This Jewish twist on
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of the Hanukkah celebration that almost didn’t happen. The town of Oyville is alive with the spirit of the season. Brilliant menorahs glow in windows, and children spin dreidels and nosh on latkes.
However, not everyone in Oyville delights in the celebration. High on a hill, a cranky kvetch complains about Hanukkah upon each passing season. So this year, he sneaks into Oyville to steal the holiday. When the children realize their menorahs are missing, they try to convince the kvetch that Hanukkah is about joy, justice, and charity. But can he have a change of heart?
Complete with clever rhymes and Yiddish terms, this story presents Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, in a child friendly format. Peter J. Welling’s quirky art adds to the festive fun.
About the Authors
Bill Berlin is the senior producer and writer for Caucus: New Jersey, a national PBS public affairs series, and a host of Carpe Diem, a television show produced by Montclair State University, where he is a professor of political science. His writing has appeared in the New York Times and Christian Science Monitor, among other publications.
Susan Isakoff Berlin is a licensed clinical social worker and educator, who has taught in synagogue preschool programs, Jewish Community Centers, and public schools. A member of the National Association of Social Workers, her articles on such issues as parenting, aging, and bereavement have appeared in local newspapers and the New York Times. The Berlins reside in central New Jersey.
About the Illustrator
Peter J. Welling is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University South Bend and the Publisher’s Choice Award for Exemplary Non-Fiction. In addition, his illustrations have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He is the author and illustrator of Pelican’s Darlene Halloween and the Great Chicago Fire; Andrew McGroundhog and His Shady Shadow; Shawn O’Hisser, the Last Snake in Ireland; Michael Le Soufflé and the April Fool; Justin Potemkin and the 500-Mile Race; and Joe Van der Katt and the Great Picket Fence. Welling lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
THE KVETCH WHO STOLE HANUKKAH
By Bill Berlin and Susan Isakoff Berlin
Illustrated by Peter J. Welling
JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Hanukkah
HUMOR / Form / Parodies
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus.
ISBN: 9781589807983