Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The creative team behind Tashlich at Turtle Rock (2010) returns with another story about a Jewish holiday-themed hike. Once again, young Annie is the leader and narrator; the title refers to her giving two baked potatoes to each family member during a Hanukkah walk through their snowy woods. Annie explains that the potatoes serve multiple purposes: they're touchstones of family history (as a boy, "Great-Grandpop" used hot potatoes as pocket warmers during wintry walks to his shtetl's religious school), a makeshift menorah ("Annie, you're ingenious," says Dad, as she pushes six candles and the shammash into the spuds), and latke substitutes, eaten al fresco. Schnur and Schnur-Fishman fill the family's sojourn with snappy banter (asked to reveal something he's afraid of, Dad replies, "The federal deficit") while Steele-Morgan's outdoor scenes capture the chilly blue light of the season. Ages 5-9. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Annie and her family (Tashlich at Turtle Rock) return for another reflective nature walk, this time in an "unusual celebration" of Hanukkah. Though offering little in plot or holiday information, the book warmly conveys a loving, joyful family, and the illustrations evoke a wintry rural landscape, making this a solid choice for a family read-aloud to honor the season. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Annie and her family, introduced in Tashlich at Turtle Rock (2010), celebrate Hanukkah a bit differently with an outdoor nighttime journey through the snowy woods. On the sixth night Annie maps out four stops each with its own significance. At Old Log Annie takes out hot potatoes to keep in pockets just as her Great-Grandpa did to stay warm in his shtetl. Huddled into Squeezy Cave, Annie turns out the lantern to emphasize the darkness and explains that Hanukkah comes during the shortest days and that on the sixth night there is never a moon. At Old Bridge Annie creates a makeshift menorah with candles she uses to punch holes in four of the potatoes. Finally at Turtle Rock Annie cuts the four remaining potatoes which the family eats with butter and salt and a freezing spoonful of fresh snow drizzled with maple syrup. Some basic concepts of the holiday remain intact despite this altered interpretation which ignores why Hanukkah is celebrated. Deep indigo-based gouache paintings nicely reflect the nights frosty outing. The author, a Reconstructionist rabbi, acknowledges the unusual celebration of this winter holiday. In a nice conclusion this loving white family makes up a thank you prayer for celebrating in the peaceful woods on the darkest night of the yearthe blessings of Hanukkah. Though atypical, this will inspire family togetherness for the holiday. Authors Note. (Holiday Picture Book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
