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November 30, 2001/Kislev 15, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 12
Holiday tales abound
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
"While Candles Burn: Eight Stories for Hanukkah" by Barbara Diamond Goldin, illustrated by Elaine Greenstein (Viking, $15.99 hardcover)
This is a wonderful book for read-aloud bedtime stories during Hanukkah. Included are eight stories, one for each night, from Bible stories to retold folk tales to original stories. Each story is pre-faced by a tidbit of history, which adds to the meaning of the story.
One story, about how a soccer game and a forgotten sack lunch bring peace between and Arab and Jew, will be particularly meaningful to kids.
This book is most appropriate for school-age children, but would make a great family read aloud to promote discussion about the spirit of Hanukkah, peace, religious freedom and the role of women in Judaism.
"Pearl's Eight Days of Chanukah" story and pictures by Jane Breskin Zalben (Simon & Schuster, $16 hardcover)
This is the perfect book to give as a gift for the first night of Hanukkah. Each section - one for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah - includes a story and related activities. For example, the first night has a story about Pearl and her family making menorahs, a description of the lighting of the menorah, the blessings for the first night of Hanukkah and instructions for making three different types of menorahs. Other activities include recipes, art projects and words and music to traditional songs.
The first page of the book has a space for an inscription for gift giving.
This book is recommended for ages 3-8.
"Toby Belfer Never Had a Christmas Tree" by Gloria Teles Pushker, illustrated by Judith Hierstein (Pelican, $14.95 hardcover)
Toby Belfer's family is the only Jewish family in her small town. While her Christian friends invite her to their homes to help prepare for Christmas, Toby plans a Hanukkah party for all of her friends. There she teaches all the traditions of her holiday to the children in her town.
This is a great book for children who feel left out of all the Christmas hoopla that takes place in December - Toby is proud to be Jewish and proud of her own traditions and celebrations.
Included are a latke recipe, rules for the dreidel game and instructions for building a giant menorah.
This book is recommended for ages 5-8.
"Just Enough is Plenty" by Barbara Diamond Goldin, paintings by Seymour Chwast (Viking Kestral, $12.95 hardcover)
Malka's Polish family is "poor, but not so poor." One Hanukkah, Malka and her family worry about having enough food and money for Hanukkah, yet they invite a peddler to join the family for their celebration. The stranger ends up not being who he appears to be and leaves a wonderful surprise for the family.
This is a pleasantly-told folktale with colorful, Old World pictures. This book is recommended for ages 3-8.
Ten-year-old Jasmine Olson, an avid reader of mysteries, fantasies and Bible stories, provided expert input to the content of this column.
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