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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/33866/full/33866/chanukah-reads-for-the-family/ <br /><br /> <b>Chanukah reads for the family</b> <br /> Wednesday, November 21, 2007 | by liz harris <br /><br /><p>Feel like cuddling with the kids for some holiday reading? Among a crop of new Chanukah offerings, three illustrate just how diverse kids' books can be.<br /><br /> My favorite was "The Best Hanukkah Ever." In telling how the Knoodle family (already a hint to the story's comical nature) celebrates one Chanukah, author Barbara Diamond Goldin delivers a worthy message, ever so lightly.<br /><br /> Her story begins the Saturday night before Chanukah. Papa Jack, Mama Pearl, Bubby Sady, teenager Shayna and her brother, Little Yekl, are seated round the dining room table, discussing the rabbi's cautionary words, said at services earlier that day. "It is hard to give the perfect gift, one that will be treasured forever," he told them.<br /><br /> The Knoodles ponder the rabbi's words and decide they would try to follow his advice and give each other fabulous presents.<br /><br /> The Knoodles are clearly religious — and lively. Papa wears a ponytail and rides a motorcycle. Yekl is rambunctious. Mama gets snappy sometimes. Shayna tends to be theatrical. And Bubby wobbles between sage and emotional.<br /><br /> As for the family's attempt to give each other "perfect" gifts, let's just say their efforts fall short — until they bring in the rabbi to straighten things out.<br /><br /> Avi Katz, house artist for Israel's Jerusalem Report, does a fabulous job bringing Goldin's story to life. His illustrations are animated, expressive and playful, making the book a joy to read.<br /><br /> "Bubbie and Zadie Come to My House: A Story for Hanukkah" has a more sedate tone — despite the fanciful nature of author Daniel Halevi Bloom's tale, about a magical couple who visit a girl's home year after year. <br /><br /> But between the story and pictures, there's a quiet sadness to this book. <br /><br /> The narrator reminisces about Bubbie and Zadie's first visit to her home, when she and her sister fed them fruit and told them what they knew about the Maccabees. The foursome then played dreidel games and sang Chanukah songs, and as the candles burned down and the visitors prepared to leave, everyone hugged and said goodbye. And then, as mysteriously as they had arrived, Bubbie and Zayde vanished into the night sky.<br /><br /> "When I knew that Bubbie and Zadie were really gone, at first I felt sad inside," the narrator says. "Whenever you love someone very much, it always makes you sad to see them go, but the joy you have shared will always be in your heart."<br /><br /> This new version of Bloom's 22-year-old book, freshened by a new publisher and illustrator, seeks to convey the glowing spirit of Chanukah. Israeli Alex Meilichson's Chagall-like illustrations are enchanting, but fall short of being joyful, as one would expect at Chanukah.<br /><br /> Bloom initially wrote the book as a salve to Jewish children at Christmas. Bubbie and Zayde hail from a tiny village in Alaska, and fly through the night air like Santa Claus. At the back of the book is an address where children can write to Bubbie and Zayde. <br /><br /> According to Bloom, the children's letters do get answered.<br /><br /> Finally, on a much sillier note, there's "Mr Mentch," by The Mamas. <br /><br /> Who these "mamas" are is anyone's guess, but no matter. It's the illustrator, Iosi Salem, who steals the show. Mr. Mentch, a little fish, and all his fellow underwater characters are adorable. Wacky and wise, they spin a crazy, colorful, feel-good tale. <br /><br /> Unfortunately, the Chanukah angle (which comes into play near the end of the story) is a s-t-r-e-t-c-h. The cynical side of me senses that this, the first in a series of "mentch-lich" books, was rushed to press in time for holiday sales. This is hardly a Chanukah story, but it is cute.<br /><br /> <br><br /><br /> <b>"The Best Hanukkah Ever"</b> by Barbara Diamond Goldin (32 pages, Marshall Cavendish Children, $16.99)<br /><br /> <b>"Bubbie and Zadie Come to My House: A Story for Hanukkah"</b> by Daniel Halevi Bloom (32 pages, Square One Publisher, $16.95)<br /><br /> <b>"Mr. Mentch"</b> by the Mamas (32 pages, Pitspopany, $9.95)</p> <p> </p>

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