10 things I love about Hanukkah

Eight nights, 10 reasons to celebrate. Hanukkah lasts eight days, but this bubbly young narrator needs 10 reasons to explain why the Festival of Lights is so wonderful--from lighting the menorah to singing the Dreidel Song to enjoying latkes and jelly doughnuts--and makes an excellent case for each. As the child takes part in meaningful rituals and has plenty of fun, it becomes clear that Hanukkah is a family-centered celebration. After all, as we learn from reason number four, it was the "brave Maccabee family" who vanquished the soldiers sent by "a mean king named Antiochus," who forbade Jewish people from practicing their religion and attacked their Temple. When the Maccabees returned to the Temple, the oil they found--enough to burn in their lamp for one night--miraculously lasted for eight days and nights. This delightful tale will charm readers, and its bright, cartoonish illustrations are ideal for a story about a festival that celebrates light illuminating the darkness. The family at the center of this tale has lightly tan skin, though their community is a diverse one. A neighborhood scene features twinkling Christmas trees in windows in addition to menorahs. A glossary with pronunciation guides closes out the book. An infectiously cheerful tribute to the Festival of Lights. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.