Deborah Da Costa

"This Hanukkah, Isobel stays with her Mexican Aunt Luisa and discovers a new way to celebrate the festival of the lights. In addition to lighting the hanukkiah (menorah) and eating the traditional latkes and jelly doughnuts, she learns some of the Sephardic or Spanish Jewish customs for the holiday. Aunt Luisa teaches Isobel to say “Feliz Januca” and to sing the dreidel song in Spanish. When Aunt Luisa’s three girlfriends arrive, it is the promise of celebrating the Hanukkah moon with the breaking of a dreidel-shaped piñata that intrigues Isobel. Together they combine the welcoming of Rosh Hodesh, the first day of the new month, with the appearance of “la luna nueve” (the new moon). Rosh Hodesh is traditionally celebrated by girls and women each month, and the new moon that appears during the Hanukkah week is especially commemorated by Jews in Latin America. Mosz’s whimsical Chagall-style paintings of elongated figures with large expressive almond-shaped eyes in combinations of purple and gold hues add a Latino flavor to this gentle and warmhearted story offering a new perspective on an age-old Jewish holiday. (author’s note, glossary)" www.kirkusreviews.com… (más)

Isobel is excited to be invited to Aunt Luisa's for Hanukkah, but she's not sure what to expect. Aunt Luisa just moved to America from Mexico; will she know how to celebrate Hanukkah the right way? Isobel's father adds to the mystery by telling her that Aunt Luisa celebrates the Hanukkah Moon. Isobel wonders what that is, and when exactly to they celebrate it?

At Aunt Luisa's, Isobel learns about the birds and animal friends that visit. She also receives a camera to document the holiday. As the celebration continues, they light the hanukkiah and when the time is just right, Isobel learns how to celebrate the new moon that happens during Hanukkah.

The Bottom Line: With themes of family and tradition, this picture book blends the traditions of Judaism and Mexico. Richly illustrated in watercolor and colored pencil, this is Mosz's first picture book for American readers. Highly recommended for seasonal story time for children ages 7 - 10. Includes a glossary and information about Hanukkah and Rosh Hodesh (the celebration of the new moon), which is popular among Sephardic Jews who settled in Latin America.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog.… (más)

Snow in Jerusalem is a very entertaining story that uses the theme of friendship and a realistic, powerful setting to tell a story of relationships that thrive through differences. The story consists of two boys, one Jewish and one Muslim, living in different quarters of the capital city of Israel. Though this would often breed a relationship built off hate or resentment, the boys become friends and learn that they have much more in common that outweigh their differences in faith or family. The friendship of the two boys makes the story touching, powerful, and emotional. The boys provide a grounded, realistic situation even though it is unprecedented in and American community. The setting being Israel may seem distant, but the idea of finding common ground and making friendships in difficult places or under difficult circumstances is commonplace for any child or adult. The big idea of this text is that friendship is built on perspective and bonding rather than conformity or similarities.… (más)

I enjoyed this book because it showed that even those in completely opposite cultures can work together. In this book, two boys, one Muslim and one Jewish, take care of a cat without realizing that the other one is taking care of the cat. After the cat disappears, the boys eventually find each other and discover that the cat has kittens. The boys decide to stop fighting over ownership of the cat and work together to provide for it. This book shows readers that it is okay to befriend people with different beliefs and that it is important to be able to work together.… (más)