Chanukah Lights Everywhere (copy 1)

Nicely illustrated, colorful story about lighting candles for Chanukah. It's a counting book about a family who lives in a neighborhood with Jewish and Christian friends. BUT: Everything in it is lovely until the notes about the holiday after the story is over. It's inaccurate to say that King

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Antiochus tried to conquer the Jews after they refused to give up their religion and worship idols; he was just trying to maintain control. And the candles are not lit from right to left. Finally, one of the Hanukkiot in the note is not kosher, although those shown in the story are fine.

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A young boy describes the lights of Hanukkah in this lovely holiday picture-book. From the night before the celebration begins, when family preparations are afoot, through the eight nights when the candles of the Menorah are lit, to the nights afterward, when the boy sees many things that remind

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him of Hanukkah and of being Jewish, the theme remains that of light - and of love. An afterword gives more information about the historical circumstances that gave rise to the holiday...

I enjoyed Chanukah Lights Everywhere, which is actually my second Hanukkah picture-book from author Michael J. Rosen, following upon his Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah. There is a feeling of homeyness and family warmth in the story, and in the artwork. I appreciated illustrator Melissa Iwai's use of color and (of course) light here, and I found the cats depicted throughout to be absolutely adorable. Recommended to anyone looking for fun and engaging Hanukkah picture-books.

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