A Wild, Wild Hanukkah

by Jo Gershman, Bob Strauss, Jo Gershman (Illustrator)

Overview

On the first night of Hanukkah, the door flies open and a perky polar bear walks into the house, shaking the snow from his fur. On the second night of Hanukkah, two crusty, crying crocodiles peel onions, followed the next night by three toothy tigers who’ve come to pluck potatoes from a sack. Every night more wild animals join the party, singing, making latkes, and spinning dreidels. As Hanukkah comes to an end, the stars twinkle, and the candles burn out. Then it’s time for bed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728460260
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,064,691
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

When she was a little girl, Jo Gershman dreamed of illustrating picture books and of having a pony. Years later, she feels incredibly fortunate that both dreams have come true. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two cats, and a lovely Morgan mare. You can see more of her work at www.jogershman.com.

Bob Strauss has written numerous books and articles about science, nature, and popular culture. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

When she was a little girl, Jo Gershman dreamed of illustrating picture books and of having a pony. Years later, she feels incredibly fortunate that both dreams have come true. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two cats, and a lovely Morgan mare. You can see more of her work at www.jogershman.com.

Editorial Reviews

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.)

Publishers Weekly

"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

From the Publisher

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)

Kirkus Reviews

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

School Library Journal