Lots of Latkes

September 22, 2003
Lanton's (Daddy's Chair) bland paper-over-board tale asks children to identify with its elderly characters, one of whom (Rivka Leah) invites four others to a Hanukkah party and asks each to bring something to go along with the latkes she'll be serving. Moshe, who has a cow, plans to make sour cream; Chana, who tends an orchard, signs up for the apple sauce; and so on. Moshe's cow kicks over the cream; Chana's apples all prove rotten; and so on once again, until all four friends, not wanting to show up empty-handed, present Rivka Leah with their own batches of latkes. Redenbaugh's (Button, Bucket, Sky) illustrations are inconsistent in their characterizations, and nearly as flat as the plotting. Ages 3-8.

October 1, 2003
K-Gr 3-Long ago in a faraway village, an old woman invites her friends to a Hanukkah dinner. Each guest plans to bring something to share-sour cream, applesauce, fish, and jelly doughnuts-but a series of mishaps results in each of them contributing latkes instead. The friends have a good time anyway, celebrating the holiday with a dreidel, songs, dancing -and lots of latkes. Cartoon illustrations in soft colors are appropriate for the lighthearted story. Use this as a read-aloud in library, family, and Jewish school settings.-V. W.

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2004
It is a familiar theme: a group of friends are invited to a latkes dinner the first night of Hanukkah and asked to contribute side dishes. For one reason or another the neighbors' best intentions fail and they all bring latkes. The soft color illustrations set the story in a small village of the past. This is a pleasant, if undistinguished, addition for large collections. A recipe is included.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)