Bleh verse, trite expressions. No drunk adults. ( )

A rhyming text follows one family through the eight nights of Hanukkah in this sweet holiday picture-book, depicting the many ways that they celebrate the Festival of Lights. From gathering with family, whether that be having the grandparents over one night, or the entire extended clan the next, to enjoying special songs and games that mark this time of year in the Jewish calendar, they enjoy the wonder of the season, lighting another candle in the menorah each night.

Eight Winter Nights offers a warmhearted depiction of one family's celebration of Hanukkah, focusing less on the meaning of the holiday, although Melmed does delve into that in her afterword, and more on the rituals associated with observing it. Although I can certainly see the appeal of the story here - there is a lovely sense of warmth and family - I was less than impressed with the text itself, often finding the rhymes awkward and forced. The artwork, done in pencil and pastel by Paris-based illustrator Elisabeth Schlossberg, was colorful, but had a sort of blurry, indistinct feeling that didn't appeal to me. I subtracted a half-star for the sometimes stilted text, and for the fact that the artwork didn't speak to me. Tastes vary, of course, so if you're in the market for a family Hanukkah story in picture-book format, you might want to give this one a try. ( )

A typical Hanukkah storybook. Easy to understand. A cute way of explaining and observing Hanukkah. It’s good for 6-8 year olds. Very colorful. Good to have in the library. - Karen S. ( )

I like this book for different reasons. First, I loved how the book explained what happens on each night of Hanukkah. Each page represents a different night. This makes it easier for young learners to read and understand how Hanukkah is broken down. Second, I liked how the layout of the words were scattered and sectioned unlike typical stories. This allows readers to look at a section thoroughly and move on to the next. Third, I liked the information presented throughout the book. Instead of stating just the facts about Hanukkah, the story also explained what this particular family liked to do on each night. For children who are Jewish, this would be a good book to use when comparing and contrasting traditions in their family and others. The purpose of the book is to explain the holiday of Hanukkah to a beginning reader. ( )