Quick Pick Picture Book – Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

When Hershel arrives in a village he learns that they are unable to celebrate Hanukkah because of some antisemitic goblins.  To rid the town of this scourge, Hershel will need to light the candles each night and on the eighth night, he must trick the goblin king himself into lighting the candles in the menorah.

A great story about standing up for your religious beliefs; Eric Kimmel’s Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins picks up the theme of overcoming adversity that is present throughout the history of Judiasm.  Although the villains in this story are not the Syrians fought by the Maccabees or the Nazis and instead are goblins, the message is clear.  Hershel can and will overcome the menace and restore religious freedom.

Little children will love the ways that Hershel uses to outsmart the goblins and enjoy their creepy fantastical forms.  My personal favorite is the goblin who gets his hand stuck in the pickle jar.  Adults will appreciate that the overall message in this book is a meaningful one.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – The first three goblins are mostly comical.  The goblin king is much darker and scarier.  This may be a bad choice at bedtime for those that are easily scared, even though good does prevail.