General & Miscellaneous Holidays, Jewish Holidays, Fiction - Holidays & Festivals, Judaism, Fiction - Religion & Beliefs

On Hanukkah

Name: On Hanukkah
Author: Cathy Goldberg Fishman
ISBN: 9780689845796

by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, Melanie W. Hall

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Overview

When Father brings out the menorahs from a box in the closet, a young girl knows it is time for Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights. Time for the whole family to get together to play dreidels and sing and dance. Time to remember the story of Judah Maccabee. Time to eat potato latkes. And, of course, time for presents.

But most of all, it is time to light the menorahs and remember the miracle of Hanukkah. The inspiring light from the miracle of the great menorah will touch readers of all faiths as a symbol of freedom, devotion, and the joyful spirit of the holiday. A glossary is included to help readers pronounce and understand some of the words in the book.

Cathy Goldberg Fishman takes young readers to a family Hanukkah celebration in her gentle text, illustrated with warmth and color by Melanie W. Hall.

Synopsis

Cathy Goldberg Fishman takes young readers to a family Hanukkah celebration in her gentle text, illustrated with warmth and color by Melanie W. Hall.

Children's Literature

Blending the historical roots of the holiday with modern customs and feelings surrounding Hanukkah, Fishman has created a glorious story. As the family lights another candle on each succeeding night of the holiday, the young candle lighters find something new to celebrate and remember. As the lit menorahs are put in the window after each night's blessing, the family commemorates the occasion with a wish and hope for a better world. The text glows with family love and cultural respect. The illustrations glow with golden accents among the rich blues and purples that have come to be traditional Hanukkah colors. And readers are left with a glow, feeling that they too have been a part of something real and timeless.

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Judy Katsh

Children's Literature

Fishman and Hall have a winning collaboration in their Jewish holiday books, and this newly-issued paperback is no exception. Light plays among the joyous pictures, except for the sections about cold days and dark nights, which are a suitably chilly blue. The family in this book enjoys each of the eight Hanukkah nights with a different emphasis, so that the familiar latkes treats, dreidel games and gift-giving are interspersed with more unusual ideas: adding new squares to their holiday quilt, dancing to the songs they sing while Grandmother plays the piano, reading the story of Hannah and her seven sons and the one about Judith and Holofernes as the evening's activity. There's plenty of attention given to the elements of the ancient story, and the menorah is always placed in the window, dedicated each night to its various messages: light in the darkness, hope, strength, faith, happiness, giving, knowledge, freedom. One error needs pointing out: In the ancient temple the tiny bit of oil burned for eight days until the Jews carefully prepared (not found) more pure oil—a small but significant glitch in an otherwise beautifully told and painted book. 2001 (orig. 1998), Aladdin, $6.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Judy Chernak

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--A cheerful original tale. The story opens with a family (previously introduced in Fishman's earlier titles) preparing to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Each night, a young girl kindles the candles and says Hanukkah blessings. Her family members gather and each one contributes to the celebration by sharing history, food, gifts, games, and/or music. The author cleverly weaves in bits of information about the traditional observance without ever disrupting the narrative flow. Hall's light yet dynamic illustrations, done in collagraph and mixed media, portray almost constant motion, a frenzy of happiness, with swirling edges and, on several pages, blazes of gold color. A fine companion to Fishman's other holiday titles.--MMH