An engaging glimpse into the art and craft behind Hanukkah candle lighting.
Starting with an overview of the holiday and a detailed description of the candelabra, Ofanansky proceeds to showcase three contemporary artisans who craft menorahs from brass, glass, and wood. Following this, she offers suggestions to children on making their own. Readers also learn how to fashion candles and how olive oil, also used during Hanukkah, is pressed. There are instructions for candle placement and lighting along with the prayers that are recited. The Hebrew cited is both transliterated and translated. Two important ingredients for a holiday celebration are also included: a recipe for potato latkes and one for doughnuts. Instructions for playing the dreidel game and making a dreidel follow. A generous assortment of color photographs, mostly close-up shots, adds to the package along with interactive activities. The adults and children in the photographs are white.
With the who, what, where, when, and how of Hanukkah, an informative addition to holiday shelves. (Informational picture book. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68115-534-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Apples & Honey Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
Categories: CHILDREN'S RELIGION
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
To encourage tolerance, the photographer/authors want to help children understand similarities among Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The authors assume readers will be people of faith, not atheists or agnostics. After short descriptions of each religion, common themes, such as the Golden Rule, spiritual leaders, sacred texts, clothing, symbols, places of worship, worship acts (use of incense, candles, water, and prayer), charity and cherishing children are explored. The text can be very specific, mentioning branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist) without explaining the differences. (Sunni and Shiite Muslims are not delineated.) Activities will help children, teachers and parents think about religion in a comparative manner, although no sources or further reading are provided, which is a glaring omission. The attractive photos are often cropped into circular or curvilinear shapes and presented on brightly colored pages, giving the book the look of a magazine. Identified by religion but not by country, the photos were taken in the United States and eight other nations, including Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam. Interestingly, Israel and India, seemingly obvious choices, are not included. Captions would have been helpful for some photos such as a picture of a Muslim boy in a distinctive white cape and jeweled hat, which remains unexplained in the text.
A useful if occasionally preachy introduction, this book would benefit from the inclusion of more specific details, including holidays and eating customs. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-55453-750-1
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2012
Categories: CHILDREN'S RELIGION
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BOOK REVIEW
An overview of the holiday of Passover is elaborated with personal narratives, the story’s connection to the Holocaust, and various Seder customs practiced in several countries around the world.
A Canadian author and child of Holocaust survivors, Polak introduces the topic through her own personal account of a secular Jewish upbringing in Montreal. She focuses on how her research on and interest in the Holocaust brought her full circle to hosting her first Seder. The first chapter is devoted to the traditional Haggada, the book used to recount the ancient story, which includes the various rituals performed at the ceremonial meal. She introduces Ben, a Lithuanian survivor, and his version of his family’s Passover observance before World War II. From here Polak clearly connects the biblical story of oppression, escape, and freedom to the Holocaust while segueing into modern-day observance and traditions. Two concluding chapters outline the Jewish community’s charitable commitment to providing food baskets and support for the needy as well as the diversity of multicultural traditions for the holiday as celebrated in not only Israel, but in some Asian, European, and African countries. A plethora of photographs, informational sidebars, drawings, and recipes break up the substantial yet enlightening text.
Good supplementary material to increase the holiday’s meaning and currency for older children. (glossary, index, references) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 16, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4598-0990-1
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S RELIGION
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