Synopses & Reviews
Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear. Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night. By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far.
Perhaps it is not too much to hope for one more, he thinks, as he lights all of the candles in the menorah. The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all. This fanciful Hanukkah tale-like none you've ever read before-celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love. A retelling of the ancient Hanukkah story is included on the last page.
Praise for The Golem's Latkes"Kimmel s storytelling is effective in its use of suspense, humor, trope and repetition, making a fine read-aloud holiday treat."
---Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Zigazak! A Magical Hanukkah Night
"In the most imaginative Hanukkah book this season, Kimmel (Gershon's Monster) peoples an old-world town with mischievous demons, easily alarmed villagers and a wise and crafty rabbi. The brio of the storytelling doesn't shy from a moral: 'Sparks of goodness exist in all things, even in devils' tricks.'"
---Publishers Weekly
Praise for Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
"[Hershel] successfully uses his wits to oust the eight creatures haunting the old synagogue and who are preventing the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. Kimmel provides a humorous, entertaining and just slightly scary story for all young readers."
--Children's Literature
1990 Caldecott Honor Book1989 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book1990 National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book1992 Colorado Children's Book Award1992 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award
Review
For Simon, a young Jewish immigrant headed for America, life is one miracle after another-nine, in fact, which correspond to the total number of candles on a fully lit menorah. The mounting improbabilities-which include Simon surviving on an iceberg after a Titanic-like sinking, thanks to the help of a latke-loving polar bear that feeds him sushi-style salmon ("A little salty. Like lox," Simon notes)-are handled with matter-of-fact aplomb by Kimmel (Hanukkah Bear). But Trueman's (One Beetle Too Many) gorgeous scenes of arctic nights are the book's high point, rendered in deep blues, silvery white, and the golden glow of candles. An author's note about the holiday concludes this engaging and visually arresting book. Ages 3 5.--PW
Review
K-Gr 2 Combining elements of the classic immigrant tale with magical realism and a dash of Titanic, this story follows young Simon as he leaves his family behind in the old country, sailing on a ship to America. Packed in his knapsack are a menorah, candles, a dreidel, and latkes to celebrate Hanukkah during the crossing. When the ship strikes an iceberg on the first night of the holiday, fatherless Simon gives up his seat in a lifeboat to a man whose little boy is waiting for him in New York. As the ship sinks, Simon jumps onto the iceberg where he lights his menorah and hopes for a miracle, "just as one happened for the Maccabees long ago." Suddenly a polar bear appears out of the darkness and pulls itself onto the iceberg, eating the latkes and other food Simon offers her. Over the next several days, it catches fish for Simon and cuddles up with him at night to keep him warm. On the last night of Hanukkah, Simon lights the last of his candles, shares his last latke with the bear, and hopes for one more miracle, which arrives in the form of a rescue boat, sent from a passing ship that has seen his fully lit menorah. The icy dark night is masterfully depicted in a watercolor palette of rich blues punctured by brilliant stars and the warm glow of the candles. The iceberg is given substance and depth by the use of what appears to be folded paper that has been crumpled and painted, while the hefty figure of the polar bear is worked in gouache softened with pastel. With its fine storyteller's language and themes of selflessness and miracles, this is a book that is sure to bring pleasure and meaning to Hanukkah celebrations. An author's note on the history of the holiday is included. Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library--SLJ
Review
After his ocean liner strikes an iceberg, young immigrant Simon relinquishes his seat on a lifeboat to a father. Realizing that his own survival will require a miracle, he lands on the iceberg and celebrates the Festival of Lights with the candles and latkes in his bag. Later, he shares his dwindling provisions with a polar bear, who keeps him warm through several nights, and then with sailors, who notice Simon's flickering lights and rescue him. Arriving in New York, he learns that the man whose life he saved is the mayor-who gratefully arranges a job for Simon (tending polar bears at Central Park Zoo) and passage to America for Simon's family. Kimmel's folkloric tale brims with seasonal details, including the foods and customs of Hanukkah. Trueman's mixed-media artwork features deep blues and blacks, suited to winter on the north Atlantic, and his cartoon-style characters display an earnest, slightly ethereal look, befitting a story of miracles. - Kay Weisman--Booklist Online
Review
Young immigrant Simon travels to America on a ship whose fate mirrors that of the Titanic, but this ship sinks on Hanukkah, a holiday that encourages faith in miracles. Simon gives another passenger his spot on a lifeboat and camps out on an iceberg. Sharing his latkes with a polar bear pays off in body heat and fish, and soon his Hanukkah candles bring about his rescue by catching the attention of a passing ship. Illustrations with frequent images of light in darkness combine with the recurring theme of miracles to evoke the Hanukkah spirit. shoshana flax--Horn Book
Review
PRAISE FOR THE GOLEM'S LATKES"Kimmel s storytelling is effective in its use of suspense, humor, trope and repetition, making a fine read-aloud holiday treat."----Kirkus Reviews
Review
PRAISE FOR HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS 1990 Caldecott Honor Book 1989 National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book 1990 National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book 1992 Colorado Children's Book Award 1992 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award---
Review
Simon sets out for America aboard the HMS Atlantic, but the ship collides with an iceberg mid-journey. Saving himself by leaping onto the menorah, he decides (since it is the first night of Hanukkah) that he will light the first candle in the menorah he has brought from home, in hopes of inviting a similarly miraculous salvation. His miracle shows up-a huge polar bear-and Simon feeds her some of the latkes his mother has packed. The kindly bear allows Simon to sleep next to her, keeping him warm, and brings him fish the next day, and the next, until Simon has lit all eight of his Hanukkah candles and used up all of his food supply. On the eighth night, rescue comes from a ship, sent to investigate the source of the mysterious light on the iceberg. Picturesque but pithy details add nuance and readaloud value to this original and inventive Hanukkah tale. Strong artistic compositions and an atmospheric use of a range of shadowy blues and whites effectively capture the wintry seascapes and night skies, and Trueman brings a masterful hand to textures ranging from the bear's thickly stippled coat to the craquelure of the ice. Simon's crimson hat provides a note of contrast and cheerful hope against the starker backgrounds, and the bear is both cuddly-looking and realistically intimidating in her size and in her triangular claws. This has multiple use possibilities, from holiday celebrations to polar bear storytimes to immigration-themed units, but it could also simply add some light and inspiration to a cold, dark winter's night. JH--BCCB
Synopsis
A Hanukkah tale full of wonder and miracles, from the author of the classic Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear. Does she eat him? No She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night. By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far. Perhaps it is not too much to hope for one more, he thinks, as he lights all of the candles in the menorah. The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all. This fanciful Hanukkah tale-like none you've ever read before-celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love.
From the author of the Caldecott Honor-winning classic HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS comes a gorgeously illustrated fantasy Hanukkah tale full of miracles, from sharing latkes with a polar bear to surviving a Titanic-like sinking. The story behind the ancient holiday is included at the end.
Praise for SIMON AND THE BEAR:
*"Old World storytelling in a sparkling, novel setting-a delight."--Kirkus (starred review)
"Engaging and visually arresting,"--Publishers Weekly
"A lot of fun"--New York Times Book Review
A Sydney Taylor Honor Book
About the Author
Eric A. Kimmel (www.ericakimmel.com) was born in Brooklyn, New York and wanted to be an author ever since kindergarten, when he first learned of their existence. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Education and taught college courses in language arts, children's literature, and storytelling until he retired from teaching in 1993 to become a full-time writer. His first book came out in 1974. Since then he has published over fifty titles, many of which have won numerous state awards, appeared on school and library recommended lists, and won prestigious awards such as the Caldecott Honor Medal (
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins) and the Sydney Taylor Picture Book Award (
The Chanukkah Guest and
Gershon's Monster). Eric and his wife Doris live in Portland, Oregon.
Matthew Trueman (www.matthewtrueman.com) grew up in northern Italy and returned to the States to attend the Ringling School of Art and Design, where he earned a B.F.A. in illustration. He has done magazine and advertising work and has illustrated several award-winning children's books, including When the Chickens Went on Strike, Noah's Mittens, and A Picture for Marc. He works from a studio in his home by the Delaware River, where he lives with his wife, Anna, and their daughter, Mina.