THIS IS THE DREIDEL

Max gets his dreidel out of the drawer where it’s been stashed since last year and the Hanukkah celebration begins. In iambic pentameter hinting of The House That Jack Built, Levine describes the preparations Max and his family make for the holiday: “This is the dreidel Max spins on the floor. / He hopes that he doesn’t get ‘Nun’ anymore.” The final two pages wrap up the previous activities in a sweet reflection on the wonder of the eight days that have gone before and Max puts away the dreidel until next year. Appealing, cartoon-like drawings of Max and his warm, cozy family match the easy rhythm of the text. Glossary of terms included. (Picture book. 3-5)