“All the days in which Sarah lived, the doors of the entrance [to her tent] were open to the wind (ruah)….  And all the days in which Sarah lived, there was a blessing sent through the dough [with which she baked]…. All the days in which Sarah lived, there was a light burning from one Shabbat evening to the next Shabbat evening….” (Genesis Rabbah 80:16 on Genesis 24:67).

So it seems that Adonai and the angels may not have been the first visitors to the tent of Abraham and Sarah, certainly they were not the last.  The midrash continues that when Isaac took Rebekkah as his wife, these same mystical rituals continued.

Welcoming Guests/Hachnasat Orchim is a wonderful mitzvah that allows us to meet new people and share our traditions with others. This time of year, with Hanukkah beginning on the evening of December 20, provides a perfect opportunity to practice this mitzvah with family, friends and neighbors.

The following books are wonderful examples of this delightful mitzvah:

Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives. Written by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard, ©2004. Harcourt, Inc.  Ages 3-6.  In five short, simple chapters, Bubbaville becomes abuzz with the imminent arrival of the relatives. The house must be rearranged. All the best dishes must be cooked. There is no escape, even when Bubba and Beau try to hide in their favorite mud hole. What are a baby and her buddy dog supposed to do?

The Snow Blew Inn. Written by Dian Curtis Regan. Illustrated by Doug Cushman, ©2011. Holiday House. Ages 3-6. Emma has made plans to have a sleep over with her cousin, Abby. But a snow storm arrives before Abby, bringing with it stranded travelers who need a place to stay for the night. Every space in the tiny inn is taken – even Emma’s bedroom! Will there be room for Abby and her mother if they arrive?

The Paper Crane. Written and Illustrated By Molly Bang, ©1985. William Morrow & Company. Ages 5-8.  A hectic, award winning restaurant sat on a busy road, until one day a new highway was built that bypassed the restaurant. No one came anymore, and the restaurant was empty most of the time.  One day an old man stopped in for food. The restaurant owner, delighted to see a customer at last, fed him generously, even though the stranger had no money. In payment, the old man folded a paper napkin into the shape of a crane. With this simple gift, the restaurant’s future changed.

A Song for Lena. Written by Hilary Horder Hippely.  Illustrated by Leslie Baker, ©1996. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Ages 5-8.  Lena’s Grandma makes delicious apple strudel. While she makes it, she hums a beautiful song to remind her of her childhood. As Lena helps her make the strudel, Grandma tells her the story of a traveler, of hospitality and of a special unexpected gift.

The Stranger. Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Company, © 1986 Ages 7-10.  In late summer, early fall, Farmer Bailey accidently hits a man with his truck. The man is unable to speak and does not know who he is. He stays with the family for a few weeks until he suddenly remembers who he is.

Skellig. By David Almond. Laurel Leaf Books, © 1998. Ages 9-12. When Michael moves into a new house in a new neighborhood he hopes that life for him and his family will change for the better, his ailing baby sister will get well and he will do better in school. Nothing like that happens, until he finds a strange person/creature/thing in his dilapidated garage.

The Arrival. Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan. Arthur A. Levine Books, © 2006. Ages 11-15. In this graphic novel, a man must leave his wife and young daughter to emigrate to a new country, find a job and start a new life before sending for them..

I try to keep the “walls of my tent” open as much as possible.  Whether serving my family of four or a house full of guests, I take joy in each moment. Each individual has a story to tell, an experience to share and all together my life has been made richer by each encounter. As you read these books, discuss them with your children using the “Speak Volumes” guide, the questions and activities will provide you with many opportunities to welcome guests during this special holiday-filled month.

Happy Reading,

Kathy B.

©2010 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved.
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From award winning picture books to read before bedtime to the latest,  hottest YA novel to a non-fiction title about a subject one of them had suddenly developed a passion for, books were the icing on the cake of our gift giving. The interesting thing about those books…while there was a bit of complaining, I have noticed that many of them are still sitting on their bookshelves even as they head off to college.

So whether you want to make one of the eight Hanukkah nights a book night or spread them over all eight nights of the holiday, I encourage you to build your childrens’ libraries with excellent literature. They will thank you for it…someday.

Let me recommend two titles that will last throughout the year,  are great for family reading time  and make wonderful family gifts.

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JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible

Retold by Ellen Frankel. Illustrated by Avi Katz.  © 2009 Jewish Publication Society

Ellen Frankel and JPS have decided to put their efforts to the task of providing the younger members of the Jewish community with a Children’s Bible they can truly call their own. The stories are well told and very true to the original texts. The selection of stories is excellent and hits all major Biblical highlights.  Avi Katz’s illustrations are breathtaking and bring each story to life with vibrant colors, vivid detailing and exceptional expression.With great thought, careful editing, deliberate selection, and fabulous artwork, The JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible will certainly become a classic.

A Year of Jewish Stories: 52 Tales for Young Children and Their Families

By Grace Maisel and Samantha Shubert. Illustrated by Tammy L. Keiser.      © 2004  URJ Press.

In this  collection of stories from all over the Jewish world and throughout Jewish history, the authors provide an excellent overview of the wit, wisdom and most of all values that have enabled the Jewish people to survive over these centuries. With enough stories to enjoy one for every Shabbat evening, this is sure to be an oft-requested volume on the family bookshelf.

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I hope you will enjoy both of these titles in your own homes and share them with  others during your holiday season. And while you are at it, why not donate a book to Toys for Tots, your local homeless shelter or a children’s hospital. I know it would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Reading!

Kathy B.

In Hanukkah Around the World, stories about families in eight different countries illustrate these diverse traditions. A map indicating the location of the country and city where the story takes place and a recipe for the delicious food described accompanies each story.  Colorful and charming illustrations complement the characters and their traditions and provide an idea of how the food looks.

Books like this provide wonderful ideas for classroom and home Hanukkah celebrations. I was intrigued by the connection drawn between Tisha B’Av and Hanukkah by the Jews of Italy and attracted to the idea of honoring only women heroes on the seventh night of Hanukkah as practiced in Tunisia. There are, of course, the usual kinds of information here – the Hanukkah story, the dreidel game, etc. The back of the book holds a “Hanukkah Potpourri” with ten extra Hanukkah customs and a Glossary containing meanings for any Hebrew or foreign words used.  NOTE: A geographical error. On the map for Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the country at the top of the page is identified as the “Soviet Union” which no longer exists.

Grade Range: 3rd – 5^th Grades

© 2007 Kar-Ben Publishing

What a delightful, beautiful, charming and multicultural Hanukkah story. Aunt Luisa is from Mexico and is celebrating Hanukkah and has invited her niece, Isobel, to celebrate with her at her home.  Apparently, in Mexico they celebrate the Hanukkah Moon, which is the Rosh Hodesh moon during Hanukkah. While Isobel is not so sure she is going to get the Hanukkah, she wants during her visit, in the end she gets a Hanukkah she never dreamed of.

This charming picture book is filled with magic – “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” in Spanish, a Hanukkah piñata, respect for animals, the story of Rosh Hodesh. Gorgeous, warm, earth-tone illustrations wrap you in the story. The text is engaging and enchanting while educating the reader to new customs.

Hanukkah Moon would make a wonderful classroom reading time event followed by learning about the Hanukkah customs of other countries (combine it with Hanukkah Around the World.) A Family Education day where students share the customs in their own families would be another idea this book could generate.

While I often feel the world could do with less Hanukkah titles, this is a unique and special addition to any Jewish bookshelf.

Grade Level: K-3

Jewish educators, teachers, librarians…this book proves that arts and crafts lessons are well worth your time and energy! Here is a wondrous book about a marine ecologist, doing research in Antarctica. Because it is summer time there, the sun never sets.  Nevertheless, it is the first night of Hanukkah, he is missing his family and wondering how they are celebrating the holiday. While diving in deep, dark and very cold (28-33 degree Fahrenheit) water, he suddenly has an idea. He will create a Menorah out of sea urchins and take a picture of it. It appears that having a Ph.D. in Biology elicits and enhances the creative juices of one’s Judaism.

Seriously, though, this is an exceptional and interesting story about taking your Judaism with you wherever you go – even to the literal ends of the earth. It is about letting nature inspire you with its lessons and looking to the lessons of the Jewish people for insight as well. The text is age appropriate and sensitive.  The photographs are fantastic and bring the Antarctic environment up close and personal. I especially like the picture of the divers sitting on the edge of the ice as the penguin walks by.  I felt completely frozen looking at the pictures of the divers underwater.

This is a fun, unique and interesting Hanukkah/Science book for every library.

Grade Range: K – 4^th Grades

©1985  Holiday House

If I was stuck on a desert island during Hanukkah and could only bring one children’s Hanukkah book with me, I would bring this book. Classic, timeless and always enjoyable, great for reading out loud or reading alone, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is hands down my favorite, number one Hanukkah book.

It is the story of Hershel of Ostropol, a famous character in Jewish folklore, who arrives at a poor village one cold evening. It happens to be the first night of Hanukkah and Hershel is hoping for hospitality, warmth and food. Instead, he finds fear, cold and hunger. The villagers inform Hershel that goblins have taken over and will not allow any celebrations, especially not Hanukkah celebrations. How Hershel proceeds to outwit the goblins and reclaim Hanukkah is the delightful and whimsical center of this story.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a Caldecott Honor book, so the illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman are magnificently drawn. Eric Kimmel is one of the best storytellers in the children’s book world, so the story is eloquent. Yes, there are demons and goblins–even Hershel is scared witless. The kids will love it, and you will too. This is a wonderful book for family reading time, while the Hanukkah candles burn.

Grades K-3^rd

Note: Portions of this review appeared on JBooks.com in 2007.

© 2008 Blue Apple Books

This is a unique Hanukkah book for a number of reasons. First, for each night of Hanukkah there is a lovely Haiku which charmingly addresses – as only a Haiku can – a specific Hanukkah custom. You and your students, or family members, will enjoy counting the syllables and discovering if the author got the 5-7-5 rhythm correct in each poem.

Second, each page of the book is cut in such a way as to reveal the candles as they become lit on the menorah each night.   Last, but by no means least, with each turn of the page a new, exquisitely drawn piece of artwork reveals itself. Each illustration is brightly colored and richly detailed with an element of the Hanukkah tradition.

A beautiful addition to your Hanukkah library.

Grade Level: K-3