The Story of Hanukkah
by David Adler; illustrated by Jill Weber
While writing this post, and turning to the back of this picture book, I saw a review from “School Library Journal.” In part it said:
With so much hoopla focusing
on less historical, more celebratory
aspects of Hanukkah, it is good to
have a book that tells it like it was.
And I thought to myself, how similar this ancient story leading to the celebration of Hanukkah, can get equally underplayed, in much same way that the story of Christmas can sometimes be, if we let it, by the secular celebrations that surround it. Interesting!
David Adler provides a very thorough and interesting introduction to young readers to the celebration of Hanukkah by the telling of its origins in Judea in the Israel of long ago, and the bold story of the Maccabees.
Kids will learn of the ancient temple, high on a mount called The House of God, and there shone a light called the “ner tamid” that burned always.
Enter the Greek King called Antiochus IV who tears down the walls of Jerusalem and forbids the lighting of Sabbath candles or the study of Jewish law.
And a Jewish leader/ fighter arises among the people named Mattathias that, along with groups made up of shepherds and farmers, battles the oppressive forces.
His son is called Judah the Maccabee or “hammer” and those people that fight with him, are called Maccabees.
In the final battle, against overwhelming 6-1odds, Antiochus and his army are finally routed.
Kids love when the odds are stacked and the “good guys win” and they do here.
Young readers will follow the cleaning of Jerusalem from the rebuilding of its new altar, to its redone gates and doors.
And they find, the “ner tamid, with a small bit of oil left in a jar; just enough for one day, still aglow, after eight!”
So, Judah declares on the anniversary of that date every year, an eight day celebration will occur. And it is called Hanukkah meaning dedication, as it is the day celebrating the rededication of the Temple.
Jill Weber’s warmth of colored acrylic drawings enhances this particular telling of an ancient story, and she even includes her recipe for “latkes.”
It seems when she was a young one, it was her job to grate the potato and onions for the recipe, and she offers the remembrance of this quote: “My hands smelled like onions for what seemed like a week.”
Oh, and Jill, you have my sympathy here, as I had many a skinned knuckle as a kid making potato pancakes!
At the back are also directions for the spinning “dreidel” game, with its use of the Hanukkah gelt of “chocolate gold coins,” raisins, nuts and pennies.
I loved Publishers Weekly take on this book when it opined:
A family-oriented book designed
to impart traditions.
This is a great read aloud for young families striving to emphasize why a tradition such as Hanukkah continues its importance in Jewish households today, and the historical perspective of why it is commemorated in many family traditions that are remembered each year – and upheld.
Happy Hanukkah!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a very happy 2015
Jill Weber
Christmas Tree Farm
By Ann Purmell; illustrated by Jill Weber
Like millions of other families across the country we were one of those that purchased one of the 25-30 million REAL Christmas trees hauled home atop car tops or dragged home this year.
There are 350 million Christmas tree currently growing on Christmas tree farms in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Society! The trees have their own society, yet!
We bought ours at a family tree farm run for generations by Ed Dart and a group of relatives and workers in the town of Southold, New York. As soon as you drive in, there is a cozy outdoor fire sending the welcoming smell of wood burning to your nostrils. Ah… Added to this is the scent of warming cider and hot cocoa to make the hunt for the perfect tree into a perfect adventure for the whole family. Step into a 200 year-old barn and you’ll see fresh wreaths being fashioned from greens, holly and such that are harvested on this tree farm.
But the adventure is over till next year, right? Not for Ed Dart and company. In fact it’s just the beginning of prep for NEXT Christmas and the eager families that have found their tree at his family’s farm for years! And tree growers start early so the cycle of tree growing can continue from year to year; and in a way that is respectful of the environment.
When I picked up “Christmas Tree Farm”, I remembered Ed Dart and the other growers across this country that make Christmas trees a reality in homes either with lofty furs in a great room or small table top trees tucked in a corner.
Ann Purmell has written a picture book for kids that will explain the beauty AND hard that goes on before the owner/Grandpa in “The Christmas Tree Farm”, switches on the glowing Christmas lights, posts the OPEN sign and swings open the doors of The Christmas Tree Hut. What has proceeded this magic moment is a year-long effort by some very dedicated people who value what they do.
Thanksgiving through Christmas sees the coming to fruition of their long hours of planting, pruning, trimming and tagging trees as to size and type. Some are spruce, pine or fir. “Some of these are older than Grandpa,” as Ms. Purmell points out.
It’s November, and Grandpa and his two young helpers are sizing up the current crop of trees as to which ones will be felled this year and sold to families for the coming season. Yet, always near the felled tree is planted a new seedling that will continue the growing cycle. Good to know!
Ms. Weber’s drawings are a picture postcard perfect renderings of the farm with families wandering through the woods for their prized and plump tree. Eager eyes and gloved fingers are seen running here and there pointing at and sizing up each tree till the big decision is reached.
What most families do not realize, and what Ms. Purmell carefully narrates in word and picture, is the year long process starting in spring that brought the Christmas trees to this moment and to these families. Hundreds of seedlings arrive in the spring about the size of an adult hand. Some of these planted seedlings will be lost to disease, insects rabbits and deer and so many more must be planted than will make it into full adult trees.
Summer sees the trees with shaggy coats in need of a trim that shapes them into Christmas tree perfection.
Grandpa has a long pole with different colored rings at progressive heights that show how tall a tree is and how much it will cost. The tallest are seven feet tall and it takes more than 15 years for it to grow that tall!
Young readers will love the scene as we peek in the window of the tree farm as it closes on Christmas Eve and the family decorates their own tree. AND one outside is filled with popcorn and cranberries, birdseed wreaths and suet filled stars for the animals.
Ms. Purmell has a whole page identifying Christmas trees of all types and her last page is filled with Christmas Tree Lore, interesting tidbits of info for kids, and a timeline tracing the history of the Christmas tree.
This book makes me want to go and revisit Ed Dart and his Christmas Tree Farm in January, and see what’s doing – and thank him for growing our family tree. Some that we bought will be replanted at our farm so we get to watch the growth process ourselves.
If you read this, “Thanks Ed!” Below is a link to Ed’s Farm or I’m sure your family has a favorite of its own!
http://www.dartstreefarm.com/info.html
