Hanukkah 1-2-3!: A First Counting Book

Baby-PreS–This board book introduces Hanukkah to children in a simple counting format. Numbers one to 10 each appear big and bold on a page with a short phrase, opposite a page with a pleasant and thoughtful illustration. The pattern continues in a smooth rhyming cadence, introducing key components of a child’s first experience of the holiday, including candles, latkes, and dreidels. The vocabulary is fun, with novel words for this age group such as “gleam” and “glisten.” Digital mixed-media illustrations contain a diverse group of people celebrating the holiday. A misstep is the page declaring “Four Maccabees fight,” with an illustration of children with toy swords and shields. The historical reference and image promoting play violence is out of place in a book for young children that focuses on the tangible experiences of celebrating the holiday. The four-paragraph explanation of Hanukkah at the end is similarly age-inappropriate but may provide context for unfamiliar adults. Another element of the back matter is a simple list entitled “How do we celebrate this holiday?” Wieder introduces the Jewish holiday to families in an accessible way, accompanied by art that elevates this above a run-of-the-mill board book.