Sharon Jennings, illustrated by Gillian Newland,
A Chanukah Noel
Second Story Press, 2010.

Rating: E*

This is simply a lovely story. It is a retelling of a true story from the childhood of one of Sharon Jennings friends. The story is that of Charlotte, a young girl who moves with her parents to France. The story is told in Charlotte's voice. She recounts the challenges of having to move to a new county and not quite fitting in because of being Jewish and English speaking. During Christmas celebrations this feeling is amplified. Charlotte is not only feeling lonely and rejected by friends, but also feels she is missing the fun and excitement of a  holiday she is not part of. The story tells of compromise and acceptance of others' religion and customs. The book is intriguing to read. Sharon Jennings is a superb storyteller, creating an interesting tale depicting the complications of real life. As a reader I felt compelled to read on and although the story is a mere thirty-two pages, it felt as satisfying as a novel.

The illustrations, created by Gillian Newland, serve well in creating a lovely flow to the timing of the story. The art work is superior, providing ambiance to the story thus adding another layer to the storytelling. In my opinion, the final illustration in the book and the scene of the Christmas market are exquisite. They begged my eyes to linger on these pages.

The book could be used to discuss holidays in Social Studies as well as in discussions about diversity and acceptance of individual differences - something all of us need a reminder of from time to time. Jennings' unqualified skill in understating this idea within the story makes this book stand out. The book invites children to explore their own feelings about being different, being new and about welcoming those who have different cultural backgrounds.
I highly recommend A Chanukah Noel for purchase by both school and public libraries. 

Thematic Links: Relationships; Christmas; Chanukah; Diversity; Friendship

Linda Berezowski
Vol. 16, number 2
December 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.