Product Description

Share the magic of Chanukah

0n the first night of Chanukah, a young boy invites a friend to his family's annual celebration. The boy's friend has never celebrated Chanukah, one of the most meaningful of the Jewish holidays, and his curiosity sparks a spirited retelling of the historic events commemorated by the Festival of Lights."Henry, a Christian boy, is invited to the home of his Jewish friend to participate in the first night of Hanukkah with the family. After the lighting of the candles and the recitation of the prayers, the boys hear the Hanukkah story about the Jews' fight for religious liberty and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. "Parker's unusually fluid art alternately evokes the chill of wintry urban streets and endows the past with a suitably mythic dimension. His figures seem light on their feet and full of life. The holiday spirit just radiates." -Publishers Weekly.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1829535 in Books
• Published on: 1995-10-30
• Released on: 1995-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Kirkus Reviews
An unusually thoughtful account of the events celebrated during Chanukah, touching gently on the ethics of violence in the struggle against injustice, the nature of miracles, and why we celebrate holidays. Interfaith friendship and sharing are modeled in a framing story in which the young narrator and his mother tell the Chanukah story to the son's Gentile friend, their guest on the first night. ``Your Chanukah candles and our Christmas lights will shine across the street at each other,'' says the visitor. Kuskin's prose (as in Jerusalem, Shining Still, 1987) has a spare dignity well suited for telling of ancient and sacred things. Parker's command of his medium--delicately sketched lines and subtly glowing watercolors--is total; he suggests the tumult of battle, the warmth of a family dinner table, and the timeless radiance of the menorah with equal facility. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Children's poet extraordinaire Karla Kuskin has written dozens of books for children, including Roar and More, The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, illustrated by Mark Simont, and Dogs and Dragons, Trees and Dreams. She lives in Brooklyn, NY and Arlington, VA.

Isabelle Dervaux made her picturebook debut with Melanie Jane, by Susan Arkin Couture. She lives in San Francisco, CA.