Here is a wonderful, beautifully illustrated book to help inspire Jewish children in celebration of the festival of lights, while also telling boys and girls of all faiths the fascinating story and traditions connected with this festive holiday. The books first part tells the story, taken from The Book of Maccabees and other historical sources, of how Antiochus of Syria invaded the land of Judea and forbade the Jews to perform their religious rites, which included lighting the menorah. The story goes on to tell how the Syrians were ultimately defeated and driven away by the Maccabees, and how the Temple of Jerusalem was restored and its menorah lighted and miraculously kept burning. This books remaining pages describe the joyful Hanukkah rituals meant to commemorate the miracle of the menorah. Children read about the special foods for Hanukkah, learn to light Hanukkah candles, make a decorative dreidel, play dreidel with chocolate Gelt, and generally celebrate this joyous holiday. Includes sidebars with cool facts. (Ages 6 - 9)

From the reviews:
“The activities, stories, recipes, crafts, and nuggets of information make this an appealing and useful volume. The story of Hanukkah is related in a breezy, modern voice, illustrated with simple, childlike pictures, and is punctuated by a variety of “fun facts” (in 1997 astronaut David Wolfe celebrated Hanukkah in outer space and his dreidel spun for over an hour and a half). Most of the projects use materials found around the house, though a few will require a visit to a crafts store, and adult supervision is called for when appropriate. … Many of the activities work for group settings.”
—School Library Journal, October 2003

“This legendary story is told with interesting shaded boxed facts.”
—The Kansas City Star, December 7, 2003

Paperback / 48 Pages / 8 1/2 x 11 / 2003