Review: Little Dreidel Learns to Spin
Little Dreidel Learns to Spin
by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illustrated by Taryn Johnson
Cartwheel Books (imprint of Scholastic), 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Julie Ditton
Buy at Bookshop.org
Every Jewish child knows how frustrating it can be to learn how to spin a dreidel. Older kids make it look so simple, but it takes persistence to get the knack to make that dreidel twirl. But, how does the dreidel feel? Rebecca Gardyn Levington has spun a sweet story about persistence that is absolutely adorable and very funny. Little Dreidel wants to spin like her older cousins. She feels like giving up. But with love and encouragement from her Bubbie, she persists and eventually feels pride in her accomplishment. The author tells the story in clever, smooth flowing rhyme. She adds lots of humor with quotes from Hanukkah sources and one very cute pun. In the very first page, we meet "Little Dreidel, made of clay, at last is dry and ready!" I loved the cute illustrations by Taryn Johnson. Little Dreidel's Shin on her forehead looks like bangs, and she is getting "dry and ready" with a hair dryer! Bubbie and her cousins have unique faces with the other dreidel letters, glasses and freckles. Levington mentions some of the elements needed for the celebration: latkes, gelt, and a menorah. She also adds flavor by using several Yiddish words in the story and includes a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back. This cute book would make a perfect Hanukkah gift for all the kinderlach.
Although the theme of persistence is one that applies to any child, this delightful book provides a Hanukkah story specifically aimed at Jewish children. The generous use of Yiddish that is woven into the story provides fantastic introduction of this fading element of the Jewish culture to young children who may not hear this dying language used at home. This book would be perfect in a Jewish home or preschool. Many public school teachers try to balance their holiday reading time by including Hanukkah books as well. With the inclusion of the glossary and pronunciation guide, this book could easily be added to circle time.
Every Jewish child knows how frustrating it can be to learn how to spin a dreidel. Older kids make it look so simple, but it takes persistence to get the knack to make that dreidel twirl. But, how does the dreidel feel? Rebecca Gardyn Levington has spun a sweet story about persistence that is absolutely adorable and very funny. Little Dreidel wants to spin like her older cousins. She feels like giving up. But with love and encouragement from her Bubbie, she persists and eventually feels pride in her accomplishment. The author tells the story in clever, smooth flowing rhyme. She adds lots of humor with quotes from Hanukkah sources and one very cute pun. In the very first page, we meet "Little Dreidel, made of clay, at last is dry and ready!" I loved the cute illustrations by Taryn Johnson. Little Dreidel's Shin on her forehead looks like bangs, and she is getting "dry and ready" with a hair dryer! Bubbie and her cousins have unique faces with the other dreidel letters, glasses and freckles. Levington mentions some of the elements needed for the celebration: latkes, gelt, and a menorah. She also adds flavor by using several Yiddish words in the story and includes a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back. This cute book would make a perfect Hanukkah gift for all the kinderlach.
Although the theme of persistence is one that applies to any child, this delightful book provides a Hanukkah story specifically aimed at Jewish children. The generous use of Yiddish that is woven into the story provides fantastic introduction of this fading element of the Jewish culture to young children who may not hear this dying language used at home. This book would be perfect in a Jewish home or preschool. Many public school teachers try to balance their holiday reading time by including Hanukkah books as well. With the inclusion of the glossary and pronunciation guide, this book could easily be added to circle time.
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