How I saved Hanukkah (Paperback)

~ (Author) "We shouldn't have come to school when there's a sub." my best friend, Lucy, was saying..." (more)
Key Phrases: Auntie Eva, Miss Marla, Christmas Eve (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4?Hanukkah is fast approaching, but to fourth-grader Marla Feinstein, it doesn't seem like a very big deal. While all of her neighbors are festooning their houses with Christmas lights and decorations, Marla has to make do with a plain menorah, a plastic dreidel that won't spin, a mom who doesn't even wrap her Hanukkah presents, and a dad who is out of town on a business trip. With her friend Lucy, Maria embarks on a mission to make Hanukkah fun, and soon has her mother making latkes, her little brother winning at dreidel, and the whole neighborhood dancing the hora. The fun and breezy tone and affectionately drawn characters will appeal to readers who will find themselves learning a bit about the meaning of Hanukkah in the bargain. DeGroat's pen-and-ink illustrations complement this warm and funny story.?EM
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. Marla Feinstein, the only Jewish kid in her fourth-grade class, feels like an outsider--especially as everyone gears up for Christmas, including her best friend, Lucy. To make matters worse, her father is out of town, and her mother doesn't take Hanukkah seriously. The best she can hope for is a few candles, a couple of unwrapped gifts, and a dreidel that doesn't spin. Once Marla decides to find out what Hanukkah is really about, however, things turn around. Starting with a genuine dreidel game, her family begins to catch the spirit. Her mom even makes her first latkes (potato pancakes), which leads to a big Hanukkah party for all of their friends--Jewish and non-Jewish alike. A gem of a story, in which a child's persistent curiosity is the means for introducing readers to the background and traditions that make up a delightful holiday. Illustrations by Diane deGroat add to the fun. Helen Rosenberg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1st edition (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043935644X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439356442
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,581,620 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book for third graders, November 15, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How I Saved Hanukkah (Hardcover)

I liked this book because it was exciting and I learned al lot about Hanukkah. The book is not about eight nights of presents but the other things about Hanukkah, like why we play with driedels. I am in third grade and this book was just at my level.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing Witty Enough For An Adult, November 25, 2003

By	Heaher Deitchman "studioart" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: How I Saved Hanukkah (Hardcover)

I found this story to be witty and full of humor. The story of Marla practically mimicked my life in a small town with no other Jews. The unknown holiday I celebrated and the massive overly merchandised holiday of my neighbors and friends was exactly what I felt. Marla's character was me, seventeen years ago.