A Dreidel in Time: A New Spin on an Old Tale

by Marcia Berneger Illustrated by Beatriz Castro 3 stars A fun, quick read about the origins of Hanukkah complete with adventure and time travel. Reminiscent of the Magic Treehouse books. All Devorah and Benjamin want to do is open their Hanukkah presents. But they’re in for a surprise when their family gives them an old…

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Matilda Makes Matzah Balls by Rhonda Cohen

Illustrated by Francesca Galmozzi 3 stars Matilda and her grandmother are preparing for the Passover seder. But this year there’s an exciting change. Matilda gets to help with the matzah ball soup. She adds her creativity to her grandmother’s recipe and together they experiment to make an out of this world creation. A cute representation…

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Celebrations Around the World by Katy Halford

4 stars A good place to start to learn about different holidays and how they are celebrated about the world. Each entry provides an overview of the holiday, often including the event’s origin, foods associated with it, and traditions and customs for celebrating. The book covers a variety of holidays and festivals, both cultural and…

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Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka 4 stars A humorous tale of mistaken identity. Bubba Brayna, a 97-year-old who makes the best potato latkes in the village, is preparing for a visit from the rabbi on Hanukkah. So when a guest arrives who looks like the rabbi, talks like the rabbi, and has the rabbi’s beard, Bubba…

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