This exquis­ite­ly illus­trat­ed book cap­tures the joy and excite­ment of Hanukkah in the col­or­ful danc­ing Cha­gall-like fig­ures of the fam­i­ly who are light­ing the Hanukkah can­dles. The cut pages show each suc­ces­sive can­dle being lit on the gold­en hanuki­ah as the book counts up to eight. A haiku for each night tells in 3 lines and sev­en­teen syl­la­bles about the joy of the hol­i­day. Some of the poems rhyme and oth­ers don’t, although the haiku form does not call for rhyme. Many words are repeat­ed from poem to poem, mak­ing this review­er wish the author had explored her top­ic a lit­tle deep­er than say­ing that Hanukkah is fun. Although this book gives no real infor­ma­tion about the his­to­ry or cel­e­bra­tion of Hanukkah, it is a delight­ful feast for the eyes that chil­dren will enjoy. Rec­om­mend­ed Preschool; ages 1 – 5.

Read­ing Guide

» Down­load the Hanukkah Haiku Read­ing Guide from PJ Library