The Eight Nights of Chanukah [Hardcover]

Lesléa Newman (Author), Elivia Savadier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | Grade Level: P and up

Incorporating the popular music of 12 Days of Christmas into a Chanukah book, this is perfect for children of any religious orientation.

"On the first night of Chanukah..." begins the familiar tune in a book that sees the wondrous days of Chanukah through the eyes of young child. The child's family grows bigger and bigger as the holiday gets closer and closer. Each night, one new item or person is added to the celebration-and there is always a present for every child in the room!

The accumulating text makes this book fun to read (and sing!) aloud while the bright and cheerful illustrations allow a young reader to count each object added. Educational and a joy for adults and children, The Eight Nights of Chanukah is a wonderful book for the whole family to share.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. A twist on a familiar carol finds a pink-cheeked, yellow-capped child on a visit to Grandma's, clapping hands as he (or she) sees not a partridge in a pear tree, but a Chanukah "present waiting for me." On each of the seven remaining holiday nights a new item is added to the celebratory countdown: "On third night of Chanukah / I clap my hands to see / Three challahs / Two Maccabees / And a present waiting for me." Adults may want to steer children to the glossary to understand unfamiliar terms such as gelt and Maccabees; their meanings aren't always evident from the art. In addition, children wanting to count the objects mentioned in the rhyme will need to look closely, as the pictures become increasingly busy as family and friends gather to celebrate. But the familiar rhythm of the words is contagious, and Savadier's freewheeling-art style--at once expressive, mischievous, and joyous--gives a palpable sense of the warm, loving togetherness the holiday inspires in everyone----young and old. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Leslea Newman is the author of fifty books for both adults and children. She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, a Parent's Silver Medal, and a Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Book Award. She lives in Massachusetts. Additional information about Ms. Newman and her work may be found at www.lesleakids.com.

Elivia Savadier has illustrated a number of books for children, including Jewish Holidays All Year Round, which was a National Jewish Book Award Winner and named a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Religious Book. Savadier was also twice the recipient of the Sidney Taylor Award, given each year by the Jewish Library Association for the best children's book on Judaica. She has also received an American Booksellers's Pick of the List award. She lives in Massachusetts. Additional information about Ms. Savadier and her work may be found at www.savadierstudio.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081095785X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810957855
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS, the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY, the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK, and the children's books A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, DONOVAN'S BIG DAY, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet book with illustrations of multi-cultural families, November 2, 2010

By 

forager18 (nashville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eight Nights of Chanukah (Hardcover)

The happy extended family on the cover (and inside) shows a lovely range of skin tone. Bliss to the parent trying to show books where a range of skin color is a given.

True, the format of the book borrows from the familiar pattern of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but if parents can resist the urge to actually sing that particular tune while they read, most kids won't get the reference (especially kids who grow up in homes and schools that do not celebrate Christmas).

This is a counting book above all, and every page encourages children to count the objects named.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars nothing of value, September 27, 2005

By 

Rita - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eight Nights of Chanukah (Hardcover)

As with Runaway Dreidel, Ms Newman takes her inspiration for a Chanukah book from Xmas, not a good place to start writing a good quality book for Jewish children. So, it is not surprising that the book contains nothing of value. Neither the text nor the illustrations feel like they depict a Jewish family at Chanukah.