Review: A Dragon for Hanukkah

A Dragon for Hanukkah

by Sarah Mlynowski, illustrated by Ariel Landy

Orchard Books (imprint of Scholastic), 2024

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili

 

Buy at Bookshop.org
 

A Dragon for Hanukkah follows Hannah as she receives a gift on each successive night of the holiday. Or does she? Does she really receive gifts of a dragon, a rainbow, a treasure chest and the like? No . . . Yes? With her signature flair for fantasy, author Mlynowski spins an imaginative story in which children will recognize all the elements of Hanukkah, including the menorah, latkes, the Maccabees, and dreidels. Well incorporated is also the idea of tzedakah when children (and adults) may get too focused on gift-giving. Illustrator Landy's vibrant and whimsical expressive artwork add to the magical feel of the tale, while the rich purple and blue palette bring the reader right into the feel of the wintertime setting.

Back matter is presented in a fun manner with a Q and A between Hannah and Nerry the dragon who has lots of questions about the holiday. Information, such as why oily foods are eaten and how the dreidel game is played, is conveyed with age-appropriate explanations. Overall, this is a playful addition to the Hanukkah bookshelf for a young audience.

Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!

Reviewer Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili is the author of THE SHOPPING ADVENTURE, a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style book. Her other titles include MENDEL AND THE PENCIL, JUST ONE MATCH and, MYSTERY AT PEASANT'S INN. Born ad raised in Toronto, she is the librarian at an all-boys elementary school. (Bio illustration courtesy of Michael Biniashvili.)