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Summary
Summary
In this delightfully inventive holiday tale, an elf named Shmelf takes a journey from the North Pole . . . and discovers all the joys of Hanukkah.
Shmelf is one of Santa's most important elves. He's part of the List Checking department, and he makes sure all the good boys and girls get their presents! But when Shmelf finds out that some children are missing from Santa's list, he goes to investigate.
What Shmelf uncovers is Hanukkah, a wondrous and joyful holiday that Jewish families celebrate each year. As Shmelf observes a family lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and hearing the Hanukkah story, he sees how special the traditions of the holiday truly are--and he wants to be a part of it! Luckily, Santa just might have a special role in mind for Shmelf . . .
The rich traditions of Hanukkah come to life in this whimsical and magical story that's perfect for the holiday season.
Author Notes
Greg Wolfe was raised a nice Jewish boy who also happened to be a true believer in Santa, elves, and flying reindeer. Greg lives in Southern California with his wife and young son (for whom he wrote Shmelf , to prove that Santa believes in him too).
Howard McWilliam left his career as a financial journalist and editor to draw pictures instead. He has illustrated eight other picture books, including I Need My Monster , which won seven state reader awards and been translated into five languages. He lives in Cheltenham, England, with his wife and two young sons.
www.howardmcwilliam.com
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-If you have Jewish children worrying about why they don't get Christmas presents even though they've been good, they can thank new elf Shmelf for raising the question with Santa. After witnessing a family's Hanukkah celebrations, Shmelf is delighted: "'Hey, now I get it!' Shmelf said with a grin./'Hanukkah's awesome! I'm totally in!'" Santa, happy that Shmelf cares for Jewish children, decks him out in a blue and white outfit and sends him out with a Jewish reindeer to ensure a good holiday for eight nights in December (some years in November). Bright, colorful illustrations and a perky couplet scheme make this a viable, if odd, storytime title, but somehow the message just seems awkward and leaves a patronizingly bad taste. VERDICT Does Santa really need to mess with Hanukkah? Not recommended.-Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
With exaggerated drawings reminiscent of Mad magazine spoofs, McWilliam (When a Dragon Moves In) makes the most of newcomer Wolfe's comical story. After discovering that some "quite good" children aren't getting visits from Santa, an elf named Shmelf learns what's up from the head elf, who tells him, "of course you don't know, since you're still quite newish,/ But the kids on this list are actually Jewish." Intrigued, Shmelf does some reconnaissance at a Jewish home where Hanukkah is in joyous swing, then gets himself appointed the Hanukkah elf-complete with a blue and white costume, a Jewish reindeer named Asher, and a mandate to make Hanukkah a little more "magical." Three cheers for Shmelf for recognizing that "Hanukkah's awesome! I'm totally in," though it may rankle some families to see the Santa juggernaut expand to include Hanukkah, too. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In disbelief upon learning that Jewish children don't receive presents on Christmas, Shmelf, one of Santa's elves, observes a family's "awesome" Hanukkah celebration. Then Santa appoints Shmelf as a Hanukkah representative, complete with "Jewish reindeer" and sleigh. Accompanied by festive-enough illustrations, the rhyming text aims for cheer but, by putting Hanukkah under Santa's purview, misleads readers of all faiths. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
What! Some good children will not receive Christmas presents? Santas elves are busy preparing for Christmas and checking The List [6] for the names of those children deserving of presents. The newest elf, named Shmelf, is aghast to learn of so many young ones who would not receive presents, / Though it seemed that they should! [9] He consults with Santa who informs him that these children are actually Jewish [10] and that they celebrate Hanukkah, / Their own jubilee. [11] Shmelf visits a family, observes their joyous festivities, and he is thrilled to see all the gifts. Santa then dresses him in blue and white, gives him a sleigh, a Jewish reindeer named Asher, [24] and sends him out on Hanukkah to enhance the festival celebrations; leave him some gelt and a nice kosher dill. [30] Wolfe tells his tale in rhyming couplets and includes a very brief history of the origins of Hanukkah. McWilliams digital illustrations are bright and busy, showing both white and black elves and a Jewish family with a white father and a black mother. [28] Those in search of seasonal stories that contain a blend of Christmas and Hanukkah will find an entertaining tale here. (holiday, picture book, 3 - 6) A Christmas elf happily learns that Hanukkah is also a time for gift-giving. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
