Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Review

 Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins









BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, E. A. (2014). Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Holiday House. 

ISBN: 978-0-8234-3194-6

PLOT SUMMARY

Hershel of Ostropol travels through a village on the first night of Hanukkah. To his surprise, there are no menorahs in the window or celebrations. He learns that goblins have taken over the synagogue and forbidden Hanukkah celebrations. Hershel takes on the challenge to outwit the goblins until the Goblin King is summoned on the last day of Hanukkah. Hershel defeats the king and Hanukkah can celebrated once again. 

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a trickster tale. Not only does he trick the smaller goblins into lighting the menorah each night, he also tricks the strongest Goblin King into lighting the last candle. This folktale has a folk hero of Yiddish descent. Good vs evil is evident with Hershel as the good hero, and the goblins as the evil entities who have banished Hanukkah in the town. Eric Kimmel has taken on the European retelling of Hanukkah related tales. This book gives readers a delightful experience in storytelling woven in with some Hanukkah traditions. The illustrations are fantastic additions to this tale. The Caldecott Honor is well deserved for the depiction of the synagogue and the goblins.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2015)

This original story in the tradition of Yiddish tales about Hershel Ostropolier is welcome as a Hanukkah story and as a trickster tale. Hershel rids a village of goblins that are haunting a synagogue, preventing the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. Hyman's illustrations capture Hershel's humor and earthy, peasant quality. This anniversary edition of the Caldecott Honor book includes afterwords by the author and the publisher.


CONNECTIONS

Research Hanukkah traditions and make a menorah

Make potato latkes

Make a dreidel and play the game as in the book

Related books:

Zemach, Margot. It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale. ISBN: 0374436363

Kimmel, Eric. The Golem’s Latkes. ISBN: 0374436363Kimmel, Eric. The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol. ISBN:0823442446


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