The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

Rachel and her mother prepare for their annual Hanukkah party, expecting many guests to arrive for the celebration. When they realize they need more latkes, Rachel suggests asking their elderly neighbor Mrs. Greenberg to help. The story centers on Rachel's efforts to include Mrs. Greenberg in the festivities while respecting the neighbor's initial reluctance to join. Through the cooking of latkes and lighting of menorahs, Rachel persists in building a connection between her family's celebration and their neighbor next door. The book illuminates core values of community, tradition, and intergenerational relationships while teaching young readers about Hanukkah customs and celebrations. Linda Glaser's narrative, paired with Nancy Cote's illustrations, creates a warm portrayal of holiday gathering and neighborly kindness.

Readers appreciate this children's Hanukkah story for teaching values of community, sharing, and inclusion. Parents and teachers note it works well for explaining holiday traditions to both Jewish and non-Jewish children. Likes: - Clear explanations of Hanukkah customs and traditions - Illustrations depict diverse characters - Simple message about neighborly kindness - Details about making latkes interest young readers Dislikes: - Some find the plot predictable - A few mention the story moves slowly for younger children - Limited availability in libraries and bookstores Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (28 ratings) Reader comments: "Perfect for teaching children about sharing holiday traditions" - Amazon reviewer "The recipe at the end is a nice touch" - Goodreads reviewer "My kids asked to read it multiple times during Hanukkah" - Parent reviewer on Barnes & Noble

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🥔 Traditional potato latkes, like those featured in the story, became popular among Eastern European Jews in the 1800s after potatoes were introduced to the region. Before that, Hanukkah pancakes were made from cheese. ✡️ The book's themes of sharing and community reflect the actual Hanukkah tradition of "pirsumei nisa" - publicizing the miracle - which encourages Jews to share their celebration with others. 📚 Author Linda Glaser has written over 30 children's books, many of which focus on Jewish traditions and culture, helping to fill an important niche in multicultural children's literature. 🕯️ The menorah featured prominently in the story traditionally holds 9 candles - one for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah, plus the shamash (helper candle) used to light the others. 👥 The book's central character Rachel reflects the real-world experience of many Jewish families who live in predominantly non-Jewish neighborhoods, highlighting the importance of building bridges between different communities.