Oy, Santa!: Or, There's a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah

by Joyce Schriebman, Gila von Meissner (Illustrator)

Overview

Oliver Overstreet tries to get Santa to understand how special Hanukkah is.

Even though Santa knows some things—like Oliver's friend Ibrahim also doesn't celebrate Christmas—Oliver loses patience when Santa doesn't fully appreciate Hanukkah customs. Especially latkes! Helping people understand Jewish traditions is a never-ending job!

This book is for readers of all faiths and responds to the mistaken idea that Jewish children are somehow disadvantaged by not celebrating Christmas. Told through email correspondence, Oy, Santa! is a story about identity, perseverance, and the importance of sharing one's traditions in a kind way.

"Clever, knowing, and unique in its enthusiasm for the integrity of the holiday..."—Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951365257
Publisher:	Intergalactic Afikoman
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	306,705
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

Joyce Schriebman is passionate about helping folks understand different faith traditions. A native of San Francisco, she moved to the glorious northeast 15 years ago and now lives in western Connecticut with her husband.
Gila von Meissner is an illustrator from North Germany. She lives with her Israeli cat in a tiny house at a lake. She loves critters, jasmine tea, and chocolate.

Editorial Reviews

07/29/2024

A youth valiantly defends Hanukkah as its own holiday in this distinctive epistolary work. After young Oliver Overstreet, portrayed with brown skin, sends pale-skinned Santa an email reminder—“I’m Jewish. And that means you don’t have to come down my chimney on Christmas Eve”—Santa responds that he’s certainly Hanukkah conversant, then closes with “Happy Chrismukkah!” No matter how face-palm-worthy Santa’s responses, Schreibman’s protagonist remains patient but firm: “I don’t want you to smush Hanukkah and Christmas together anymore. Okay?” Von Meissner depicts the ongoing exchange via a mash-up of email images, Ollie’s own drawings, and vignettes of each character at home. To his credit, Santa does seem eager to learn—a good thing, too, since by book’s end he’s smushed in Passover practices and put ketchup on latkes. Clever, knowing, and unique in its enthusiasm for the integrity of the holiday, this story is for readers who find themselves cast in the role of Hanukkah explainer. Back matter offers more about the holiday. Ages 4–9. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"Clever, knowing, and unique in its enthusiasm for the integrity of the holiday, this story is for readers who find themselves cast in the role of Hanukkah explainer."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher