As many of you probably saw, this past fall I posted a critical review of the new picture book Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, and Facebook. This caused quite a brouhaha. My review was quoted in the Tablet magazine article, “Stay in Your Lane, Elf,” by Marjorie Ingall<http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/214625/shmelf-the-hanukkah-elf-book-takes-wrong-approach-to-educating-kids-about-holidays>, and I was interviewed (along with my colleague Kathy Bloomfield, who reviewed the book in the September/October 2016 issue of AJL Reviews) by Heidi Rabinowitz for the Book of Life Podcast<https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2016/09/shmelf-hanukkah-elf.html>. Those of us familiar with Jewish children’s literature know that there are so many excellent books that introduce the story and customs of Hanukkah, that help Jewish children deal with Christmas envy, and that authentically and sensitively depict interfaith or multi-faith families. My recommendations were posted on the Horn Book Family Reading Blog at http://www.hbook.com/2016/12/blogs/family-reading/move-over-shmelf-there-are-other-books-on-the-shelf/ . Please share and comment as you see fit. There are lots of good choices out there that don’t resort to leaving a latke and kosher pickle out for one of Santa’s Hanukkah elves!
Happy Hanukkah! Rachel Kamin, Director The Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center North Suburban Synagogue Beth El 1175 Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035 847/926-7902 or rka...@nssbethel.org<blocked::mailto:rka...@nssbethel.org> Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm and Wednesday 4-6 pm & Sunday 9am-12pm (when school is in session)
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