The Hanukkah mice

by Steven Kroll

Other authorsMichelle Shapiro (Illustrator)

Paper Book, 2008

Call number

J 247 Kroll

Subjects

Hanukkah stories

Mice Juvenile Fiction

Publication

New York : Marshall Cavendish Children, c2008.

Description

A family of mice enjoys the doll house and furnishings that Rachel receives as gifts on the eight nights of Hanukkah.

User reviews

LibraryThing member dukefan86

This one didn't do a lot for me. If the reader doesn't know about Hanukkah already, it might leave one with more questions than answers. Also, why didn't the little girl find the Jewish mouse family (the little male mice were wearing yarmulkes!) in her new dollhouse a little creepy? Maybe I wasn't

feeling very imaginative when I read this book. :)

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LibraryThing member rschin1

I liked the book “The Hanukkah Mice” by Steven Kroll for three reasons. First, this book is a great multicultural book that can tell students about Hanukkah in a fun way. While the book tells true information about Hanukkah it is also mixed with modern fantasy, allowing children to stay fully

engage. Second, the illustrations in the book enhance the story and go along well with the text. When Rachel, the main character gets her presents each night there are detailed pictures, and show the mice also enjoying her presents. Finally, the language in the story is clear and allows students who do not celebrate Hanukkah understand the gift giving process. “Now it’s time for Rachel to open her first Hanukah gift.” This excerpt from the story is clearly showing that you open one gift a night on Hanukkah, and the story goes on to tell about the eight different nights. The main message in this story revolves around Hanukkah and the gift giving process.

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LibraryThing member jtaylo41

This was a very cute book! This was a simple read that I feel would be a great introduction for students learning new traditions and beliefs. I felt the illustrations did a spectacular job displaying Hanukkah traditions, which really helped support the text. The illustrations showed common objects

that one would see in a Jewish household during Hanukkah. For example, some pictures displayed tablecloths with the Stars of David, yamakas, dreidels, and menorahs. This book's main message was information on Hanukkah traditions.

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LibraryThing member eobend1

In my opinion, this is a good book for young elementary readers. I liked this book because it is informational for someone who is unfamiliar with the holiday, Hanukkah, while still being a fun story that any child would enjoy, regardless of which holiday they celebrate. The plot of “The Hanukkah

Mice” is well organized. The introduction where the girl in the story celebrates Hanukkah with her family transitions well into the mice eventually having a Hanukkah celebration of their own with all of the presents the girl in the story receives for Hanukkah. I also like this book because the illustrations really enhance the story. I loved how each present the girl in the story receives is shown with the mice utilizing the item for their comfort. The big idea of this story is to inform readers of traditions during Hanukkah.

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LibraryThing member Ebutzn1

I think, “The Hanukkah Mice” is a cute, informational story for children to read and learn about other cultures and holidays. The use of strong and unfamiliar vocabulary words is an important aspect of this story regarding the Hanukkah holiday. Some Hanukkah descriptor words include:

“menorah,” “dreidel,” and “latkes.” These words are commonly known terms that identify with the Jewish culture. Also, the plot in this story is very predictable in that Rachel would receive a new present every night, most likely a new piece of furniture for her new dollhouse (chair, sofa, plates, etc.). The main idea of this book is to inform children about the holiday of Hanukkah, along with their celebrated family traditions.

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LibraryThing member sstelz2

In my opinion, “The Hanukkah Mice” is a marvelous book for children, especially Jewish children. The story is about a mice family that celebrates Hanukkah with the humans that they live with. The plot of this story is organized to match the order of the Hanukkah holiday. For example, one page

is about the two families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. That night the mice “…watched Mr. Silman, one of the Big People lift shames candle, say the prayers, and light the first Hanukkah candle.” The book follows this sequence by showcasing the next night and the next night until it is the eighth day of Hanukkah. When the human daughter opens her first gift, it is a doll house that becomes a home for the mice. Each day following the first night, the girl gets doll house furniture to fill the doll house. The illustrations use bright colorful backgrounds to catch the reader’s attention. The illustrations display each night of Hanukkah and the new gifts that the girl gets. One of the most eye-catching illustrations is the one in the beginning of the story when the mice are sitting on the large, human couch to watch the opening of the gifts. The story raised an important lesson about family. This story pushes readers to broaden their perspectives about the real importance of holidays. The big idea is to show children that Hanukkah is not about gifts, but it is about being thankful for what they have and celebrating with family.

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