Review: Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights
Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights: A Hanukkah Story
by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt
Doubleday Books for Young Readers (imprint of Knopf), 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Rebecca Greer
Buy at Bookshop.org
A joyous introduction to Hannukah for young children. This delightful story follows a family consisting of a mother, father, son, and daughter celebrating the Festival of Lights together. They visit extended family, cook and eat latkes and sufganiyot, light traditional candles, play dreidel games, and open presents. Each page includes a small caption explaining traditions and words that may not be familiar. At the end of the book, the complete Hanukkah story is told in an age-appropriate way along with information on what the word means and why it’s spelled in various ways. Also included is an overview of how and why Hanukkah is celebrated, discussing the many traditions depicted in the story. The parents and children are illustrated in a variety of skin tones, showing that the Jewish people also come in different shades. While the story is simple, it goes over the highlights of Hanukkah and also mentions creating new traditions, allowing for everyone to celebrate in their own way.
The Jewish representation focuses on the classic traditions of the celebration of Hanukkah. It shows family coming together and enjoying each other’s company. There is no obvious Jewish community depicted beyond the diverse multiracial family. The Jewish content is integral to the story as it delves into the meaning of words and tradition on each page. Thanks to the notes on each page, along with background information on the last page, it will be easy for non-Jewish readers to learn about and understand Jewish traditions. Non-Jewish readers will also be able to relate to family coming together to celebrate. This book is all about increasing the reader’s understanding of the Jewish experience and what Hanukkah is about.
A joyous introduction to Hannukah for young children. This delightful story follows a family consisting of a mother, father, son, and daughter celebrating the Festival of Lights together. They visit extended family, cook and eat latkes and sufganiyot, light traditional candles, play dreidel games, and open presents. Each page includes a small caption explaining traditions and words that may not be familiar. At the end of the book, the complete Hanukkah story is told in an age-appropriate way along with information on what the word means and why it’s spelled in various ways. Also included is an overview of how and why Hanukkah is celebrated, discussing the many traditions depicted in the story. The parents and children are illustrated in a variety of skin tones, showing that the Jewish people also come in different shades. While the story is simple, it goes over the highlights of Hanukkah and also mentions creating new traditions, allowing for everyone to celebrate in their own way.
The Jewish representation focuses on the classic traditions of the celebration of Hanukkah. It shows family coming together and enjoying each other’s company. There is no obvious Jewish community depicted beyond the diverse multiracial family. The Jewish content is integral to the story as it delves into the meaning of words and tradition on each page. Thanks to the notes on each page, along with background information on the last page, it will be easy for non-Jewish readers to learn about and understand Jewish traditions. Non-Jewish readers will also be able to relate to family coming together to celebrate. This book is all about increasing the reader’s understanding of the Jewish experience and what Hanukkah is about.
Editor's Note: This book was selected for the Association of Jewish Libraries' Fall 2024 Holiday Highlights list.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
Comments
Post a Comment