All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah
Based on the Classic Books by Sydney Taylor
By Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Schartz & Wade Books, 2018. Picture Book

In 1912 in New York’s Lower East Side there lived a family—an all-of-a-kind family (because they had all one kind of child with five girls). On the particular day when this story takes place it is the first night of Hanukkah and all the girls are helping to prepare the Hanukkah latkes (except for four-year-old Gertie who is too little to help). Everyone is excited—especially Gertie. Though Gertie becomes more and more distraught when she isn’t allowed to help peel or grate the potatoes, help chop the onions, or finally fry the latkes. Finally with a bit of foot-stomping (and exasperation on her mother’s part), Gertie is sent to her room. There she is torn between the feelings of wanting the others to miss her and her missing the fun of the evening. When her Papa comes home he figures out a solution to help Gertie feel like she too can help make the evening a special one. This is a brilliant book based on the classic stories with a wonderful set of illustrations by the award-winning Paul O. Zelinsky. This book is sure to become a classic on the Hanukkah shelf.

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