Hanukkah (Holidays, Festivals, & Celebrations)

PreS-Gr 1–Each book begins with a list of “Picture Words” related to the holiday, followed by a simple text combined with pictures to describe how people celebrate. Repetition of action words makes these books somewhat useful for beginning readers, e.g., “We hang the [lights]. We hang the [stockings].” However, as with many books for this audience, there is very little explanation of what these holidays are about aside from a minimal definition in the glossary. It is also notable that in Hanukkah, no mention is made of the oil that is central to the holiday. Large, clear photographs face each page of text. Aside from the appeal of the rebus format, these titles are merely additional.Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library© Copyright 2010.