The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

Mrs. Greenberg's Hanukkah #1

by Linda Glaser, Linda Glaser

It's the last night of Hanukkah, and more relatives are coming than originally planned. Rachel decides to borrow potatoes from Mrs. Greenberg. She asks Mrs. Greenberg, who is all alone, to come for Hanukkah. But Mrs. Greenberg is very stubborn!

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Storytime, Cultural

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Rachel's mother receives a phone call asking if Aunt Tilly and her seven grandchildren can attend the family Hanukkah dinner, she immediately agrees, only to discover that there are only three potatoes (and no eggs) left in the house! How will she make enough latkes for everyone? Rachel suggests that they ask their neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, for the ingredients, and use their need as an excuse to invite her to join their celebration. But Mrs. Greenberg, though she has a heart of gold, is also "as stubborn as an ox," and doesn't want to be a bother. Can Rachel find a way to show her how much she is wanted...?

An engaging holiday story with a message - that Hanukkah is a time for celebrating with family and friends, and that sometimes it is necessary to keep trying, when attempting to do a kindness - The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes is a book that assumes some basic knowledge of Hanukkah. This is a contemporary story about the celebration of the "Festival of Lights," not an explanation of its origin, but if one bears that in mind, it makes for a fun little picture-book. Nancy Cote's colorful gouache artwork, while not really in a style I find compelling, is engaging enough. All in all, a pleasant Hanukkah tale - enough to convince me to track down the "sequel," Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah .

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about the holiday spirit. A girl's family is having a lot of people over. They ask the neighbor to borrow some ingredients for latkes. They also invite the neighbor to join them, but she's too proud. So the girl finds a way to bring the party to the neighbor.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very touched by this story. Rachel and her family find out they’ll have last minute guests for the last night of Hanukkah. But, they don’t have enough potatoes and eggs to make enough latkes for the unexpected guests, and they’re due to arrive shortly. Their next door Mrs. Greenberg always refuses invitations but is a generous person. Rachel asks and receives first potatoes then eggs from her. Then, she goes back for chairs, and she has a brilliant way to get Mrs. Greenberg to join the rest of them for dinner. I knew what was coming, but it was still so sweet. Rachel and Mrs. Greenberg both have a lot in common and it’s so lovely that Rachel found a way to include what seemed to be a somewhat lonely woman.

The illustrations are wonderful. The cover illustration, with the girl appearing to be up in the air, with the stars and moon behind her, reminded me just a bit of Marc Chagall’s art style. I enjoyed all the illustrations. I loved the dog, cat, facial expressions of the people and the movement shown in almost every picture showing Rachel, and just about everything about them, mostly because they fit the story so well.

This book was published in 1997 but I’m surprised that it’s not even older. The family’s phone appears to be one of those old black manually dialed attached to the wall phones, for instance. But the story sounds modern enough.

There is a latke recipe given at the beginning of the book, which unfortunately (for me and other vegans) includes the traditional egg.

Nothing to do with this book but, for those who are interested, there are so many vegan latke recipes, and the eggs are definitely not necessary or even missed. They’re always excellent with no sugar added applesauce. Here are just a few (hopefully not duplicated; I didn’t check carefully):

http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/p...

http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/veg...

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/morere...

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/e...

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story about a family making latkes for a Hanukkah night. They run out of eggs and need to borrow them from the neighbor. They feel bad asking her because she never comes to their Hanukkah celebration though she is invited every year. So the little girl Rachel thinks that if she borrows the potatoes from her she will have to come to dinner. It doesn't work. Then they need eggs! She borrows them again from the neighbor knowing this time she will have to come to the celebration. She refuses again. Then, Rachel has a brilliant idea and the neighbor cannot resist.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazingly compassionate book! It's one I'd want everyone to read. I'm not even of the Jewish faith and I loved it! Highly recommended! Don't we all wish there were more people like Rachel and Mrs. Greenberg in this world. Don't we want to be more like them ourselves! If great books are books that remind us of the best that there is in people and in ourselves, then this is definitely a great book! I can't recommend the book highly enough!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Rachel's mother finds out that she will be getting sudden guests for hanukkah dinner, she goes to the neighbor to first borow potatoes, than one thing after another. each time the elderly woman refuses the invitation to join them. Rachel eventually turns the tables on the lonely widow. This heartwarming tale is a cute story for young children.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might be a little biased by my upbringing, but I liked this book. It reminds me of how my grandfather would give a gift to me or my mother and say "Use it in good health.". Just like the neighbor in this book!

This is a nice, simple story of family, neighbors, and togetherness.

[Orion Kopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story!

[Alenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about continually reaching out to the lonely around us.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story about a great big Hanukkah get together, where one family runs out of potatoes for latkes, and the elderly neighbor kindly lends potatoes...

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

(trying to get it to the kindle version but Goodreads is not allowing me to do so?) love the illustrations. would be awesome for anyone's book shelf. way cool. i enjoyed it. recipe included.

[Carol Teitelman]

Delightful

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book!--Love the story and the illustrations are delightful. The BONUS of the recipe is fun, too.

[IfCatsCouldRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel is determined to get her neighbor to come over for the last night of Hanukkah. Luckily the neighbor is not the only one with a heart of gold but stubborn as an ox.

[Viviana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems like a story about crossing others' boundaries.

[Jan Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story about sharing a Hanukkah meal with a neighbor.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story! I wish the illustrations were better. Needs a reprint with a new illustrator.

[Shoshanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet. Just what we need. A story of community for khanike!

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 - The 52 Book Club Challenge

Week 40: Set during a holiday you don’t celebrate

A sweet Hanukkah story.

[Rebecca Frisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

This is a story set during Hanukkah, not about Hanukkah. Very sweet, embodies Jewish values, and a great message for kids of any faith. Without being preachy.

Story outline: There is a little girl whose family has planned a Hanukkah celebration. The guest list keeps growing, and the little girl goes next door to borrow several needed items. The neighbor is an older lady who is generous throughout, but declines several invitations to join the party so as not to be a bother. In the end, the little girl finds a way to bring the party to her. Everyone is happy.

[Lynne Vanderveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming, lovely story of a family that really would like to include their elderly neighbor in their Hanukkah celebration. The elderly woman, doesn't want to impose or be a bother, but the young neighbor girl is determined to find a way. This story may be about a Hanukkah celebration, but could easily be just a wonderful story for anyone to read to show the true meaning of being neighborly and caring.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bottom line: A good book for reminding young ones about the importance of including the elderly and/or alone during the holidays. This isn't a book that will teach readers much about Chanukah, provide any great laughs, or wow you with its illustrations, but it does a good job of showing how a child can touch the life of another person through simple acts of kindness. Better for ages 5-7 since the story will be too slow and the pictures not ideal for younger readers.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an endearing story which told about Hanukkah and the importance of being with friends and family. Children of all ages will enjoy this book.

[Emelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet and touching story, no matter what holidays you may or may not celebrate. :)

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! And now I'm ready for latkes.

[Ruth Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book about Hanukkah and a persistent little girl. Tread it to your kids.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story, but creepy illustrations of the characters.