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Yitzi and the Giant Menorah

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Yitzi and the Giant Menorah

eBook(NOOK Kids)

$9.99

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eBook(NOOK Kids)
$9.99

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Overview

On the eve of Hanukkah, the People of Chelm have received a special gift from the Mayor of Lublin. A giant menorah in which they place in the square for all the admire. Every night, the villagers meet to watch the lighting of a candle on the menorah. And every night, the villagers ponder What is the most fitting way to thank the Mayor of Lublin?

The villagers come up with idea after idea, but their gift never quite reaches the Mayor. What will they do? Finally, on the last night of Hanukkah, Yitzi has an idea to orchestrate the surprise thank you gift.

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About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770498143
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	41 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

RICHARD UNGAR balances the worlds of law, art, and writing. A practicing lawyer by profession, he devotes his leisure hours to painting and writing. He has studied painting at the Ontario College of Art and Design. He also took a five-month sabbatical to paint in France and Jerusalem. His work can be found in private collections in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington, and Denver. He lives with his wife, two sons and cat in Toronto. The author lives in Toronto, ON.

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Editorial Reviews

09/26/2016
The mayor of Lublin presents another village with a giant menorah for its town square: “Eight dazzling branches flowed from a magnificent stem.” Such magnanimity demands an appropriate thank you, but what? Since the village in question is Chelm and, according to Jewish legend, populated by fools, finding the answer turns into a giddy, harebrained obsession. After several townspeople fail, young Yitzi devises a plan that not only works but also gets the Chelmites back in touch with the beauty and joy of Hanukkah. When Ungar’s (Even Higher) compositions are tightly focused, his signature folkloric style and swirling pastels make for some stunning, if earnest (given the subject matter) images. But too many of the pictures lack interesting framings or narrative momentum and can feel more like a busy array of pretty colors. Ages 5–9. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR Yitzi and the Giant Menorah:

“.... a pleasant addition to Hanukkah collections.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Ungar’s… compositions are tightly focused, his signature folkloric style and swirling pastels make for some stunning, if earnest (given the subject matter) images.” —Publishers Weekly

“Successfully blending Jewish folklore and distinctive visuals, this holiday title shines bright. A must-purchase for holiday collections.” —School Library Journal

"The writing is vivid and engaging.” —CM Magazine

“Ungar’s busy watercolor illustrations bleed whimsically together. The resulting magical overlay drives home the holiday message…” —Booklist

“The text’s conversational storytelling style invites readers (or listeners) to settle in, while wildly bright watercolor monoprints, often balanced by black-and-white spot art on facing pages, reflect both the Chelmites’ confusion and their sense of wonder.” —The Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

10/01/2016
K-Gr 2—This Hanukkah story takes place in the fabled Polish town of Chelm, a shtetl inhabited by Jewish residents whose logic and behavior are known to be a bit foolish. The mayor of nearby Lublin has given the town a menorah as large as a tree to light in the village square, and the Chelmites spend the first seven nights of Hanukkah attempting, and failing, to find a suitable way to express their gratitude. When Rifka the cook asks Shmulik the herring vendor to deliver a special batch of latkes to the mayor, Shmulik can't help but eat them on his way. Hayim the water carrier declares that he will bring the mayor two barrels of sparkly white snow, but when it melts, he wonders who stole it. It is young Avram who comes up with the perfect solution, urging the villagers to cart the menorah to the top of a hill on the last night of Hanukkah, where its light shines all the way to Lublin. Ungar's watercolor monoprints have a Chagall-like feel and are filled with vibrant color and humor, adding to the overall appeal. A description of the story of Hanukkah is appended. VERDICT Successfully blending Jewish folklore and distinctive visuals, this holiday title shines bright. A must-purchase for holiday collections.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2016-08-24
The good folk of Chelm ponder the perfect thank you for a Hanukkah gift.Just before Hanukkah, the mayor of Lublin gives the Chelmites a wonderful present: a large menorah to light on each of the eight nights of the festival. Much discussion goes into deciding upon the best way to acknowledge this gift. The first suggestion is to bring a bundle of potato latkes along with applesauce to the mayor. Alas, the bearer of this gift gets hungry and scarfs down all the latkes while his horse slurps up the applesauce. The second suggestion is to bring the mayor “two big barrelfuls of special Chelm snow.” Alas, the snow melts. The next suggestion is to present the mayor with a hand-carved dreidel. Alas, the Chelmite carver gets hopelessly lost and returns home—with the dreidel. Finally, the villagers, all white, listen to Yitzi, a small boy who has been trying to join in the deliberations. The gift, displayed on the last night of Hanukkah, is perfect and lights up the sky. Ungar’s tale draws upon the characteristic Chelm folklore about villagers who are good of heart but not good in the thinking department. His full-bleed watercolor monotone prints pulse with kinetic swirls of blue and gold, recalling Chagall. Not laugh-out-loud funny but a pleasant addition to Hanukkah collections. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)

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