HANUKKAH UPSIDE DOWN

Two Jewish children on opposite sides of the globe celebrate Hanukkah.

Noah’s a New Yorker; cousin Nora’s a New Zealander. On phone chats, they compare time differences: When Noah eats Saturday dinner, Nora eats Sunday lunch; while Noah’s school is closed for winter break, Nora’s school is gearing up for summer. What’s alike? Hanukkah’s coming; each child has mailed the other a present. They hold a competition: “Winter vs. Summer! Who can have the world’s best Hanukkah?” As usual, lifestyles contrast. Apparel and activities diverge because of seasonal dissimilarities, yet traditions are comparable: menorahs, savories, prayers, dreidels. The cartoony illustrations—created with pencil, charcoal, and brush and ink and then assembled digitally—are lively, and the tale is energetic. Some readers might wish the book had included a map displaying the vast geographic distance between the United States and New Zealand or a discussion of the earth’s hemispheres. Still, it’s an original and fun take on Hanukkah. The book also lacks a glossary and pronunciation guide. Occasionally, undefined words in Hebrew and Maori appear, though most are comprehensible contextually; additionally, a Hebrew prayer is incorporated into an illustration but goes untranslated. Noah, Nora, and their families are light-skinned; background characters are diverse.

A reminder that holiday celebrations are fun, no matter when, no matter where.