Birds(2009)
written by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Birds is a short and simple book talking about birds– wondering about them, observing them. There’s nothing life-changing or emotional here, but the questions and observations are so pure and child-like and wonderful. The illustrations by Droznek match the text perfectly. A very enjoyable picture book!
(Kevin Henkes‘s website (of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse fame) is awesome!)
Lou Fant and Barbara Bernstein Fant (2008)
This book is a wonderful introduction to American Sign Language. While I’ve been learning signing vocabulary on my own for a little while, this book begins to explain how the language itself is formed. ASL is very different from signing exact English, and I feel this book does a great job explaining how to construct phrases and sentences. The illustrations throughout the book are clear and easy to follow, so while learning the structure of the language, I was also able to review and learn new signs. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in learning more about ASL. Now if I could only find a group to practice with…
Hanukkah Bear (2013)
written by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Bubba Brayna’s delicious-smelling latkes attract a very large and hungry guest whom the elderly woman mistakes for the rabbi. The good-natured Bubba Brayna encourages her guest to enjoy an evening of Hanukkah activities and traditions, despite some initial confusion and resistance by Bear.
This is a sweet, fun story for Hanukkah, and I absolutely adore Wohnoutka’s illustrations of Bubba Brayna and her cottage.
You might also like:
Bear Snores On
Hanukkah books list
Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat by Naomi Howland (1999)
Sadie and her four younger brothers are poor and hungry, until Sadie is given a magic frying pan in return for her kindness to an old woman. Now she can cook batches of golden, lacy latkes, but only she knows the magic words to start and stop the cooking. Things get out of control when her brothers’ curiosity gets the better of them. But all ends well with a very merry Chanukah gathering.
A retelling of Brothers Grimm “Sweet Porridge,” this folktale leaves me wishing I, too, had a magic latke pan. With a recipe included and scrumptious descriptions of these lacy potato treats, this book inspires me to get cooking.
You might also enjoy:
Hanukkah book list
The Ballad of Valentine (2002)
written by Alison Jackson, pictures by Tricia Tusa
A man tries everything he can to deliver a valentine to his sweetheart, but his plans continue to go awry. Little does he realize (although the reader sees), his sweetheart is cooking up a valentine of her own for him. This is a delightful Valentine’s book written to the format of the song, “Oh, My Darling Clementine.”