Publishers Weekly
08/28/2023
On each night of Hanukkah, a pale-skinned family is visited by a different species of wild animal, the numbers of which correspond to the number of candles on the menorah. It all begins on the first night, when “Whoosh! The door flies wide./ A plump and perky polar bear/ invites himself inside!” He’s bearing a large but empty platter for latkes, which are made over the course of several more nights—with help from two crocodiles, three tigers, four armadillos, five chimpanzees, and six owls. (The final two nights see the arrival of sufganiyot-bearing rhinos and dreidel-spinning penguins.) Painterly, fanciful art captures the richness of feathers, fur, and scales, as well as the comedic chaos of an ever-more-crowded house. Gershman and Strauss end with a rousing Hanukkah countdown à la “The 12 days of Christmas” as the narrative voice describes “a wild, wild, Hanukkah/ with family and friends!” Ages 4–8. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Painterly, fanciful art captures the richness of feathers, fur, and scales, as well as the comedic chaos of an ever-more-crowded house. Gershman and Strauss end with a rousing Hanukkah countdown . . ."—Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal
09/01/2023
PreS-K—This eccentric rhyming Hanukkah counting story is complemented by arresting art. On the first night of Hanukkah, after a soothing rhyming intro, a polar bear "invites himself inside" a boy's house. On the second night, two crocs arrive peeling onions, then three tigers with potatoes, and so on, up to eight "punk-rock penguins." All of the arriving animals are involved in latke making or another tradition. At the end, the family reads the story, the candles burn down, and Hanukkah ends. The text scans nicely and uses alliterative adjectives for each set of animals. The art is really the star here, however: animals and people are mostly depicted with photorealism, and it has the feel of watercolor and mixed media. While the animals look realistic, their actions are more human, with tigers on their hind feet taking dishes from the pantry and owls frying latkes in a pan. Some of the animals sport hats, or sunglasses, or scarves, yet they still have the aspect and feel of wild creatures. The full-bleed spreads are packed with movement, from stampeding rhinos to penguins who seem to be jumping off the page. A brief author's note explains the holiday. This unusual book reads aloud smoothly and quickly, and the fantastical art is striking. VERDICT A pleasant addition for libraries in search of unusual Hanukkah stories.—Amy Lilien-Harper
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-12
Wild beasts arrive to observe the Festival of Lights.
After an opening illustration that suggests that the narrative might be a dream from a slumbering child, a cumulative string of wild animals appears on each night of Hanukkah, starting with a single polar bear and culminating with eight penguins. Rhyming text with largely successful scansion introduces each new species, each of which also brings the necessary components for a Hanukkah party, from latkes to potatoes to flour to dreidels. The rhymes combine with alliteration and onomatopoeia, making for a surreal, aurally lavish read-aloud. Some of the lines may require a practice round, though, with phrases such as “eight pompous, punk-rock penguins / spin dreidels on the floor” feeling a bit like tongue-twisters. Gershman’s painterly illustrations employ multiple angles and floating figures in dynamic poses, heightening the zaniness of the tale. Readers will linger over the wordless spreads that depict tigers, armadillos, and more in a frantic swirl before the animals settle in to hear the child read a story about Hanukkah. Then they depart, leaving the light-skinned family alone as the holiday ends. A note in the backmatter offers a brief explanation of Hanukkah’s Maccabean origins. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A madcap Hanukkah celebration for a skillful reader. (Picture book. 4-8)
