When Danny's family gets together, it's always a mess. It's no different this Chanukah when an argument over a car erupts at the table. Arguing. Shouting. This. That. Oy, enough already!
But it only gets worse! When Uncle Izzy throws a latke out the window, the chaos really begins, as the FBI thinks it's a UFO and the air force tries to shoot it down!
And all over a Buick. Go figure.
Hungry from the lack of appetizers (Mother doesn't believe in them) one Chanukah, Uncle Izzy and Uncle Shecky start arguing over what kind of car cut them off recently, a Buick or a Ford. Shecky shakes a pickle so hard it bounces off Izzy's forehead, and the food fight is on. Borscht, chicken, sour cream, even the chocolate Chanukah gelt--nothing is sacred. But when one last latke soars out the window, it just keeps flying! Soon news reporters and FBI agents are swarming the house, seeking the source of the mysterious UFO. The family is stranded in the house, with almost no food, until everything blows over.
In Arthur Yorinks's fantastically wacky version of the traditional Chanukah story, the remaining plate of latkes, which, in that crowd, should have lasted "about seven and a half minutes," lasts for eight days! An all-star (or mostly-star) cast of actors and illustrators were "cast" for this unusual book, staged and photographed by Yorinks and Paul Colin. Newbery- and Caldecott-award winning illustrator William Steig (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble) provided the background art, as Yorinks and Colin digitally transferred photos of the posed actors into the illustrations. This hilarious take on the Jewish holiday, while wildly offbeat, remains true to the spirit of the Chanukah miracle; ultimately, the fighting stops and forgiveness reigns. (Ages 4 to 10) --Emilie Coulter
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
a bygone era:
The characters in this book are reminiscent of my grandmother's family, the generation that inspired Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, and others. Don't know of any current day Jewish families like this one, but it's nice to keep the tradition alive! When I read this to my children, the yiddish accent/intonation just comes naturally! It really is too bad it's out of print.
Latke-licious:
I happened upon this book by chance but it was love at first bite! Absolutely hilarious version of a family gathering for Chanukah. Goofy, but almost too true to life for some Jewish families at holiday times. Must be shared with all, especially those Jewish familes that tend to get a little rowdy when brought together for functions!
what a hoot:
I loved this book. I loved the rhythm and pattern of the dialogue, and I loved being able to share that sound with my kids. The kids were engrossed in the illustrations as I read. What's not to like?
Blooper mars otherwise charming story:
A Jewish holiday, a funny and fanciful Jewish story make this book in many ways utterly charming. Even nominally traditional Jewish dietary laws are ignored, however, when the author serves the story's assembled family latkes, sour cream, and chicken (among other things) for dinner. An unfortunate error in judgment, in this reader's view.
