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

