Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale

by Sarah Marwil Lamstein and Neil Waldman

A retelling of a Jewish folkale reminds readers of the first Chanukah and of Mattathias's bravery in protecting his faith. Once in a far-off village there nearly was a year without Chanukah. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932425748
• ISBN13: 9781932425741
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.3" x 11.7"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years
• Grade Range: Grade 2 to Kindergarten

Customer Reviews

Hear from the Book's Creators

Hear an interview with Letter on the Wind author Sarah Lamstein and illustrator Neil Waldman! Listen to The Book of Life podcast's December 2007 episode at www.bookoflifepodcast.com.

An excellent addition for any Jewish library.

Ages 4-8 will find here a compelling folk story of a year without Chanukah, and a poor man who decides to light the menorahs in search of remembering the miracle of the season. He asks a local scribe to write a letter to god and prays for oil to light the poor town's menorahs - and an unexpected result lends to suspicion Hayim might be a thief. This fine retelling of a Jewish folk story is an excellent addition for any Jewish library.

Peaceful and provocative words and pictures

I can imagine a child examining the calm cover - moon, birds, a silhouette of old stone buildings, but where is the letter in the dark sky? She or he would open the book and find suspense that's both on-the-edge-of-your-seat and soothingly quiet. By the end of the first line we know the story's problem, which quickly develops. The imagery is gorgeous; I love how we see, in words and pictures, the olive trees at the beginning, then changed at the end. This is an assured retelling of a folktale that will add to a child's understanding of Chanukah and the meaning of love and faith.