Chanukah Lights Everywhere

In this warm picture book, a 5-year-old boy sees the way his family's faith is reflected in their Hanukkah celebration. Melissa Iwai's acrylic paintings perfectly complement the cozy text. Domesticity through the eyes of a child is caught in the details -- son and father making a bed while mother peels potatoes, little sister giving her stuffed cat a bottle, a patchwork of kids' artwork hung on the refrigerator door.

The religious discussion is saved for the end of the book, where the author offers a brief explanation of the meaning of Hanukkah. Other holiday celebrations are mentioned casually as the narrator reflects on his friend's house, where Christmas candles shine in the windows. The emphasis on celebration and family makes this an appropriate book both for families who observe Hanukkah and those who are interested in their children learning more about it within the context of a simple, loving portrait of a family.