The Miracle Jar

November 1, 2008
Eight-year-old Sophie and her family get ready to celebrate Hanukkah by cleaning their small cottage, preparing holiday treats and shining the menorah. The family needs a week 's worth of oil to light the candles and cook treats, however, unlikely with the amount left in the jar. With a snow storm keeping them home, they find ways to make the oil last for eight days, paralleling the miracle of the oil that lit the menorah after Judah and the Maccabees rededicated their sacred temple. Spare use and reuse of the oil they have provides seven nights of lights and traditional foods. On the eighth, Mother creatively uses a piece of cheesecloth to wipe the jar 's sides, recovering enough oil to coat the pan and make one apple pancake to share. The family gratefully acknowledges "the nicest gifts are the ones that surprise us the most. " Penn 's storytelling provides a real sense of the holiday 's significance through joyful, yet simple celebration while Lyon 's cheerful and energetic watercolors depict an "old country " environment. A nice addition to classic retellings. (Picture book. 4-7)

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October 1, 2008
K-Gr 2-In this twist on a familiar theme, a family from the Old Country spends the holiday snowed in at their cozy cottage, but must make a small amount of cooking oil last long enough to cook all eight Hanukkah treats. Father tells the children the Hanukkah tale while Mother prepares the meals, using oil from the Miracle Jar over and over until the last night when it appears there is nothing left. On this night, Mothers ingenuity is the true miracle, as she manages to find one more drop of oil for the final holiday treat. Watercolor spreads depict the family in muted colors and simple patterns. A satisfying holiday tale with a nostalgic feel."Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library"

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