Charley and Seymour’s Hanukkah Miracle

PreS-Gr 2–Charley Chipmunk and Seymour Squirrel are best friends who are planning their Hanukkah celebration together. Seymour suggests that he will fry the latkes if Charlie brings the menorah and the candles. But Charley is an absent-minded chipmunk, and when the time comes, he can only remember that he is supposed to bring the menorah and something that begins with the letter C. Youngsters will cheer Charley on as he erroneously packs cantaloupe, carrots, cookies, candy (Hanukkah gelt), and other items beginning with C, but no candles. When Charley gets to Seymour’s nest and realizes he’s forgotten the candles, he feels like crying because he thinks he has ruined Hanukkah. But Seymour comes up with an idea to save the celebration that ties in to one of the foundational traditions of Hanukkah: the use of oil. Childlike illustrations are fun and will appeal to young readers. A glossary explains the Hebrew and Yiddish words, and an author’s note treats the legend of the oil lasting for eight days as fact rather than tradition.