It's Hanukkah Time!

October 1, 2004
PreS-A class of preschoolers prepares for a Hanukkah party by sending invitations to their grandparents, making decorations and gifts, and mixing the batter for sufganiyot (donuts). When their guests arrive, everyone dances, sings, lights Hanukkah candles, and eats the treats. The text is short and simple, and the kids and grandparents are clearly having fun (even if the photos look staged). A recipe for the donuts is included, as well as the English and Hebrew texts for the Hanukkah candle blessings.-E. M.

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2004
PreS. This compact photo-essay, the third in a holiday series, is for preschoolers who already know the story of Hanukkah as the only overview is in a brief paragraph on the copyright page, on which a glossary also appears. Each page has a full-page color photograph featuring a nursery-school group getting ready for a Hanukkah party. The children send dreidel invitations, make picture frames as gifts, hang Jewish stars, and clean their school "like the Maccabees cleaned the Temple." Next they prepare dough for fried doughnuts (the recipe is appended). The guests arrive, and the fun begins--including a game of dreidel. Both adults and children seem to be enjoying themselves in the pictures, which wouldn't look out of place in a family album. For little ones anticipating the holiday.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2005
Young students at a preschool busily prepare for and then host a Hanukkah party for their grandparents. They send invitations, make and wrap presents, prepare special foods, and then light candles, play games, and feast. Appealing color photos accompany the descriptive and upbeat text. Includes recipes and blessings.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)