT OF BEHRMAN HOUSE
www.applesandhoneypress.com
9 781681 155654

5 1 7 9 5

ISBN 978-1-68115-565-4

Our story begins just before the very first Hanukkah…

Greeks and Jews are living in an uneasy peace in ancient Judea. Jonathan,
a Jewish boy, sees a Greek boy attacked by bullies, and stands up to defend
him. They become best friends. But when war comes to their land, Jonathan
joins the Maccabees while his friend Jason joins the Greek army.

They seem destined to fight one another.

How will their friendship survive?

“A fun and clever twist on the story of the Maccabees. I wish comics like
this had existed when I was in school.”

—Steve Sheinkin, author and illustrator of
The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey

Kimmel • Smiley
Shield of the Maccabees
Apples & Honey Press

Eric a.
Dov
Smiley
Kimmel

A Hanukkah Graphic Novel

of the
Shield
maccabees

tion set in a cold December in Valley Forge where
General George Washington despairs after surveying
his exhausted, hungry and freezing troops after two
years at war. When he encounters a Jewish soldier
lighting Chanukah candles, he learns the story of a
small band of Jewish fighters long ago who mirac-
ulously defeated a powerful army — a reminder to
Washington that miracles are possible. This book,
with painterly illustrations by Greg Harlin, was

STEPHEN KRENSKYj illustrated by GREG HARLIN

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★ “Thoughtful and touching . . . an excellent reminder of the relevancy of the holiday’s message

through the ages.” –Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

“A beautiful and excellent bit of historical drama and fiction based on two analogous events

in history.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A luminously illustrated tale based on a little-known, captivating piece of American history.”

–The Jerusalem Post

“Rich with period details that successfully bring the settings to life. A well-told story.” –Booklist

It’s a cold December night
in Valley Forge as General
George Washington surveys his
troops. After two years of war,
they’re tired, short on supplies,
and hungry.

Then he encounters a soldier
lighting Hanukkah candles. “Tell
me more of Hanukkah,” he says.
By the light of the menorah, the
soldier tells a story from long
ago of a small band of Jewish
fighters that defeated a powerful
army—a reminder that miracles
are indeed possible.

Stephen Krensky

is the author of more than a
hundred books for children,
including Anne Frank (DK
Life Stories) and I Like to
Share. He lives in Lexington,
Massachusetts. Visit him at
www.stephenkrensky.com.

-

Greg Harlin’s

historical paintings have appeared
in Smithsonian, National Geographic,
and Reader’s Digest magazines.
He also illustrated Dangerous
Crossing: The Revolutionary Voyage
of John Quincy Adams and Paul
Revere’s Midnight Ride, both by
Stephen Krensky. He lives in
Annapolis, Maryland.

AN IMPRINT OF BEHRMAN HOUSE
www.applesandhoneypress.com

Krensky • Harlin

$17.95

AN IMPRINT OF BEHRMAN HOUSE
www.applesandhoneypress.com

HANUKKAH AT √
ALLEY FORGE

j

9 781681 155845

5 1 7 9 5

ISBN 978-1-68115-584-5

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APPLES & HONEY PRESS