Zigazak! A Magical Hanukkah Night

Kimmel, Eric A.

ISBN 10: 0385326521 ISBN 13: 9780385326520

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2001

Synopsis

“The most imaginative Hannukah tale of the season.”—Publishers Weekly

On the first night of Hanukkah, two tricky devils arrive in the town of Brisk to cause mischief. They use a magic word — Zigazak! — to make dreidels dance and latkes fly. The good citizens of Brisk panic and appeal to their wise rabbi for help. He triumphs over the devils in a contest of wits, and soon sends them packing. But his real triumph is the ability to see the good in all things, even devils’ tricks, helping the townsfolk enjoy their most magical Hanukkah ever.

“The breezy text and expressive humor of the illustrations make this a fine choice for Hanukkah storytimes.”—School Library Journal

An Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Young Readers

About this title

Review

Is Hanukkah really all about dancing dreidels and high-flying latkes? Maybe not, but Eric Kimmel and Jon Goodell have put these devilish phenomena to good use in a lighthearted story that teaches Hanukkah traditions--from kazatzkas to gelt--along with a wise, timeless moral. The tale's decidedly unscary antagonists are a couple of bumbling devils determined to cause Hanukkah-night mischief in the village of Brisk. Goodell's clearly having fun as he sends five dreidels into a tight little jig, launches latkes around Hannah Leah's kitchen, and sets off some menorah pyrotechnics in Menachem Mendel's home. But Brisk's frightened villagers need not worry: they've got a clever rabbi who's not only unafraid of the devils' antics--he enjoys them! When dreidels sprout legs and dance on his table, "he laughed and clapped his hands. 'Delightful!' he exclaimed. 'Show me more.'" As with the misadventures of Fat Albert, kids reading Zigazak! should be careful--otherwise, they just might learn something. And that goes for both Hanukkah minutiae and the wise rabbi's moral: "Sparks of holiness exist in all things, even in devils' tricks. And if we look hard enough, we can find the good in all living creatures." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From the Inside Flap

On the first night of Hanukkah, two tricky devils arrive in the town of Brisk to cause mischief. They use a magic word -- "zigazak! -- to make dreidels dance and latkes fly. The good citizens of Brisk panic and appeal to their wise rabbi for help. He triumphs over the devils in a contest of wits, and soon sends them packing. But his real triumph is the ability to see the good in all things, even devils' tricks, helping the townsfolk enjoy their most magical Hanukkah ever.

About this edition

• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0385326521
• ISBN 13: 9780385326520
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Goodell Jon