The Three Latkes

by Eric A Kimmel, Feronia Parker-Thomas (Illustrator)

Overview

Once upon a time there were three latkes, a red latke, a yellow latke and a gold latke. On the first night of Hanukkah they began talking excitedly.

When three Hanukkah latkes fight over which of them tastes the best, the winner is decided by the family cat. Which will he choose? The excited latkes can’t wait to find out, but perhaps they should be careful what they wish for!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541588929
Publisher:	Kar-Ben Publishing (R)
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	6 - 7 Years

About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is the author of the beloved holiday classics Hanukkah Bear and Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins as well as the popular Scarlett and Sam series. His books have received numerous national and state awards including the 1990 Caldecott Honor Medal, the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award, and most recently the Regina Medal, awarded by the Catholic Library Association for his body of work.

Feronia Parker-Thomas was born and raised in South West England. She studied at Camberwell College of Art in London. She and her family now call Bristol home.

Editorial Reviews

"The cat is suitably expressive. Fry up a batch and relish every morsel." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-08-18
Three potato pancakes each boast that he is the tastiest—to a hungry cat.

The table is set for the first night of Hanukkah as three stylish latkes engage in a bragfest. Made in turn from red potato, yellow potato, and gold potato, each claims first place in deliciousness. Red Latke states that vegetable oil gives him a “beautiful color.” Yellow Latke proclaims that frying in schmaltz gives the best taste. Gold Latke smugly asserts that “peanut oil is the healthiest.” Who will settle this dispute? A very observant cat will, and she is no fickle culinary feline. Adding applesauce to Red Latke, she gobbles him up. Dipping Yellow Latke in sour cream makes him a tasty treat. A “smear” of strawberry jam helps the cat devour Gold Latke. And her verdict? Readers will have to follow the appended recipe and come to their own tasty conclusions. With the concatenation of threes, Kimmel follows a traditional European storytelling pattern in this entertaining holiday tale for young readers. Parker-Thomas gives each latke his own unique identity in addition to the type of potato and frying medium. Red Latke sports a baseball cap, Yellow Latke a fedora and bow tie, and the healthy Gold Latke a sweatband and gold medal. Shredded and fried, they look a lot like fuzzballs with eyes, mouths, and pipestem limbs. The cat is suitably expressive.

Fry up a batch and relish every morsel. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews