NOAH AND THE EIGHT TRUCKS OF HANUKKAH

A boy combines his great love of trucks with the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Noah and his family live in a spacious suburban home along with their “big fluffy dog.” Noah has many toy trucks, and he loves playing with them. As his mother prepares for Hanukkah by taking out the menorah, the frying pan for the latkes, and the dreidels for a spinning game, Noah is clearly not happy: There are no trucks to be seen! Happily, his father does come up with a connection that makes Noah happy: The Maccabees were strong and so are trucks. So each night, as first one and finally eight candles are lit, Noah receives a present—a truck. There’s a garbage truck from his grandparents, a cement truck from his uncle, and finally, an ice cream truck from his “favorite babysitter.” Noah is now able to celebrate a double holiday, a “Festival of Trucks and a Festival of Lights!” In an author’s note, Rips explains that she has based her story on her young grandson. It’s a story that moves forward one night at a time with no great excitement or finale. Saumell’s illustrations are mostly in a dark palette, surprisingly so for a holiday that celebrates illumination.

Children who love playing with trucks and children who love lighting the menorah will likely be left in the dark.