The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah

A luminous collection of brief free verse poems follows a pale-skinned family of five through their Hanukkah celebration. Two spreads are devoted to each night: digital artwork in rich colors and hand-painted textures portrays the reassuring warmth of both an unconditional family connection and the menorah’s cumulative candlelight. The pages also include callouts on observance: “a thought for the third night” notes that “unlike Shabbat candles, which should be lit before sundown, you can light Hanukkah candles late into the night, so long as everyone is awake to see them burn.” Snyder and Hatch depict a lovely range of holiday moments: on one night, the family gets a flat tire and improvises a candle-lighting with a banana menorah; on another, the youngest child and family cat watch in wide-eyed wonder as the candles “fight their endings,” as “one by one,/ they flit and flame,/ dance and jump,/ then fszzzzz, all in a row.” Ages 4–8. (Sept.)