How It's Made: Hanukkah Menorah

by Allison Ofanansky, Eliyahu Alpern (Illustrator)

Overview

“An engaging glimpse into the art and craft behind Hanukkah candle lighting…” - Kirkus Reviews

How is a menorah made? Why does it have nine branches? What is Hanukkah, anyway?

Discover all this and more, with over 100 stunning photos that reveal a fascinating world behind the scenes. Meet the people who design menorahs and learn how they do it. From intricately carved brass to fused glass and carved word, you’ll see how each menorah is different and unique, and yet each celebrates the same, ancient, Jewish tradition.

A beautiful, engaging book that can help readers deepen their understanding of  the meaning of Hanukkah.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681155340
Publisher:	Behrman House, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Allison Ofanansky is an author and editor. She won the National Jewish Book Award for her picture book, The Patchwork Torah.

Editorial Reviews

09/24/2018
For the latest installment in their How It’s Made series, Ofanansky (The Patchwork Torah) and photographer Alpern visit a brass worker, a glass blower, and a woodworker who each create a nine-branched candelabra essential to the Festival of Lights. The artisans seem genial and dedicated, and offer distinctive interpretations of the menorah. Unfortunately, the book as a whole feels like a Hanukkah hodgepodge, heavily padded and visually disjointed, with many of the images borrowed from other sources. Along with brief stops covering the making of candles, dreidels, latkes, and olive oil, there is also a survey of traditions and prayers as well as a matching game and word search. Although readers are encouraged to get crafty themselves, the book’s design and text don’t offer a lot of inspiration or specific tips: readers making their own menorahs are told to “use natural or recycled materials” and “avoid materials that will melt or catch fire.” Ages 4–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"An engaging glimpse into the art and craft behind Hanukkah candle lighting. ...With the who, what, where, when, and how of Hanukkah, an informative addition to holiday shelves."

— Kirkus Reviews

"Vivid photographs in a scrapbook-like format engagingly capture the hands-on details."

— Horn Book Magazine

"Like the other titles in this series — How it’s Made: Torah Scroll and How It’s Made: Matzah — How It’s Made: Hanukkah Menorah is a bright, clear and completely engaging nonfiction book. In an overabundance of Hanukkah books for children, Ofanansky’s work stands out for its modernity and beauty. The holiday is explained clearly and simply in a way that is accessible for children across the religious spectrum. From why and when we light the menorah to what a menorah is prefaces several fascinating examples of how to make one. Master craftsmen are shown making menorahs out of brass, glass, and wood. Instructions are included on how to make your own menorah and candles. Blessings and customs are also covered. Gorgeous photography by Eliyahu Alpern complements Ofanansky’s succinct text. The overall design perfectly melds these two elements into an inviting book."

— The Association of Jewish Libraries

From the Publisher

2018-08-14

An engaging glimpse into the art and craft behind Hanukkah candle lighting.

Starting with an overview of the holiday and a detailed description of the candelabra, Ofanansky proceeds to showcase three contemporary artisans who craft menorahs from brass, glass, and wood. Following this, she offers suggestions to children on making their own. Readers also learn how to fashion candles and how olive oil, also used during Hanukkah, is pressed. There are instructions for candle placement and lighting along with the prayers that are recited. The Hebrew cited is both transliterated and translated. Two important ingredients for a holiday celebration are also included: a recipe for potato latkes and one for doughnuts. Instructions for playing the dreidel game and making a dreidel follow. A generous assortment of color photographs, mostly close-up shots, adds to the package along with interactive activities. The adults and children in the photographs are white.

With the who, what, where, when, and how of Hanukkah, an informative addition to holiday shelves. (Informational picture book. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews