Hanukkah Around the World

October 19, 2009
This tour of Hanukkah includes information on its historical significance and the ways in which it is celebrated in places like New York City, Turin, Sydney and Warsaw. After an introductory section about the history, terminology and customs associated with the holiday, the book features a story of a child living in each city. Each section explains how he or she will celebrate the holiday and offers brief historical summaries of Judaism in each region as well as recipes for dishes like burmelos
, precipizi
and latkes. The informative sections are nicely balanced against the more festive elements. Ages 8–11.

October 1, 2009
Gr 2-4-Introductory pages describe the origins of the holiday, while subsequent short chapters depict traditions in various Jewish communities through fictional stories, brief historical sidebars, and recipes. Represented countries include Israel, the United States, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Italy, Australia, Poland, and Tunisia. While children will be interested to see how Jews in various parts of the world celebrate differently while maintaining the core Hanukkah traditions, there is a formulaic quality to this book that undermines its success. The fictional stories feel contrived and in more than one case raise questions that are left unanswered, e.g., why do Jews in Australia celebrate Hanukkah during the summer? What happens at the end of the story of Judith? In addition, several of the recipes are presented without any explanation of their origin or relation to the holiday. Densely colored illustrations are generally appealing, particularly the attractive full-page maps that accompany each section. Even so, the unevenness of this offering makes it merely additional."Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2009
Grades 3-5 This companion to Passover around the World (2006) provides a history of Hanukkahs origins, a discussion of current traditions, and fictional stories (set in Israel, the U.S., Turkey, Uzbekistan, Italy, Australia, Poland, and Tunisia) highlighting the ways in which contemporary families celebrate the Festival of Lights. For each country the author includes a large map, full-color paintings, a nation-specific historical sidebar, and a holiday recipe; an appended section provides briefer information about local customs in additional countries. Some rituals will surprise readers in colder climatesa torch relay in Israel and an outdoor carnival in Australia, for examplebut similarities such as singing, lighting candles, and enjoying fried foods also emerge. Although South America is not represented and no source notes are provided, the engaging text and attractive illustrations will make this a good choice for families wishing to explore diverse ways of celebrating. Similar in scope to Deborah Heiligmans Celebrate Hanukkah with Light, Latkes, and Dreidels (2006), this offers information for a slightly older audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)