Night Lights: A Sukkot Story

Goldin, Barbara Diamond

ISBN 10: 0152005366 ISBN 13: 9780152005368

Publisher: Gulliver Books, 1995

Synopsis

In a tender story about the Jewish harvest holiday, Sukkot, young Daniel overcomes his fear of the dark with the help of his sister, who teaches him about the stars in the night sky and the Jewish ancestors they represent.

About this title

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1?Goldin uses the story of two siblings spending a night in the family sukkah?a small, temporary hut roofed with tree branches that is constructed during the Jewish fall harvest festival of Sukkot?as a vehicle to help explain the holiday. Daniel and his older sister help their parents to build and decorate the sukkah, and then share a family meal inside it. Afterwards, trying to settle down to sleep, the boy becomes nervously aware of night sounds and shapes, but is reassured by his sister's comparison of brightly shining stars and moon to the night light in his bedroom. Bold, full-and double-page linocuts, richly colored with oils and pastels, feature caricaturelike people, imaginary monsters, and a particularly expressive pet cat. The first page of black text, set against a peach and blue sky, is a bit difficult to read, but the volume as a whole is well designed and attractive. A page of information about Sukkot concludes the book. Because most young children can relate to Daniel's fear of the dark, the story will be appreciated by both general and Jewish audiences.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. As young Daniel helps decorate the family sukkah, his fears persist about sleeping in the flimsy hut that night with his sister. After all, its walls and ceiling offer little protection from imaginary invaders or night noises. After the festive meal in the sukkah, the guests leave, and Daniel and his sister settle in for the night. Just as Daniel had feared, the wind picks up and rattles the corn stalks, the decorative gourds sprout monstrous faces, and Daniel wants the security of his bedroom. Then big sister Naomi pulls him under the covers and points to the sky illuminated by nature's night lights. From velvety black backgrounds, August's just-menacing-enough monsters jump out at the children and their timid white cat. Also, the robustly colored linocuts whimsically trace ancient Jewish history and energetically depict the ongoing celebration of Sukkot in an appealing story that entwines childhood fears with a faithful observance of religious tradition. Ellen Mandel

About this edition

• Publisher: Gulliver Books
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0152005366
• ISBN 13: 9780152005368
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Illustrator: August Louise