The Festival of Lights: 16 Hanukkah Stories

by Henry Herz, Henry Herz (Compiler), Leslea Newman, R.M. Romero, Stacia Deutsch

Overview

"VERDICT This beautiful anthology of Jewish tradition that emphasizes empathy, small kindnesses, and hope is the perfect read for all students." —School Library Journal starred review

This collection of stories and poems by sixteen Jewish writers portrays the magic of Hanukkah for each person who celebrates it, as well as what it means to be Jewish.

Celebrate Hanukkah with a diverse collection of poems and stories filled with history, humor, and hope. Cheer on a young baker as he tries to make sufganiyot from a family recipe. Learn about code breakers in England during World War II. Imagine hosting a refugee cousin or finding long-lost relatives. In this anthology, characters make discoveries, connect with family and friends, and mourn loved ones. Encompassing a range of genres and experiences, there’s something for readers of all faiths in the illuminating pages of The Festival of Lights.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807531211
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/05/2024
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	675,421
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Henry Herz is the author of 11 children’s books, including Cap’n Rex & His Clever Crew, 2 Pirates + 1 Robot, and the Kirkus-starred I Am Smoke. His short stories have appeared in Highlights and Ladybug. He loves his family, dogs, and Boston cream pie.

Henry Herz is the author of 11 children’s books, including Cap’n Rex & His Clever Crew, 2 Pirates + 1 Robot, and the Kirkus-starred I Am Smoke. His short stories have appeared in Highlights and Ladybug. He loves his family, dogs, and Boston cream pie.

Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of multiple picture book biographies. The former theater critic for the Dallas Morning News and Los Angeles Times San Diego Edition, she's now a full-time writer and peace negotiator between her dog and cats. She lives in North Texas.

Editorial Reviews

07/29/2024

To prepare “a sumptuous table before readers,” per an introduction, Herz (I Am Gravity) and 15 other writers—including Alan Katz, Richard Michelson, and R.M. Romero—deliver 14 stories and two poems that highlight Hanukkah’s global history and traditions. Delicious foods such as kugel and sufganiyot take center stage in Herz’s “Der Verzauberte Löffel,” while a non-Jewish “war orphan” working as a messenger in 1941 Bletchley Park finds comfort in lighting the menorah with her Jewish friend in Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s “A Light in the Darkness.” Many entries detail the conflicting feelings young American Jews sometimes face regarding whether to participate in Christmas festivities: “A Hanukkah to Remember” by Nancy Churnin, “The Most Jewish Christmas Song Ever” by Erica S. Perl, and “Dancing on Hanukkah” by Nancy Holder touch on the music of the season and how many popular Christmas songs were written by Jews. “The Greatest Gift” by Joanne Levy, a tale about friendship and grief, and Terri Libenson’s “The Mitzvah Tree,” an illustrated rejoinder to The Giving Tree, go beyond the collection’s slightly didactic feel to showcase stories that use Hanukkah as the setting, not the raison d’être. Ages 9–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 09/01/2024

Gr 5–8—A brilliant Hanukkah anthology that engages readers with Jewish culture and tradition. Beginning with an overarching introductory preview, readers then transition into contemporary stories with an understanding of Hanukkah's historical roots. All the narratives, which are sandwiched between introductory and concluding poems, explore themes of grief and loss, the demise of culture and identity, holiday celebrations, and inclusivity. For example, R.M. Romero's protagonist explores five sites her deceased grandmother would want her to visit, portraying an understanding of why history forced the generational loss of her Jewish heritage. Nancy Krulik's "Cold Shoulder" introduces Mila's Aunt Sophia, who while seeking refuge from Ukraine, teaches Mila how to celebrate Hanukkah and embrace her culture. Narratives also exhibit Jewish families who invite all friends in for Hanukkah celebrations, as in Bridget Hodder's "The Thing about Stars" and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's "A Light in the Darkness." While celebrating Jewish culture, this well-curated collection also invites readers to explore the human happenings that are timeless in middle school, such as fitting in, bullying, friendships, and crushes. All occurrences, in turn, engage readers and feature opportunities for them to develop empathy for all religious and cultural differences. This anthology is also well constructed, presenting more toe-deep issues early on and deep-rooted, emotionally poignant issues later, with superior choices for culminating narratives and poetry that structure the overall work in a meaningful regard. VERDICT This beautiful anthology of Jewish tradition that emphasizes empathy, small kindnesses, and hope is the perfect read for all students.—Jennifer Strattman

School Library Journal

2024-07-19
An opening triolet poem by Lesléa Newman retells the Hanukkah story in eight lines, setting the stage for the stories to come.

Sixteen acclaimed authors offer their varied perspectives on this joyous holiday of light and miracles. The common thread weaving through the entries is the celebration of Jewish religious and cultural traditions. Recurring themes include passing down recipes, uncovering family secrets, testing and forming friendships, dealing with loss, encountering paranormal spirits, and navigating complex family histories that shape the present. Many stories delve into the nuances of Jewish identity, in times of both crisis and joy, addressing issues such as bullying, grief, good deeds, and quintessential Hanukkah traditions, like eating potato pancakes, lighting candles, and playing dreidel. The collection is touching, funny, awkward, food-centric, and sometimes painful, collectively illustrating that Judaism is not a monolith. Ashkenazi and Sephardic families are highlighted, with featured backgrounds spanning Polish, Irish, Moroccan, Russian, and Ukrainian origins. The main characters are mostly white Jewish middle schoolers. While there are clearly more stories to be told, this anthology serves as an accessible introduction to a range of Jewish experiences. Variability in plot and character development make some of the entries flatter and more one-dimensional, limiting the anthology’s potential to attract wide audiences, however. Still, the chance to read about celebration and coming together is invaluable.

An overall positive reading experience despite some inconsistencies in quality. (glossary)(Anthology. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews

This beautiful anthology of Jewish tradition that emphasizes empathy, small kindnesses, and hope is the perfect read for all students.” — School Library Journal starred review 

“Sixteen acclaimed authors offer their varied perspectives on this joyous holiday of light and miracles. The common thread weaving through the entries is the celebration of Jewish religious and cultural traditions.” —Kirkus  

From the Publisher