Tomorrow begins the eight nights of Hanukkah in many homes and I am particularly excited to share with the Storybuzz readers a book first introduced to me by my brother and sister-in-law last year. What better way to begin your holiday celebrations than with a 20 page book full of illustrations by renowned illustrator Lisa brown!
In the only cottage not adorned with bright Christmas lights and decorations, a piercing scream begins the strange holiday adventure by children’s author Lemony Snicket. The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story is a holiday fare that delicately straddles the two major events of December, Hanukkah and Christmas.
A particularly irate latke (potato pancake) who is about to be dropped into boiling oil is the star of this book, but many other holiday icons appear and even speak such as flashing colored lights, candy canes, and pine tree. Santa Claus is briefly discussed as well.
The latke, because of his inherent religious beliefs, feels left out at Christmastime and misunderstood.
“So you’re basically hash browns,” said the flashing colored lights. “Maybe you can be served alongside a Christmas ham.”
“I’m NOT hash browns.” the latke protests. “I’m something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!”
“AAAHHHHHHHH!”
Patiently, to all the latke meets, he explains that the mouth-watering smell of hot latkes reminds the people that they no longer have to study the Torah in secret caves, pretending to be gambling over a game of dreidel whenever soldiers approach.
As each Christmas symbol tries to reconcile the latke and Hanukkah holiday, Lemony Snicket sets us all straight about the silliness of seeing Hanukkah as a hash-browned version of Christmas.
“Christmas and Hanukkah are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things!”
“But different things can often blend together,” said the pine tree.
The ultimate moral of the book, that “On a cold snowy night, everyone and everything should be welcomed somewhere” draws celebrants of both Hanukkah and Christmas in. As the book jacket claims, “The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming is hardcover, foil-stamped, and full of colorful illustrations, well-suited for giving, receiving, or clutching selfishly in trembling hands. “
GENRE: Fantasy
Tags: Candy Canes, Christmas, Hanukkah, Jews, Lake, Pine Trees, Santa Claus, symbols
