Light the Lights!: A Story About Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas

Emma's family celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas every year and this is a story about what it's like to wake up on a winter day when the "world grew cold and afternoons became dark long before dinnertime." This family lives in the city and they begin their celebrations by getting out the silver menorah for polishing. What is it like to celebrate Hanukkah? What do you do? The story weaves the gathering of relatives with the fun of Hanukkah gelt and playing with dreidels and the wonder of the light from the menorah shining out from the front window. When Hanukkah ends the another wonderful morning arrives when Emma's mother announces they are going to go pick out the Christmas tree. The family shares the traditions of cookie baking and carol singing and the joy of lighting the lights on the tree. As the season closes and the ornaments go back into the closet for next year, Emma holds onto her memories and most poignantly, the light that brightened the cold winter nights. This is a gentle celebration that warmly invites young minds and young hearts to consider walking in someone else's shoes for perhaps a greater connection and acceptance of the differences and the bonds between every child.