Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah

by Linda Glaser, Nancy Cote (Illustrator)

Overview

Though it's the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel's family won't really be celebrating until next week. But Rachel wants to celebrate now, so she comes up wtih a good idea: she'll visit her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, and they can make latkes together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807552988
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	01/01/2004
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

"The energetic, cheerful illustrations and the simple and satisfying story make this a good book for holiday sharing."

School Library Journal

"Kids will be shaking their heads in wild amusement happy that Rachel's efforts do bring home the 'feel of Hanukkah.'"

Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Hanukkah is about candles, and gifts, and dreidels to spin, and latkes to eat. But what about the behind-the-scenes work necessary to produce all this fun? Finally, a realistic book that paints a picture of Rachel and the glorious mess she makes when she goes to celebrate Hanukkah with her elderly neighbor. Rachel's parents, you see, won't be hosting a party till the end of the week, and Rachel just can't wait that long for potato latkes. So she decides to let Mrs. Greenberg in on the fun, Mrs. Greenberg with her perfectly neat house that nobody ever messes up. After Rachel has many mishaps, most of which end of on the nice, clean floor or drifting around the beautiful, shiny room, finally Mrs. Greenberg gives up trying to clean up as they go along. She has just settled, exhausted, into an easy chair when Rachel's parents come to retrieve their daughter. You can imagine what they say when they see the colossal mess, portrayed in quite charming pictures! But all's well that ends well, and everyone pitches in to clean up while the latkes are frying. "Now this feels like Hanukkah!" beams Mrs. Greenberg. I think you'll agree. 2004, Whitman, Ages 6 to 8.
—Judy Chernak

Children's Literature

PreS-Gr 1-Although it's the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel's parents tell her there won't be any latkes until the relatives come to visit next week. Undeterred, the child goes over to the exceedingly tidy house of her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg (whom readers might remember from The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes [Albert Whitman, 1997]), where she convinces the woman to make latkes with her. Rachel proceeds to spill the grated potatoes, drop the egg, and more, resulting in a terrible mess. Her parents arrive home in time to help clean up, and they all celebrate the first night of Hanukkah together. The energetic, cheerful illustrations and the simple and satisfying story make this a good book for holiday sharing.-E. M. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

It's the first night of Hanukkah and Rachel, introduced in The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes (1997), is again looking to share it with her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg. Her parents have too much to do, too many errands to run, and only time to light the menorah for that night. Rachel resolves to stay with Mrs. Greenberg until her parents return and in the course of the afternoon, eager to experience the holiday's wonderful smell of fried potatoes in the warmth of a cozy kitchen, convinces her host to allow her to make latkes. Things get messier with each portion of the recipe as grated potatoes fall to the floor, eggs slip over the batter bowl, and spilled oil and flour add to the culinary disaster leaving Mrs. Greenberg exhausted in her living room and Rachel in a heap of trouble as her parents return. A quick, capable clean up and preparation of the meal by mom and dad finally gets the week-long celebration off with family and friend. Mixed-media folksy paintings of wintry scenes often with blue-toned backdrops illustrate the humorous and often predictable predicaments Rachel creates. Kids will be shaking their heads in mild amusement happy that Rachel's efforts do bring home the "feel of Hanukkah." (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews