Eight Winter Nights: A Family Hanukkah Book

by Laura Krauss Melmed, Elisabeth Schlossberg (Illustrator)

Overview

An “inviting picture book” following a family’s Hanukkah preparations and celebrations in lively, simple verse, from the author of Moishe’s Miracle (Booklist).
 
Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrator Elisabeth Schlossberg celebrate Hanukkah in joyful action rhymes, festive poems, and exuberant scenes of family life. From traditional holiday foods to the story of the Maccabees, they capture the warm sights, sounds, and tastes of this wintertime festival.
 
“The verse and illustrations work well together, depicting the relatives as they gather to light the candles, share traditional foods and games, and enjoy the pleasure of one another’s company.” —Booklist
 
This collection of brief, playful poems is likely to inspire countless religious school holiday pageants . . . [A] tender portrayal of a close-knit extended family caught up in holiday excitement.” —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452110363
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	06/24/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Laura Krauss Melmed is the beloved author of more than a dozen books. She lives with her husband in Washington, D.C.

Elisabeth Schlossberg is the illustrator of several books. She lives in Paris, France, with her three children.

Editorial Reviews

This collection of brief, playful poems is likely to inspire countless religious school holiday pageants. As they move through each night, the simple rhymes ("The shammes candle stands up straight,/ A servant and quite proud of it") get a big assist from both Schlossberg's pastels, predominantly in warm shades of pink, purple, and orange, and her tender portrayal of a close-knit extended family caught up in holiday excitement. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1—A family's preparations for and celebration of Hanukkah are described in short, informal verse, from the two-line "Third Night" ("At our window we will show/How warmly our three candles glow) to the bouncy, eight-line poem celebrating a favorite latke go-with ("Applesauce, applesauce on your nose./Applesauce, applesauce on your toes…"). Pencil and pastel cartoon-style illustrations depict a smiling extended family talking, eating, and playing together amid warm glowing colors and the symbols of the holiday. A short description and history of Hanukkah are appended. A pleasant if nonessential addition to the holiday shelf.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

In a sequence of short verses, a family first prepares for then celebrates the festival of Hanukkah. Grandmother, grandfather, mother, father and kids—elementary-age daughter, preschool-age son and baby—get the menorah ready, light the candles night by night, sing and dance, listen to stories, play dreidel, entertain extended family, eat Hanukkah gelt and latkes, open presents and feed the tzedakah jar. The verses are short, often three to a spread, well-suited to sharing with young children. At their best they approach the sublime simplicity of nursery rhymes; at their worst they descend to doggerel, but they are over with quickly. Schlossberg's soft pencil-and-pastel illustrations are bathed in winter-evening warmth, russet and magenta undertones making this small home snug and cozy. Everyone should celebrate so fully. Concluding notes provide background on the holiday and its traditions. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews