| Title | : | Hanukkah Bear |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0823428559 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780823428557 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 32 |
| Publication | : | First published September 1, 2013 |
| Awards | : | National Jewish Book Award Illustrated Children’s Book (2013) |
Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village, and on the first night of Hanukkah, the scent of her cooking wakes a hungry, adorable bear from his hibernation. He lumbers into town to investigate, and Bubba Brayna--who does not see or hear very well--mistakes him for her rabbi. She welcomes the bear inside to play the dreidel game, light the menorah, and enjoy a scrumptious meal.
However, after her well-fed guest leaves, there's a knock at the door--it's the rabbi, and all of Brayna's other friends, arriving for dinner. But there are no latkes left--and together, they finally figure out who really ate them.
Lively illustrations by Mike Wohnoutka, portraying the sprightly Bubba Brayna and her very hungry guest, accompany this instant family favorite, a humorous reworking of Eric A. Kimmel's earlier classic tale, The Chanukkah Guest. A traditional recipe for latkes is included in the back matter, along with interesting, digestible facts about the history and traditions of Hanukkah.
A 2013 National Jewish Book Award Winner, this book is perfect for a holiday story time with children-- either in the classroom or at home, as an introduction for young readers to the traditions and customs of Hanukkah, and as a classic to return to year after year.
Hanukkah Bear Reviews
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"Almost blind and deaf, a woman known for her delicious latkes mistakes a visiting bear for her rabbi. A retelling of The Chanukkah Guest (Holiday House, 1990, o.p.) with new illustrations."
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When he smells the delicious odor of latkes frying, a formerly hibernating bear heads to the home of Bubba Brayna, an elderly woman whose near blindness and deafness lead her to believe that her ursine visitor is actually the village rabbi come to call. The pair enjoy a visit, complete with feasting and games, before the bear heads back to his cave. When Bubba Brayna discovers her mistake, she is not displeased, happy to think the bear had a happy Hannukah as she sets out to make more latkes for the real rabbi and her other guests...
Published in 2013, Hanukkah Bear is a story that first saw print in 1988 in the pages of Cricket Magazine, before being published as a picture-book in 1990, under the title
The Chanukkah Guest. According to the brief note on the colophon, this is a slightly revised version of that earlier tale, which was illustrated by Giora Carmi, and is paired in this new incarnation with the artwork of Mike Wohnoutka. The story itself is humorous and heartwarming, while the accompanying artwork is colorful and cute. Comparing the two picture-books, I find the Carmi illustrations a bit more appealing, but these still have charm. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for fun Hanukkah stories. -
Ages: 3-9
Hanukkah Bear is a humorous story about an Old Bear visiting an elderly Bubba Brayna, but she mistakes the bear for her Rabbi. See what kind of hijinks ensue.
The story is a sweet children’s book that covers the major elements of a Hanukkah celebration.
There is a page after the story that tells the story of the festival of lights.
Awards/Recognitions: National Jewish Book Award Winner
Find more children's books that support diversity and tolerance in my post
https://www.teacher-librarian-forlife... -
A hungry old bear shows up at Bubba Brayna's doorstep just as she's pulling the latkes from the oven. Expecting the Rabbi and other company, Bubba Brayna invites the bear in and hosts him for the first night of Hanukkah!
This was a sweet and silly story that made us giggle and want to know more about the Jewish Festival of Lights. Thankfully, there's more about Hanukkah at the end of the book as well as a recipe for latkes!
Read to my 6yo as a 'window to the world' read. -
Bubba Brayna is making Hanukkah latkes for the rabbi when she hears a knock on the door. Bubba thinks that it's the rabbi, but it's actually a bear! She feeds the bear the latkes and sends him on his way home...so she's surprised when the rabbi finally does show up. Bubba Brayna handles it well, and makes another batch of latkes for the real rabbi.
A cute (and silly) Hanukkah story. Would be good for sharing one-on-one as well as in a storytime. -
I really like the updated edition of this cute picture book about a case of mistaken identity during Hanukkah. The illustrations are great and it includes a latke recipe! I must take issue with Bear's choice of jam though..... :)
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For more bookish opinions, see my blog:
Craft-Cycle
A humorous tale of mistaken identity. Bubba Brayna, a 97-year-old who makes the best potato latkes in the village, is preparing for a visit from the rabbi on Hanukkah. So when a guest arrives who looks like the rabbi, talks like the rabbi, and has the rabbi's beard, Bubba Brayna assumes it is the rabbi. A delightfully sweet story of sharing good times with others, even those you might not have expected.
The updated illustrations are adorable. Very warm and cozy. They fit perfectly with the book's theme. The story itself is silly and heartwarming. I loved how the village came together at the end.
The book also includes a recipe for potato latkes.
A delight to read. Great for sharing with others, just like a plate of latkes. -
Bubba Brayna is 97 years old and can’t see or hear very well, yet she is getting ready to have the rabbi and her friends over during Hanukkah. She makes the best potato latkes in town, unfortunately, she wakes up a bear from his slumber with her delectable smelling food. Bubba opens the door for the bear, mistaking him for the rabbi. As the story progresses the author has delicately woven in the traditions of the holiday for the reader to learn. The humor in the story will entertain K-2 graders and the illustrations are delicate, yet warm and friendly. There is also a recipe for latkes, as well as an author’s note explaining about Hanukkah.
*Side note: Apparently this is a remake of The Chanukkah Guest from 1990. -
Art - 1/1 - adorable, sweet
Story - 1/1 - phenomenal; a ridiculous tale of Bubba Brayna mistaking a bear for her rabbi and then the rabbi turns out to be a large man with a heavy beard and a large brown coat (think Hagrid)
What We Learn
- bubba
- potato latke
- rabbi
- menorah
- shammes candle
- dreidel
- letter gimel
- sour cream or jam
Extras
- latke recipe
- author's note with history/explanations -
A cute story about a bear coming out of hibernation and going to a 97 year olds (who cannot see well or hear well) house. She thinks the bear is the rabbi so she plays dreidel and feeds him latkes before sending him on his way. When the real rabbi shows up and the town members see the bear tracks they know what has happened to the latkes. They all laugh and get to work making more. Includes a latkes recipe at the end.
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There is a touch of Little Red Riding Hood to Eric Kimmel's "Hanukkah Bear." Bubba Brayna is 97 years-old(!) and doesn't see or hear as well as she once did, and as a result, mistakes Old Bear for the village rabbi on the first night of Hanukkah! Luckily, Old Bear is satisfied with latkes and jam, not the grandmother herself! A sweet tale for the holiday.
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What you see, from blurb & cover art, is what you get. A funny original tale that nonetheless teaches a little about the true meaning and traditions of Hanukkah, with a note that tells more.
From a prolific creator of adapted and original fables and folk tales. As usual, the illustrator is well chosen to specially suit the tale. -
Cute and sweet story about an old lady and a bear.
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I know a bear like this one!
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IL: LG - BL: 3.1 - AR Pts: 0.5
I've read this book a couple of times and absolutely love it. Such a sweet story and you really don't have to know anything about Hanukkah to fully enjoy it.
Bubba Bryna is 97 and she can't see or hear well anymore, but she still makes the best potato latkes in the entire village. This year she made more than usual because it's a special year. The Rabbi is supposed to be there! When there's a knock at the door, Bubba Bryna assumes it's the rabbi, but instead it is a big, fuzzy bear! Bubba Bryna doesn't know the difference, but what happens when the real Rabbi comes by? -
I thought I'd read this before but I couldn't find a review of it or any mention of it on my blog or spreadsheets of books read. The way I recommend it to our customers makes me sure I've read it. Anyways, it's a hilarious tale of an elderly lady who accidentally invites a bear (mistaking him for her rabbi) for Hanukkah dinner.
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This was a great book to introduce awareness to other cultures and to help kids become familiar with some of the non-majority holidays in the world. The story is cute, easy to relate to, and informative.
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Bubba Brayna is 97 years old and can't see so good - and mistakes a bear for the rabbi. Hilarity ensues... and we get to learn all about potato latkes. Deliciously silly story with a recipe at the end.
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What an adorable book! Such cute illustrations with a sweet and humorous story. It's basically a story about a bear who comes over and enjoys some latkes with an older woman who can't see or hear very well so she doesn't realize she has a bear in her home instead of the Rabbi. I loved it.
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Un cuento simpatiquísimo que, a través del humor y la torpísima Bubba Brayna, te enseña algunas de las tradiciones judías para la semana de Hanukkah. Un libro fabuloso para leer con los niños porque es muy entrañable y es imposible no reírse con él.
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megan winter reading 2016, children's book, picture book, holiday book, hanukkah, fable, cute, humor, bears, latkes, food, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,
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This was so cute; I can't wait to read more like it!
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A fun story of mistaken identity as the village's oldest woman thinks a visiting bear is the visiting Rabbi. Teaches holiday traditions in a giggle-inducing manner.
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Such a cute book about Hanukkah! Classic tale with loads of laughter and oohs and aahs! My third graders loved this book!
