Overview

""An excellent book for library collections."" -School Library Journal ""A charmer about the special meanings of Hanukkah: joy, friendship, and inclusion."" -Kirkus Reviews A rollicking Hanukkah romp about including friends, accommodating differences, and having FUN! Don't invite a bear inside for Hanukkah! While he might try to be helpful with decorating and putting candles in the menorah, he will start to cause a mess soon enough, especially when latkes, gelt and other holiday food is served. But maybe if you think creatively, you can still celebrate the holiday together. In this energetic, lighthearted story readers will learn about the preparations and traditions of Hanukkah. It's a Hanukkah tale about meeting new friends where they are, accommodating differences, being flexible and learning to celebrate even if things don't go exactly as planned. Leave your creature comforts behind and go outside into nature for a rollicking good time.

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9781681156422

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Reviews

One tradition of Jewish culture is to welcome guests warmly when they visit a home. So when a young boy putting up Hanukkah decorations sees a bear at his front door, he lets the bear in, as he has been taught to do--despite the warnings from the narrator, who uses second-person perspective to tell the story. At first, it seems the bear is a big help; he helps decorate and reach items in high places. But soon it becomes clear that he is not as big of a help as the boy first believed. Things go from bad to terrible when the boy's mother brings out the food and the bear eats up everything, while making a mess of the house. The boy has to kick the bear out, but upon following the bear, discovers they have more in common than he thought; they find a way to celebrate Hanukkah together. Illustrations are engagingly delightful, and back matter includes an author's letter to readers as well as a glossary. This book is a superb way to introduce and reinforce the traditions of Hanukkah. Children see examples of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance of others, as well as the importance of sharing one's culture and beliefs. VERDICT An excellent book for library collections. --Laura Ellis, School Library Journal

One tradition of Jewish culture is to welcome guests warmly when they visit a home. So when a young boy putting up Hanukkah decorations sees a bear at his front door, he lets the bear in, as he has been taught to do—despite the warnings from the narrator, who uses second-person perspective to tell the story. At first, it seems the bear is a big help; he helps decorate and reach items in high places. But soon it becomes clear that he is not as big of a help as the boy first believed. Things go from bad to terrible when the boy’s mother brings out the food and the bear eats up everything, while making a mess of the house. The boy has to kick the bear out, but upon following the bear, discovers they have more in common than he thought; they find a way to celebrate Hanukkah together. Illustrations are engagingly delightful, and back matter includes an author’s letter to readers as well as a glossary. This book is a superb way to introduce and reinforce the traditions of Hanukkah. Children see examples of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance of others, as well as the importance of sharing one’s culture and beliefs. VERDICT An excellent book for library collections. —Laura Ellis, School Library Journal

Author Information

Karen Rostoker-Gruber is a multi-award-winning author of many picture books with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. Farmer Kobi's Hanukkah Match was named a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and awarded the 2016 Outstanding Children's Literature Award from the Church and Synagogue Library Association. Her book Maddie the Mitzvah Clownwas named a PJ Library book selection in July of 2017 and again in July of 2022. Karen lives in Branchburg, NJ. Carles Arbat was born in Bescanó, a little village in Catalonia, Spain. He studied at Olot’s Art School and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Graphic Design. He immediately began his career as an illustrator for educational projects, magazines, and children’s books. He currently lives in Barcelona, Spain.

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