Monday, December 14, 2009

Book Review- Picture book for grades 2 to 4 (depending on your child's reading level)

For our Jewish friends: "Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat" a Chanukah story by Naomi Howland. I might not be Jewish but I like a good potato pancake. This picture book has a solid fairytale plot. It's a good read. I definitely recommend it.
Sadie and her four brothers live in a small village. They are very poor. On the first night of Chanukah a cold Sadie goes looking for firewood and meets an old woman who is cold too. Sadie gives the old woman her firewood. In gratitude the old woman gives her a magic frying pan. Sadie is told to place the frying pan on the stove and say some magical words. Once this is done latkes will appear. You have to say something after as well. All goes well for seven days. The hungry family is fed. On the eighth day of Chanukah Sadie leaves the house to invite the old woman to dinner. Her brothers who aren't supposed to use the magic frying pan do so. But they get the magic words wrong. And end with more latkes then they can eat. Like a whole house full.