Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Holiday House (2018), 24 pages
Description
"No celebration of Hanukkah would be complete without recounting the events of more than two thousand years ago that the holiday commemorates. In a simple yet dramatic text and vibrant paintings, the story of the courageous Maccabees and the miracle that took place in the Temple in Jerusalem is retold."--Amazon.com.
User reviews
LibraryThing member anita.curry
This book did a great job at telling the story of Hanukkah. The text was simple, accurate, and clear for children to understand. The pictures were vibrant.
LibraryThing member nmhale
For those looking for an explanation of the historical events that led to Hanukkah, this picture book is the end of your search. The book begins by delving into history to explain the origins of this major celebration for the Jewish culture. Without worrying about specific dates, it tells of a time
The text is clear and easy to follow, and simplifies complicated historical developments in a way that still conveys the essence of the situation. The illustrations are in acrylic, and are bright and appealing. They present the fighting in a stylized way that shows what occurred without being too violent or scary. The one disappointment that I have with the book is that it minimizes the spiritual associations of the holiday. For example, it describes the oil lasting for eight days, but doesn't explain that the people considered it a miracle from God. It describes the Temple as the House of God, and mentions that everyone visited it, but never once indicates that this was a place of worship, or that its importance to the Jewish people came from it being a holy place. The book avoids any suggestions to why the Temple was called the House of God. Overall, it is a lovely book that presents a simple and factual accounting of the origins of Hanukkah, but leaves out the heart of the holiday.
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long ago, when Jewish people lived happily as farmers and shepherds. It describes the Temple as the House of God, and points out that Jews all visited their beautiful temple. Then it describes the reign of Antiochus IV, who persecuted the Jews for their belief, and how the Maccabees resisted the Greek soldiers and restored the Temple. It ends by briefly mentioning the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, until new oil could be made. The book concludes with an explanation of how modern Hanukkah celebrations relate to these historical events. The last two pages offer a recipe for latkes and instructions on how to play the dreidel game. The text is clear and easy to follow, and simplifies complicated historical developments in a way that still conveys the essence of the situation. The illustrations are in acrylic, and are bright and appealing. They present the fighting in a stylized way that shows what occurred without being too violent or scary. The one disappointment that I have with the book is that it minimizes the spiritual associations of the holiday. For example, it describes the oil lasting for eight days, but doesn't explain that the people considered it a miracle from God. It describes the Temple as the House of God, and mentions that everyone visited it, but never once indicates that this was a place of worship, or that its importance to the Jewish people came from it being a holy place. The book avoids any suggestions to why the Temple was called the House of God. Overall, it is a lovely book that presents a simple and factual accounting of the origins of Hanukkah, but leaves out the heart of the holiday.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
082344032X / 9780823440320