A Wild, Wild Hanukkah

by Jo Gershman, Bob Strauss, Jo Gershman (Illustrator)

Overview

On the first night of Hanukkah, the door flies open and a perky polar bear walks into the house, shaking the snow from his fur. On the second night of Hanukkah, two crusty, crying crocodiles peel onions, followed the next night by three toothy tigers who’ve come to pluck potatoes from a sack. When more animals join the party, it’s a wild, wild Hanukkah!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728460260
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

When she was a little girl, Jo Gershman dreamed of illustrating picture books and of having a pony. Years later, she feels incredibly fortunate that both dreams have come true. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two cats, and a lovely Morgan mare. You can see more of her work at www.jogershman.com.

Bob Strauss has written numerous books and articles about science, nature, and popular culture. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

When she was a little girl, Jo Gershman dreamed of illustrating picture books and of having a pony. Years later, she feels incredibly fortunate that both dreams have come true. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two cats, and a lovely Morgan mare. You can see more of her work at www.jogershman.com.

Editorial Reviews

2023-08-12
Wild beasts arrive to observe the Festival of Lights.

After an opening illustration that suggests that the narrative might be a dream from a slumbering child, a cumulative string of wild animals appears on each night of Hanukkah, starting with a single polar bear and culminating with eight penguins. Rhyming text with largely successful scansion introduces each new species, each of which also brings the necessary components for a Hanukkah party, from latkes to potatoes to flour to dreidels. The rhymes combine with alliteration and onomatopoeia, making for a surreal, aurally lavish read-aloud. Some of the lines may require a practice round, though, with phrases such as “eight pompous, punk-rock penguins / spin dreidels on the floor” feeling a bit like tongue-twisters. Gershman’s painterly illustrations employ multiple angles and floating figures in dynamic poses, heightening the zaniness of the tale. Readers will linger over the wordless spreads that depict tigers, armadillos, and more in a frantic swirl before the animals settle in to hear the child read a story about Hanukkah. Then they depart, leaving the light-skinned family alone as the holiday ends. A note in the backmatter offers a brief explanation of Hanukkah’s Maccabean origins. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A madcap Hanukkah celebration for a skillful reader. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

"Painterly, fanciful art captures the richness of feathers, fur, and scales, as well as the comedic chaos of an ever-more-crowded house. Gershman and Strauss end with a rousing Hanukkah countdown . . ." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher