MRS. GREENBERG’S MESSY HANUKKAH

It’s the first night of Hanukkah and Rachel, introduced in The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes (1997), is again looking to share it with her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg. Her parents have too much to do, too many errands to run, and only time to light the menorah for that night. Rachel resolves to stay with Mrs. Greenberg until her parents return and in the course of the afternoon, eager to experience the holiday’s wonderful smell of fried potatoes in the warmth of a cozy kitchen, convinces her host to allow her to make latkes. Things get messier with each portion of the recipe as grated potatoes fall to the floor, eggs slip over the batter bowl, and spilled oil and flour add to the culinary disaster leaving Mrs. Greenberg exhausted in her living room and Rachel in a heap of trouble as her parents return. A quick, capable clean up and preparation of the meal by mom and dad finally gets the week-long celebration off with family and friend. Mixed-media folksy paintings of wintry scenes often with blue-toned backdrops illustrate the humorous and often predictable predicaments Rachel creates. Kids will be shaking their heads in mild amusement happy that Rachel’s efforts do bring home the “feel of Hanukkah.” (Picture book. 3-6)