Monthly Archives: December 2010

Quick Pick Picture Book – The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

After two reviews of books that had the potential to offend, here’s a completely user-friendly Hanukkah story.  The only shortcoming is that Linda Glaser’s The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes errs on the side of too bland.  The kindness/neighborly love theme could … Continue reading

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Candelight for Rebecca

Well, they can’t all be winners.  It would have been nice if this were a good book, because anything American Girl is wildly popular, but I’d have to say Candelight for Rebecca was marginal at best.  There are conflicting messages … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Quick Pick Picture Book- The Latke Who Wouldn’t Stop Screaming

You would scream too, wouldn’t you, if you were dropped in sizzling oil to be fried?  If everywhere you went others refused to understand you?  If you felt as if you didn’t have a proper home?  If someone was prepared … Continue reading

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Quick Pick Picture Book – The Trees of the Dancing Goats

This is a fabulous story for the winter holidays. Patricia Polacco has written The Trees of the Dancing Goats about her own experiences growing up on her grandparent’s farm.  One winter, while her family is making their preparations for Chanukkah, … Continue reading

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Quick Pick Picture Book – The Chanukkah Guest

Eric Kimmel’s The Chanukkah Guest is one of my favorite Chanukkah stories.  97 year old Bubba Brayna has been cooking her famous latkes.  The smell is so tantalizing that it wakes a hibernating bear.  The old woman has become a … Continue reading

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