Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale

by Eric A. Kimmel, Matthew Trueman (Illustrator)

Overview

Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear. Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night. By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far. Perhaps it is not too much to hope for one more, he thinks, as he lights all of the candles in the menorah. The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all. This fanciful Hanukkah tale—like none you've ever read before—celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love. A retelling of the ancient Hanukkah story is included on the last page.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368004404
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	08/23/2016
Sold by:	DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE -EBKS
Format:	eBook
File size:	33 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel (www.ericakimmel.com) was born in Brooklyn, New York and wanted to be an author ever since kindergarten, when he first learned of their existence. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Education and taught college courses in language arts, children's literature, and storytelling until he retired from teaching in 1993 to become a full-time writer. His first book came out in 1974. Since then he has published over fifty titles, many of which have won numerous state awards, appeared on school and library recommended lists, and won prestigious awards such as the Caldecott Honor Medal (Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins) and the Sydney Taylor Picture Book Award (The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster). Eric and his wife Doris live in Portland, Oregon.

Matthew Trueman (www.matthewtrueman.com) grew up in northern Italy and returned to the States to attend the Ringling School of Art and Design, where he earned a B.F.A. in illustration. He has done magazine and advertising work and has illustrated several award-winning children's books, including When the Chickens Went on Strike, Noah's Mittens, and A Picture for Marc. He works from a studio in his home by the Delaware River, where he lives with his wife, Anna, and their daughter, Mina.

Editorial Reviews

…Kimmel delivers…a loony Hanukkah story about a Russian immigrant stranded by a shipwreck on an iceberg with a lady polar bear…Trueman's humans have blocky fingers, protruding ears and round noses…while the bear and backgrounds are luminous, majestic and painterly. It's a lot of fun.

The New York Times Book Review - Marjorie Ingall

09/15/2014
For Simon, a young Jewish immigrant headed for America, life is one miracle after another—nine, in fact, which correspond to the total number of candles on a fully lit menorah. The mounting improbabilities—which include Simon surviving on an iceberg after a Titanic-like sinking, thanks to the help of a latke-loving polar bear that feeds him sushi-style salmon (“A little salty. Like lox,” Simon notes)—are handled with matter-of-fact aplomb by Kimmel (Hanukkah Bear). But Trueman’s (One Beetle Too Many) gorgeous scenes of arctic nights are the book’s high point, rendered in deep blues, silvery white, and the golden glow of candles. An author’s note about the holiday concludes this engaging and visually arresting book. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Michèle Manasse, New Work Illustration. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR THE GOLEM'S LATKES

"Kimmel s storytelling is effective in its use of suspense, humor, trope and repetition, making a fine read-aloud holiday treat."——Kirkus Reviews

PRAISE FOR HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS

1990 Caldecott Honor Book
1989 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book
1990 National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book
1992 Colorado Children's Book Award
1992 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award—-

PRAISE FOR HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS

"[Hershel] successfully uses his wits to oust the eight creatures haunting the old synagogue and who are preventing the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. Kimmel provides a humorous, entertaining and just slightly scary story for all young readers."—-Children's Literature

PRAISE FOR ZIGAZAK! A MAGICAL HANUKKAH NIGHT

"In the most imaginative Hanukkah book this season, Kimmel (Gershon's Monster) peoples an old-world town with mischievous demons, easily alarmed villagers and a wise and crafty rabbi. The brio of the storytelling doesn't shy from a moral: 'Sparks of goodness exist in all things, even in devils' tricks.'"——Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

10/01/2014
K-Gr 2—Combining elements of the classic immigrant tale with magical realism and a dash of Titanic, this story follows young Simon as he leaves his family behind in the old country, sailing on a ship to America. Packed in his knapsack are a menorah, candles, a dreidel, and latkes to celebrate Hanukkah during the crossing. When the ship strikes an iceberg on the first night of the holiday, fatherless Simon gives up his seat in a lifeboat to a man whose little boy is waiting for him in New York. As the ship sinks, Simon jumps onto the iceberg where he lights his menorah and hopes for a miracle, "just as one happened for the Maccabees long ago." Suddenly a polar bear appears out of the darkness and pulls itself onto the iceberg, eating the latkes and other food Simon offers her. Over the next several days, it catches fish for Simon and cuddles up with him at night to keep him warm. On the last night of Hanukkah, Simon lights the last of his candles, shares his last latke with the bear, and hopes for one more miracle, which arrives in the form of a rescue boat, sent from a passing ship that has seen his fully lit menorah. The icy dark night is masterfully depicted in a watercolor palette of rich blues punctured by brilliant stars and the warm glow of the candles. The iceberg is given substance and depth by the use of what appears to be folded paper that has been crumpled and painted, while the hefty figure of the polar bear is worked in gouache softened with pastel. With its fine storyteller's language and themes of selflessness and miracles, this is a book that is sure to bring pleasure and meaning to Hanukkah celebrations. An author's note on the history of the holiday is included.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2014-08-12
A polar bear, a brave boy and an early-20th-century shipwreck play equal roles in this Hanukkah story filled with its own set of miracles. Simon's mother lovingly packs food for his voyage to America, including key elements so he can observe Hanukkah: "A little menorah, a box of candles, matches, a dreidel, and plenty of latkes." The ship, badly damaged after hitting a giant iceberg, begins to sink. Simon generously gives up his spot on a lifeboat to a bearded man in a fur coat desperate to reach his son in New York. Alone, Simon leaps from the ship's bow onto the iceberg and wonders if on this first night of Hanukkah a miracle might happen to save his life. Soon after, a polar bear climbs the iceberg. Though fearful, Simon shares food and lights the menorah—then sleeps cozily in the warmth of the bear's fur. This sharing continues for a miraculous seven days until a passing ship's crew rescues Simon on the last night of Hanukkah. As in the newly revised Hanukkah Bear, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (2013), Kimmel effectively uses the large, furry beast to blend themes of miracles, faith and an innocent's altruism. Trueman's illustrations, a combination of collage, crushed paper cutouts and acrylics in icy blue tones, create glittery scenes of a desolate ocean offset by warm yellow glows from the menorah candles. His bear is particularly charming. Old World storytelling in a sparkling, novel setting—a delight. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews