by Sylvia A. Rouss & Genene Levy Turndorf ; illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 9, 2015
A nice addition to the holiday collection.
Sammy Spider and his human friend Josh return in a Hanukkah kid-oriented cookbook.
Unlike Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah (1993), which focused solely on the lighting of the candles and doubled as a counting and color concept book, this publication provides a one-page introduction summarizing the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the lasting oil. In the familiar style of the series, Sammy dangles from his web as he listens and asks if he can also celebrate. “Silly little Sammy,” his mother laughs. “Spiders don’t celebrate Hanukkah. Spiders spin webs! But you may watch the Hanukkah festivities while you spin.” So he observes as Josh’s parents list the eight rules for cooking safely. The subsequent recipes include more than just applesauce and latkes and will mostly need adult supervision. They are organized in three sections, with a few recipes for simple snacks (dipping fruit pieces in cinnamon-sugared sour cream), miracle meals (pita pockets filled with cooked ground beef and chopped veggies), and tasty treats (Hanukkah web cake). A fourth section includes crafty ideas for creating a homemade menorah, gift wrap, and even a Sammy Spider spinning puppet. A small web symbol with either an M for meat, D for dairy, or P for pareve is helpfully included in the upper corner of each recipe, all of which are kosher.
A nice addition to the holiday collection. (Cookbook. 5-10)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4677-5237-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
Share your opinion of this book
More by Sylvia A. Rouss
BOOK REVIEW
by Sylvia A. Rouss ; illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
BOOK REVIEW
by Sylvia A. Rouss ; Shannan Rouss ; illustrated by Ann Iosa
BOOK REVIEW
by Sylvia A. Rouss & illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
by Alex T. Smith ; illustrated by Alex T. Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 17, 2019
A Christmas cozy, read straight or bit by bit through the season.
Neither snow nor rain nor mountains of yummy cheese stay the carrier of a letter to Santa.
So carelessly does 8-year-old Oliver stuff his very late letter to Santa into the mailbox that it falls out behind his back—leaving Winston, a “small, grubby white mouse” with an outsized heart, determined to deliver it personally though he has no idea where to go. Smith presents Winston’s Christmas Eve trek in 24 minichapters, each assigned a December “day” and all closing with both twists or cliffhangers and instructions (mostly verbal, unfortunately) for one or more holiday-themed recipes or craft projects. Though he veers occasionally into preciosity (Winston “tried to ignore the grumbling, rumbling noises coming from his tummy”), he also infuses his holiday tale with worthy values. Occasional snowy scenes have an Edwardian look appropriate to the general tone, with a white default in place but a few dark-skinned figures in view. Less-crafty children will struggle with the scantly illustrated projects, which run from paper snowflakes to clothespin dolls and Christmas crackers with or without “snaps,” but lyrics to chestnuts like “The 12 Days of Christmas” (and “Jingle Bells,” which is not a Christmas song, but never mind) at the end invite everyone to sing along.
A Christmas cozy, read straight or bit by bit through the season. (Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-68412-983-6
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Silver Dolphin
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
Share your opinion of this book
More by Alex T. Smith
BOOK REVIEW
by Alex T. Smith ; illustrated by Alex T. Smith
BOOK REVIEW
by Alex T. Smith ; illustrated by Alex T. Smith
BOOK REVIEW
by Alex T. Smith ; illustrated by Alex T. Smith
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Andrew Joyner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 21, 2018
Empty calories
Hippo dreams of “a good, old-fashioned Thanksgiving.”
It’s not all smooth sailing. Hippo is raking and dreaming of Thanksgiving goodies when Duck plunges into Hippo’s leaf pile and musses it up. When a falling apple bonks Hippo on the head and he then gives it to Duck, Duck thanks him, triggering an invitation to celebrate the day together. The two friends go off to shop and find themselves in mishap after mild mishap, meeting friends and inviting them one by one to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Duck engages in mild tomfoolery, but Hippo maintains his genial calm. That evening, Duck goes back to their friends and suggests that they plan a surprise for Hippo. The next day, Hippo prepares a delicious assortment of traditional (all vegetarian) dishes and then waits for his friends—who show up late with their surprise: more food (eggrolls, sushi, pizza, and peanut-butter–and-jelly tacos), which temporarily puts Hippo out because it “is NOT a good, old-fashioned Thanksgiving feast!” Hippo rapidly gets over himself, and the friends all have a good time. While the message of enjoying fellowship and valuing each individual’s contributions is a worthy one, this meandering tale offers little to chew on in terms of character development or plot. Joyner’s anthropomorphic cartoon animals are cheery, but his illustrations do nothing to give London’s story any depth.
Empty calories . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5039-0080-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Jonathan London illustrated by Andrew Joyner
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Andrew Joyner
More by Jonathan London
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Gilles Eduar
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Gilles Eduar
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.