Review: Oy, Santa! or There's a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah
Oy, Santa! or There's a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah
by Joyce Schriebman, illustrated by Gila von Meissner
Intergalactic Afikoman, 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Lila Spitz
A young Jewish boy named Oliver corresponds with Santa Claus via email regarding Christmas, correcting unintentional misunderstandings about Hanukkah. Mistakes include Hanukkah nomenclature, holiday foods and their appropriate toppings, and notable differences between the Gregorian calendar and the Hebrew Calendar. As Santa’s confusion with Hanukkah traditions escalates, Oliver’s emails become snarky, demonstrated by the increased size and bolded font of the text. Illustrator Gila von Meissner enhances the juxtaposition of Christian and Jewish holidays by contrasting Santa’s cute felines with Oliver’s playful canine. The artwork portrays Oliver as the African American son of a heteronormative mixed-race couple, with a helpful younger sister.
Jewishness is an integral part of the story, as the viewpoints of the two main characters reflect the Christian and Jewish community’s thoughts during Christmas and Hanukkah. It is an authentic account of the Jewish experience during Christmastime, as Oliver is forced to correct almost everything Santa Claus understands about the basic customs and traditions of Hanukkah. Jewish readers will be able to relate to Oliver’s responses and frustrations. Non-Jewish readers will learn about the traditions of Hanukkah and Jewish culture and traditions. The back matter includes rules for playing the popular holiday game dreidel as well as well-researched historical information about Hanukkah.
Jewishness is an integral part of the story, as the viewpoints of the two main characters reflect the Christian and Jewish community’s thoughts during Christmas and Hanukkah. It is an authentic account of the Jewish experience during Christmastime, as Oliver is forced to correct almost everything Santa Claus understands about the basic customs and traditions of Hanukkah. Jewish readers will be able to relate to Oliver’s responses and frustrations. Non-Jewish readers will learn about the traditions of Hanukkah and Jewish culture and traditions. The back matter includes rules for playing the popular holiday game dreidel as well as well-researched historical information about Hanukkah.
Author Joyce Schreibman is the founder of My Brother from Another Mother, an organization that works to advance understanding between faith communities, and this book fits neatly into that mission.
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