About the Author

Judye Groner and Madeline Wikler founded Kar-Ben Copies, Inc. in 1975, with the publication of My Very Own Haggadah, which they wrote and illustrated. The book has sold over 2 million copies and is still in print. They have authored more than two dozen books, as well as 36 editions of My Very Own Jewish Calendar, and have received the prestigious Sydney Taylor Body of Work Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Reviews

K-Gr 3-Written with clarity, though not with verve, this thorough and thoughtful book is a revision of a title originally published in 1988. It chronicles the struggle of the Jewish people to regain their religious freedom more than 2000 years ago during the reign of King Antiochus of Syria. Of particular interest is the presentation of the familiar "miracle" of Hanukkah as a legend, distinctly separate from the historical account of the Jews' rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This edition is accompanied by a read-along recording of the Hanukkah story and a selection of holiday blessings and songs. Also new here are eight suggested discussion topics designed "to enable families to relate the holiday's historic events to today's world." Boldly colored cartoons appear throughout. This useful book will serve collections well.-T.M. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

"While most of the stories I've recommended here presuppose a general knowledge of the holiday, All About Hanukkah-part of the wonderful All About series from Kar-Ben Publishing-is a great first-time introduction to the holiday. It covers everything you'd want to know: the story of Chanukah, the blessings over the candles, the rules of the dreidel game, and recipes for traditional Chanukah foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (doughnuts)."--Noodlenuts