There is no better place to suspend disbelief than in children’s literature.
For the Chanukah holidays, there are two new selections where everything is possible — including a bird responsible for the miracle of the oil and a Polish soldier inspiring George Washington at Valley Forge with the story of Chanukah.
“The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle” by Jacqueline Jules offers a new twist to the familiar Chanukah tale. The story uses vivid illustrations and an elaborate scheme to explain the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.
We are introduced to the protagonist, Ziz — a gigantic, yellow, red-winged bird who lives on a mountain — as he searches for a source of light because the days are getting shorter. After some misadventures catching fireflies, lantern fish, and even the moon, Ziz turns to God for help, and receives a lamp filled with oil.
The story takes place at the time of the Maccabees, and after a lesson in sharing, the Ziz decides to light the menorah of the Maccabees with the oil from his lamp — and so the miracle of the light burning for eight days is explained. This book is convenient for a story time fix for kids ages 3-7: the pictures are entertaining on their own, while the story stretches the imagination.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun story, the Ziz is a good choice. But “Hanukkah at Valley Forge” by Stephen Krensky is a bolder treatment of the Chanukah story. Krensky’s book presents no colorful imagery of feathered animals or fanciful explanations of miracles. Instead, the tale describes an imaginary interaction at Valley Forge during the War of Independence. The focus is on teaching about Chanukah, and even touches on immigration to America and the Declaration of Independence.
George Washington notices one of his soldiers, a Polish immigrant, lighting the first candle of Chanukah. The immigrant tells the story of Chanukah, while making parallels between the Maccabees fighting the Greeks with the Americans fighting the British.
Not only is Washington encouraging the soldier to tell him more about the holiday, but he empathizes with the Maccabees’ cause, relating it to his similar struggle: “The fight for liberty is an ancient one. And no one likes squirming under the thumb of a distant king.”
This is a more mature handling of the holiday, which would be a good choice for ages 5 and up. The tale universalizes Chanukah’s theme of overcoming struggle, while reinforcing feelings of patriotism.
Whether you prefer the educational or the fanciful, Krensky and Jules offer unique spins on the Chanukah tale. As you read the story with your kids, be on the lookout for questions. There’s nothing like inquiries about the location of Greece or the words of the Shamash song to bond the mishpoche.
“The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle” by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Katherine Janus Khan (32 pages, $17.95, Kar-Ben Publishing).
“Hanukkah at Valley Forge” by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Greg Harlin (32 pages, Dutton Children’s Books, $17.99).