Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah

October 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 1-Although it's the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel's parents tell her there won't be any latkes until the relatives come to visit next week. Undeterred, the child goes over to the exceedingly tidy house of her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg (whom readers might remember from The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes [Albert Whitman, 1997]), where she convinces the woman to make latkes with her. Rachel proceeds to spill the grated potatoes, drop the egg, and more, resulting in a terrible mess. Her parents arrive home in time to help clean up, and they all celebrate the first night of Hanukkah together. The energetic, cheerful illustrations and the simple and satisfying story make this a good book for holiday sharing.-E. M.

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2004
K-Gr. 2. What's the first night of Hanukkah without latkes? But Rachel's parents are too busy to think about cooking, so Rachel pays a visit to elderly Mrs. Greenberg, whose sparkling kitchen begs to be invaded by an energetic little girl with potato pancakes on her mind. Pretty soon potatoes, flour, and eggs coat the floor, and an exhausted Mrs. Greenberg has collapsed in a chair. When Rachel's parents arrive, they focus on the mess, and a tearful Rachel apologizes. Then Mrs. Greenberg comes to the rescue, declaring firmly, "My house hasn't felt this lived in in years." Pattern and bright color abound in Cote's lighthearted, cartoonlike pictures, which channel the glow of the menorah on the table right onto the happy faces of the characters as they sit down to eat Rachel's latkes. A recipe, at the front of the book, completes this lively package, suggested for children who are already familiar with the holiday.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2005
Rachel's mother is too busy to make latkes, so Rachel talks her elderly neighbor into cooking some. The two make a mess, but Mrs. Greenberg assures Rachel that it's a "wonderful" mess: "My house hasn't felt this lived-in in years!" Colorfully patterned illustrations ably show Rachel's frazzled parents and their messy though cozy home, contrasted with Mrs. Greenberg's sparklingly clean house.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2004
It doesn't feel like Hanukkah without latkes, but Rachel's mother is too busy to make them. When her parents go out to run errands, Rachel talks her elderly neighbor into making up a batch. As they tackle each step of the recipe in Mrs. Greenberg's spotless kitchen, the older woman seems less than thrilled about the spilled flour, dropped eggs, and dripped oil. When Rachel's parents come to collect her, they are horrified at the "terrible mess," but Mrs. Greenberg assures Rachel that it's a "wonderful" mess: "My house hasn't felt this lived-in in years!" Rachel and her parents stay to clean up the kitchen, fry the latkes, and light the Hanukkah candles. Cote's colorfully patterned illustrations ably show Rachel's frazzled parents and their messy though cozy home, contrasted with Mrs. Greenberg's sparklingly clean house. A latke recipe is included in this pleasant, secular Hanukkah story.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)