Review by Booklist Review
Glowing light swirls around the planet, connecting a wide variety of holiday celebrations in this warm, cozy, lyrical picture book. As a boy lights a menorah in his window, he contemplates the miracle it represents and asks, "Where is the miracle now?" Then, a shimmering ribbon of light soars around world, into space, and back down to Earth at its characteristic speed, all the while weaving through various holiday celebrations centered on candles and lights in a dark time of year. It's an artful, evocative representation of an element that connects many fall and winter holidays across the globe. The sentiment that the miracle is the fact of the light itself, present the world over in various ways and moving so very fast, is heartening. Plenty of picture books exploring a more generic holiday spirit still center Christmas, so it's refreshing to see to such a title centering Hannukah instead. An author's note identifies the various holidays featured in the book, such as Diwali, Christmas, and Loy Krathong.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
One snowy winter night, a child observes their family's fully lit menorah, pondering "A long-ago miracle,/ Of long-lasting light." Wondering, "Where is the miracle now?" the child imagines the menorah's luminosity traveling across the globe and into space ("North, South, East, West.// To cities, towns, shelters, and villages/ That I've never seen"), and frequently visiting children observing many light-based traditions. Named in an author's note as Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, and Loy Krathong, these celebrations are portrayed broadly in the work. A glimmering stream appears throughout Blinick's layered digital artwork, while Heald's musing text grounds the idea that "How far the light travels is a miracle./ How fast the light travels is a miracle./ Seeing your light is a miracle." Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--7. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--In a cozy opening scene, light glows not only from a menorah, but also from the fireplace, more candles, and a lamp. A family is gathered together, and a young boy references the long-ago miracle that they are remembering, then experiences something wondrous himself. The light from the menorah travels and carries him with it. He sees a quiet parade in a forest, as people follow a girl in white wearing a crown of candles. The light goes into space, and the boy and his cat, now with spacesuits, go along too; then they swirl back to Earth and a desert. Floating on water next, the boy sees fireworks and lanterns in the sky; then other families who are celebrating different holidays. How far, how fast, the light can go, circling so many people and places! The light may be shining for Diwali, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, Loy Krathong, Christmas, or Hanukkah, but the boy sees hope and happiness wherever that special light takes him. The digital illustrations are full of movement as the light swirls and illuminates new locations, over and around the whole planet, always with additional light shining from candles and windows. An author's note includes more information about the holidays referenced. VERDICT Emphasizing hope, beauty, and unity, this quietly powerful story demonstrates that people honor traditions in unique ways, while all are recognizing comfort and love as symbolized by light.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
What holidays do people observe in winter? During a cozy Hanukkah celebration at home, a light-skinned youngster gazes at the lit menorah in the family's window. The child imagines riding the miraculous beam that it radiates, watching in wonder as the light touches communities across the globe, each celebrating a different light-filled holiday. Luminous illustrations depict diyas for Diwali, kinaras for Kwanzaa, candle wreaths for St. Lucia Day, and krathongs for Loy Krathong. Finally, the light finds "you," wherever you are and whatever you might celebrate. Returning home, the child realizes that the real holiday miracle is the light that radiates, connecting us all. A glowing ribbon winds through the pages, providing a lovely visualization of the metaphorical light that different traditions all bring to the world. The brief section describing "you" feels less slightly inclusive than the rest of the story. Though the text lists a variety of holidays that "you" might be celebrating, the brown-skinned, long-haired child on these pages is hanging colorful ornaments on what readers are likely to assume is a Christmas tree. The book also doesn't explicitly acknowledge children who might not celebrate a fall or winter holiday. But the final few pages return to the more inclusive celebration of the collective light that arises from our diversity. A concluding note briefly describes the holidays portrayed. Characters are racially and culturally diverse. A shining paean to winter traditions around the globe.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
