Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story [Paperback]

Naomi Howland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Sadie and her four little brothers are very poor and always hungry. On the first night of Chanukah, Sadie performs a generous act, and in turn receives a frying pan that cooks up sizzling hot, golden latkes on command. Sadie tells her brothers never to use the magic pan, but when she goes out one afternoon, the mischievous boys can't resist. They remember the words to start the pan cooking . . . but what were the words to make it stop? This humorous tale of generosity and greed is accompanied by bright, cheerful illustrations depicting a traditional Russian village. An author's note and a recipe for Sadie's latkes are included.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like most of this season's Hanukkah offerings, Howland's (ABCDrive!) uses the holiday as flavoring rather than the principal ingredient. Her agreeable outing combines a classic fairy tale plot with a shtetl setting and a touch of the Sorcerer's Apprentice. A girl does a kind deed for an old woman, who gives her a magic pan that will fry up latkes. Her brothers overhear the secret words that will start the pan cooking, but not those that will stop it (the words are "A great miracle happened there," to which dreidels also refer). Howland serves up friendly, folk-ish art, containing the excesses of the plot with down-to-earth depictions of people and village. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Sadie turns over the firewood she has gathered to a poor old woman she meets in the woods and is given a magic latke pan in return for her kindness. She is told the secret words to make it work and warned, "Only you may use my gift." The girl has been left alone during Chanukah to care for her four younger brothers and she puts the pan to good use by making piles of the delicious potato pancakes. She warns the boys not to use the pan while she goes out to invite the old woman to share their bounty on the last night of Chanukah, but of course the moment she leaves, they get busy making latkes and predictable chaos ensues. Howland's gouache and colored-pencil artwork is done in a Russian folk-art style to reflect the setting. This appealing story, told in the spirit of Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona (S & S, 1975), is perfect to share with a large group. A latke recipe and a note on the origins of Chanukah round out this holiday treat.-T.M.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (September 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061849295X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618492954
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a wonderful little play, December 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat (Hardcover)

We have a very small religious school. Only 9 children from kindergarten through 6th grade. Wanted to do something with them for Chanukah. Found Latkes, Latkes. Read it to them. They loved it! I rewrote it as a play and they performed it. The parents and other members of the congregation loved it! The latkes luncheon after the play was the sour cream and applesauce for the day! I was extremely pleased with this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for young readers., February 14, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat (Hardcover)

This Chanukah is an excellent story for the season. Sadie and her four younger brothers are poor and always hungry, but Sadie is given a frying pan that cooks up latkes on demand. When her brothers become involved in the find, trouble ensues.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice addition to the Hanukkah treasury of books, November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat (Hardcover)

What can I add? The reviews above give you the proper feeling for the story. Best of all are the female heroes, and the good deeds performed. Just in case you happen to obtain a magic pan of your own, the secret words to stop it are the translation of "Nes Gadol Haya Sham"