Hanukkah is a happy holiday, and it is generally portrayed that way in children’s books. Hanukkah in Little Havana is no different; it hums with nonstop joy! Transported by their parents in a drowsy, semi – dream state to Miami, where their grandparents live, two children leave dreary Maryland behind. They burst into Hanukkah as a Cuban-themed tropical paradise. Picking citrus fruit from trees, dancing in the sand, and feasting on Nonna’s fried treats, they all become part of the fabulous holiday celebration.
The book’s vividly colored, high-energy illustrations and stereotype-breaking grandparents complete a delicious package. Now all we need is a recipe for buñuelos: a fried Hanukkah pastry in South America and the Caribbean.
Award-winning journalist and freelance writer, Helen Weiss Pincus, has taught memoir writing and creative writing throughout the NY Metro area to senior citizens and high school students. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Record, The Jewish Standard, and other publications. She recently added “Bubby” to her job description.
