Illustrated by Rotem Teplow
Publisher: words & pictures (a division of the Quarto Group) (2024)
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Lior (Hebrew for “my light”) and his family invite the reader to enter his home and celebrate the eight-day holiday as they light the menorah, spin the dreidel, eat latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and tell the miraculous story of the Festival of Lights.
The book contains plenty of back matter, including instructions to make an edible menorah (yes, you read that right), a recipe for latkes and applesauce, a guide to constructing a tzedakah (charity) box, and even a quiz!
The book is part of Quarto’s Celebrations & Festivals series that explores different religious and cultural festivals, including Diwali, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and more.
Why I wrote this book:
A very simple reason: the publisher asked me to write a book about Hanukkah as part of their Celebrations & Festivals series. I have always loved Hanukkah and all that the holiday entails—lighting the menorah, eating fried foods (I make a mean latke!), spinning the dreidel, and exchanging gifts with family and friends. So of course I said yes!
Excerpt
“My name is Lior, which is a Hebrew name that means ‘my light.’ Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and it’s my very favorite holiday.
Hanukkah starts after sunset on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts for eight days. I can’t wait to celebrate with my family and friends!
There’s a lot to do to get ready for the holiday. Mum, Dad and I clean and decorate our house. Mum takes down the Hanukkah menorah from its shelf and polishes it until it shines….”
Review
“This is one of the nicest books for children that explains the history and modern practices of Hanukkah that I have come across.”