Light the Menorah!: A Hanukkah Handbook

by Jacqueline Jules, Kristina Swarner (Illustrator)

Overview

In this Hanukkah manual for the contemporary Jewish family, holiday history, rituals, activities, songs, and recipes provide tools for creating meaningful family moments in the light of the menorah. The book includes brief reflections to read aloud before reciting the candle-lighting blessings on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512483697
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	719,333
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Jacqueline Jules is an award-winning author and poet. Her many children's books include The Hardest Word (National Jewish Book Award finalist), What a Way to Start the New Year! A Rosh Hashanah Story, and Moses and the Runaway Lamb. She lives in Long Island, New York.

Kristina Swarner decided to become an artist at the age of 3, and has been drawing ever since. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she has created award-winning illustrations for many children's books. She lives in Chicago.

Editorial Reviews

"The calm tone, scrupulous sourcing of information (as in the distinction between history and rabbinic lore), and clear instructions make this an excellent choice for families who are creating their first Hanukkah traditions."—Publishers Weekly [Starred]

From the Publisher

★ 09/24/2018
In this collection, which pairs themed poems and prose passages on each spread, Jules (Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva) expands on typical Hanukkah how-tos with short, imaginative reflections, one for each night of candle lighting. For the first night, readers are reminded of how Judah Maccabee stood up for what he thought was right and how “it is not easy to be the first.” The fourth night becomes a tribute to the shamash—the “helper candle” on the menorah used to light all the others—and reminds readers to be thankful for teachers, librarians, parents, and others who “serve and help us.” Softly textured pastel drawings by Swarner (Little Banty Chicken and the Big Dream) show quietly proud and happy characters from history and the modern day (one family includes a same-sex couple), with festive decorative borders framing the scenes. The calm tone, scrupulous sourcing of information (as in the distinction between history and rabbinic lore), and clear instructions make this an excellent choice for families who are creating their first Hanukkah traditions. Ages 4–10. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

2018-08-14

A handbook to help families make Hanukkah—the Jewish Festival of Lights—even more meaningful.

Candles are lit for each night of Hanukkah, starting with one for the first night and finishing with eight for the eighth night. Jules offers eight free-verse poems and eight reflections that combine a history of the holiday with moral teachings that can be followed by those of any or no specific faith. Readers are urged to "brighten the darkness," to "add our light," to "appreciate each flickering moment," and to live with tolerance for all peoples. There is also a retelling of the origins of Hanukkah, factoids (including how many candles are needed in all: 44), and mention of two women associated with the festival. Directions are provided for playing with a dreidel, words and music for two songs, recipes for potato latkes and jelly doughnuts, and simple crafts made from household objects. The illustrations depict a white, observant family and pages filled with flickering lights and stars against a blue background. Other pages show a diverse array of children playing games as well as images of the Holy Land at the time of the first Hanukkah. Caregivers and teachers looking for a general introduction to a plane of higher principles may find this helpful.

A thoughtful exhortation to have "the light of freedom always burn brightly in our homes and in our hearts." (Picture book/religion. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews