Hanukkah Lights

by David Martin, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

Sweet illustrations and simple language bring the holidays to life for the youngest of children.

Candles on the menorah, ready to light! At Hanukkah, there are many much-anticipated rituals — latkes to eat, dreidels to spin, presents to give and receive, and shiny gold treats. Add some free-form fun, from shadow puppetry to singing and dancing, and you have a warm, truly child-friendly celebration.

Genres: Jewish, Childrens, Holiday, Picture Books

26 pages, Board Book

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Readers of David Martin's books won't be surprised when they meet the author and find that he is just as entertaining as his books - he sings, plays the guitar or the kazoo, or even juggles during his school visits. As David Martin says, "I have never minded particularly making a fool of myself," so he is never at a loss to illustrate his points or to make a connection with the kids. In his interactive sessions, he also works with students to create their own books or to produce oversized class books. The author's ease in the classroom comes from his hands-on teaching experience: he's an eighteen-year veteran of elementary and middle schools.


A native of Queens, Martin has lived in northeast Vermont with his family since 1970.

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q: is this book like any other book you have read?
A: No, because I've never read a hanukkah book before.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward introduction to the traditions of Hanukkah, good for readers of any faith.

[L.E. Fidler · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love that fiona asks for this book at bedtime, i love that she eagerly seeks out the page with the dreidel, and i love that she is learning about hanukkah.

i hate that this book doesn't seem to follow any particular rhyme scheme or tell much in the way of a story. it's uneven, at best, and treats the subject superficially.

gelt!
lights!
feast!
presents!
dreidels!

i don't know - it could have been something more special than it was.

[RC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple, sweet story with colorful illustrations that walks through the eight days of Hanukkah. It celebrates the holiday's sights, sounds and tastes. Through beautiful pictures and simple words the joy of the holiday is shared. A great book for all children.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Easy Hanukkah books, good for little kids, even if you are not Jewish. It will help you understand the holiday!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, sweet story about what two children do on each night of Hanukkah.

[L Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Child's version of Hanukkah.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book