The Hanukkah Hunt

by Laura Gehl, Olga Ivanov (Illustrator), Aleksey Ivanov (Illustrator)

Overview

Ruby and her family celebrate Hanukkah in a brand-new way.

Ruby's cousin Avital is sad because her mom is going to be away on a work trip during Hanukkah. To help make sure Avital still has a happy holiday, Ruby plans an enormous eight-night treasure hunt. But will she be able to think up a good enough surprise for Avital to discover on the final night?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807571750
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/15/2022
Series:	Ruby Celebrates!
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Laura Gehl is the author of more than thirty picture books, board books, and early readers, including Delivery Bear and Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer. She lives with her husband, four children, and large stash of dark chocolate in Chevy Chase, MD. Visit Laura online at LauraGehl.com.

Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are a team of children’s book illustrators who have collaborated on more than one hundred books using an unusual approach wherein both artists conceive, sketch, design, and paint. They work and live with two dogs in their studio in Evergreen, Colorado.

Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are a team of children’s book illustrators who have collaborated on more than one hundred books using an unusual approach wherein both artists conceive, sketch, design, and paint. They work and live with two dogs in their studio in Evergreen, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

"A pleasant additional purchase for libraries needing more general Hanukkah books."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2022

PreS-Gr 2—This engaging multicultural Hanukkah story will work best for families already familiar with the holiday. Ruby's cousin Avital is sad because her mom will be on a business trip during Hanukkah. To cheer her up, Ruby creates a treasure hunt. Each night, she gives Avital a clue, leading her to a different family member's house and a new gift. When Avital's dad nixes a kitten as the final gift, Ruby is stuck—until she discovers that Avital's mom will return the last night, and that becomes the final gift. Avital's family ultimately gives Ruby the kitten instead. Gehl does a nice job of seeding the story with familiar Hanukkah traditions and foods, without distracting from the plot. The illustrations, which are brightly colored, appear to be digital and have a greeting card feel. They alternate between full-bleed single pages and spreads, with close-ups and spot art. The family includes good representation: Avital is mixed race, with a dark-skinned dad and a redheaded mom, and another cousin mentions his "moms." Oddly, Ruby only has one parent mentioned, though the penultimate spread shows an unidentified adult of indeterminate gender. Back matter includes information about the history and traditions of Hanukkah, as well as directions for playing with the dreidel. While this won't work as a Hanukkah primer for the uninitiated, Jewish children will enjoy the embedded traditions, and the plot of the story is engaging. VERDICT A pleasant additional purchase for libraries needing more general Hanukkah books.—Amy Lilien-Harper

School Library Journal

2022-08-17
One girl’s holiday gets off to a less than twinkling start.

Avital is despondent because her mom’s away this Hanukkah. Kindhearted cousin Ruby is determined to boost Avital’s spirits and devises a “huge eight-night Hanukkah treasure hunt,” at the end of which the family will give Avital a “big, exciting gift.” On the first night of Hanukkah and on every night of the holiday thereafter, Ruby gives Avital a rhyming clue to a gift she’ll receive. The mostly small items cheer Avital somewhat, but Ruby still isn’t sure about the special surprise. A phone call on the seventh night provides just the inspiration she needs. On the final night of Hanukkah, Ruby surprises Avital with the best possible present and receives a terrific, cuddly gift herself. While the ending is satisfying, though a little sappy, some may wonder why no one communicated with Avital’s mom via phone or videoconferencing earlier. Hanukkah traditions are mentioned, but some adults may note that Ruby’s gesture, while very thoughtful, seems to focus primarily on the holiday’s gift-giving aspects. The colorful, cheery illustrations are laden with holiday symbols but are otherwise bland, and characters’ faces aren’t individualized. Avital, with dark, curly hair and tan skin, appears biracial; her mom is depicted as pale-skinned with red hair, while her dad and infant sister have light-brown skin and dark curls. Ruby and other family members are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A just so-so, treacly Hanukkah story. (note about Hanukkah, instructions for playing dreidel game) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews