Hanukkah Moon

Hanukkah Moon is a delightful colorful story to read to a small child or for an older child to read for himself. We learn about how Hanukkkah is celebrated in another culture and we see a heartwaraming variation thru a child's view. Very well written and illustrated.

This is my new favorite Chanukah book. My two year old daughter is still a bit too young to appreciate it but I know this book will be a favorite in years to come. It's a wonderful Chanukah story with a great focus. As well as having a great story, one could use the book as a guide to enrich ones own Chanukah celebrating. HANUKKAH MOON is a beautiful story about a girl's Chanukah Rosh Chodesh (the "Hanukkah Moon") celebrated with her artist/art teacher aunt. As well as being Jewish the girl and family are Hispanic American so it a great cultural diversity book as well. The aunt's artwork depicted in the story and illustrations themselves are a special delight.

I gave Hanukkah Moon to several of my grandchildren as Hanukkah gifts. They love the story and the illustrations. Even my 3 year old grandson asks me to read it over and over. I do believe the chocolate gold coins and the pinata sold him on the story. My older granddaughter, a very talented little artist, loved the illustrations. I highly recommend the book.

In Deborah Da Costa's delightful children's picture book, "Hanukkah Moon" (Kar-Ben Publishing, $17.95 hardcover, $7.95 paperback), little Isobel gets to visit with her Aunt Luisa who has recently moved to the United States from Mexico. Once there, Isobel learns that Jews from Latin America also celebrate "Januca" but with a few differences. Jewish and Latin American traditions are blended so that, for example, Isobel gets to hit a large piñata shaped like a dreidel. Isobel also learns of the magic of the Hanukkah moon which is the "luna nueva" or new moon that always appears during Hanukkah. [The full review first appeared in the El Paso Times.]

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views Kids (10/07) Have you ever heard of a Hanukkah Moon? You probably have heard of Hanukkah, but are you aware that there is a moon by the same name? Well, of course, the moon is just a plain moon. But what makes it special is that it comes at the same time as Hanukkah. Deborah Da Costa has created a beautiful picture book for children with a lot of details about this Jewish holiday. The illustrations by Gosia Mosz add to the delight of the storyline about a visit to Aunt Luisa's house. Aunt Luisa has just moved from Mexico. The explanation of Rosh Hodesh, and its meaning for women, is explored. This is an excellent way to explain some of the traditions and origin (how it started) in an easy-to-understand manner. The next time you look at the moon around Hanukkah, think that you are looking at "Hanukkah Moon."