Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Chanukah Lights Everywhere
Illustrator: Melissa Iwai
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Harcourt, 2006 ISBN: 978-0152056759
A little boy and his family are getting ready for Chanukah. Visitors will be coming to see them over the next eight days and there is much to prepare. The little boy gets out the box of candles and places it by the menorah so that everything will be ready for the next day.
On the first night the family light their first candle and outside a young moon shines in the sky, looking much like a candle itself. On the second night the family light two candles and as they play with their dreidel they see two beams of light shine into the house – Grandpa has arrived.
Every day the family adds another candle to their menorah and every day the boy discovers that his life and his world are full of lights of all kinds. There are the lights of other menorahs burning in other homes; there are Christmas candles burning in the windows of neighboring houses; there are the shining stars overhead which remind the little boy once again of the menorah candles. All these lights help the little boy feel connected and close to those around him and he knows in his heart that he is a part of something grand and special.
This wonderful book cleverly connects the candles in one family’s menorah with the lights that shine all around them. It is therefore a true celebration of The Festival of Lights capturing the essence of what this holiday should mean to all who celebrate it. At the back of the book the author includes further information about this holiday.
