Hanukkah Is Coming!

by Tracy Newman, Viviana Garofoli (Illustrator)

Overview

Readers join a cute family and their dog as they light the menorah, eat latkes, unwrap gifts, sing songs, play dreidel, eat chocolate Hanukkah gelt, and march like Maccabees during the eight nights of Hanukkah in this cute 12-page board book. Includes "3D-feeling"art by Viviana Garofoli.

Introduce young children to Jewish life, Jewish holidays, and Shabbat with Very First Board Books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467752411
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2015
Pages:	12
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD300L (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Tracy Newman has written numerous books for children, including Itzhak: A Boy who Loved the Violin, which won a Schneider Family Honor. Her writing inspiration comes from her adventures raising her children. She lives in Connecticut.

Viviana Garofoli was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. A graduate of Escuela National de Bellas Artes Pridiliano Pueyrredon with a degree in fine arts, she has illustrated more than 70 children's books, including Peek-A-Boo Passover and the board book series A Jewish Holiday is Coming!

Editorial Reviews

09/14/2015
In this board book, a companion to 2014’s Shabbat Is Coming!, rhythmic verse follows a family as its members light the menorah, fry latkes, enjoy dreidels and gelt, and spend time together during Hanukkah. The title repeats as a refrain after each of Newman’s gentle rhymes, giving the book a soothing structure: “Winter is near./ Long nights are here./ Hanukkah is coming./ All in a row/ Our candles will glow./ Hanukkah is coming.” Skillful use of drop shadows brings a subtle three-dimensional quality to Garofoli’s crisp digital illustrations, while the images’ canvaslike textures are suggestive of the homey closeness of the family’s Hanukkah’s celebrations. Ages 1–4. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"This is a nice, fresh addition for holiday board book collections, preschool classrooms, and for gift giving." — AJL Newsletter

From the Publisher

10/01/2015
Toddler-PreS—In this board book, a rhyming couplet on each page ("We've practiced each song./We'll all sing along.") is followed by the words "Hanukkah is coming" as a round-faced family of mother, father, brother, sister, and dog light candles, fry latkes, exchange presents, eat gelt, and "march like Maccabees." VERDICT An adequate but not particularly compelling offering for young children already familiar with the holiday.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2015-07-22
A simple introduction for very young children to some of the ways Hanukkah is celebrated. A girl, a boy, their mother and father, and their playful dog prepare for Hanukkah in this sweetly illustrated board book. In rhyming text readers follow the family as they make preparations for the eight-day celebration. The candles are set in the menorah; the latkes go "Hiss, sizzle, pop" in the kitchen, while the children look in excitement at the wrapped gifts that will later be traded. The songs have been practiced and learned, and so has the dreidel game. Chocolate-covered faces mean the eagerly anticipated Hanukkah gelt has already been sampled. With paper hats, swords, and shields, the children (and their dog) march like Maccabees. At the end of each page the text is brought to a close with the titular phrase, "Hanukkah is coming," the repetition contributing to the mounting excitement. Finally, the sun sets, the menorah has been lit, and as the family contemplates the stars through the window of their home, the book ends with a satisfying "Hurray! Hanukkah is here!" Garofoli's richly colored cartoon illustrations contribute to the playfulness of the story. A joyful and sweet introduction to the holiday. (Board book. 1-4)

Kirkus Reviews