With the who, what, where, when, and how of Hanukkah, an informative addition to holiday shelves.
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. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fascinating tale, worthy of retelling, that includes plenty of smoothly incorporated details of life in Mesopotamia.
Many are familiar with the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. Finkel retells a much earlier ark tale, discovered in the cuneiform writing of the people of Mesopotamia.
Very-quick, a 9-year-old boy, overhears Enki, one of the gods, tell his father, Atra-hasis, that he must build a giant coracle, a round boat, and “save life.” Enki is very specific about its construction, which is a good thing since Atra-hasis doesn’t know much of anything about boat building. Fortunately, he’s able to convince many neighbors to help out, since the scale of the boat is immense, and he’s only got seven days to both complete the work and gather up pairs of all the world’s animals. Happily, the animals start arriving on their own as soon as the boat is completed. Inserted in the fable is one chapter from the point of view of the gods, one of whom, highly cantankerous (and the most powerful), is tired of humankind; their group dynamics are almost humorous—and very human, as well. Finkel includes direct quotes from the ancient cuneiform tablets in bold type. Giles’ naïve, black-and-white illustrations enhance the presentation. Brief and presented in relatively simple language, this story is both amusing and intriguing.
A fascinating tale, worthy of retelling, that includes plenty of smoothly incorporated details of life in Mesopotamia. (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-500-65122-3
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
This fails to capture the joy of the saint so often associated with a love of nature.
This life of the popular saint is illustrated with works of art and features quotes from Pope Francis.
It is difficult to pin down the audience for this biography. Kids will need understandings of brothers as monks (as opposed to relatives), lepers, and stigmata. The sometimes-difficult concepts and sophisticated artwork demand an older audience than the picture-book format it is likely to attract. Elschner writes (in an uncredited translation), “Francis sought poverty as his companion in life.” The text refers to Francis’ famous Canticle of the Sun, but it’s just that: a reference, not a description or the text of it. And Elschner describes a Christmas Eve service Francis held: “He sent an ox and a donkey to a cave. He filled the manger with fresh hay. There lay the child.” Wait. What child? The historical works of art that depict the life of Saint Francis, while beautiful, also may confuse young readers, as Francis’ appearance changes from page to page. In one instance, before the page that talks of his death, he appears in a cloud above a sick child, seemingly dead himself. In another, the chosen illustration depicts not the stigmata that the majority of the text talks about but Francis’ follower Sylvester’s expulsion of evil spirits from a town. Pope Francis’ quotes are mostly relevant to the content on the page and include date and event references.
This fails to capture the joy of the saint so often associated with a love of nature. (Picture book/biography. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-988-8341-44-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
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