Review: The Mexican Dreidel
The Mexican Dreidel
by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Ilan Stavans, illustrated by Maria Mola
Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2023
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman
Buy at Bookshop.org
Celebrate Janucá (Hanukkah) in Mexico with Danielito as he visits his grandmother for the holiday. When he adds his dreidel to the neighborhood game of spinning tops, friendships grow, bridging the cultural divide between Danielito and the children who are celebrating Christmas. His dreidel rallies all the tops and leads them on a wild race allowing the reader to see daily life in the village. With Spanish words and phrases sprinkled naturally throughout and needing no translation, young readers will feel as if they are walking in the town. After Danielito invites his new friends to his grandmother's home to celebrate with menorah lighting, latkes, and donuts, plans are made to play again the next day. It's refreshing to see the children being naturally curious and excited to share in the Hanukkah festivities.
Judeo-Mexican culture and traditions are integrated naturally into the story. We learn about buñuelos (fried dough with honey) and dreidel-shaped piñatas. Danielito calls his grandmother Bobe, a derivative of the Yiddish bubbe. The extensive backmatter includes the story of Hanukkah and the history of the Jews of Mexico. This book is a lovely addition to any Hanukkah collection as well as a great book for everyone for the winter holiday season.
Celebrate Janucá (Hanukkah) in Mexico with Danielito as he visits his grandmother for the holiday. When he adds his dreidel to the neighborhood game of spinning tops, friendships grow, bridging the cultural divide between Danielito and the children who are celebrating Christmas. His dreidel rallies all the tops and leads them on a wild race allowing the reader to see daily life in the village. With Spanish words and phrases sprinkled naturally throughout and needing no translation, young readers will feel as if they are walking in the town. After Danielito invites his new friends to his grandmother's home to celebrate with menorah lighting, latkes, and donuts, plans are made to play again the next day. It's refreshing to see the children being naturally curious and excited to share in the Hanukkah festivities.
Judeo-Mexican culture and traditions are integrated naturally into the story. We learn about buñuelos (fried dough with honey) and dreidel-shaped piñatas. Danielito calls his grandmother Bobe, a derivative of the Yiddish bubbe. The extensive backmatter includes the story of Hanukkah and the history of the Jews of Mexico. This book is a lovely addition to any Hanukkah collection as well as a great book for everyone for the winter holiday season.
Illustration Editor Dena Bach adds: The readers get the feel of walking in the town through the illustrations, in the bright palette of colors and traditional holiday decorations associated with Mexico.
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