Meet the Latkes

Super cute book. I bought this for my 2 and 4 year olds. I honestly think that this is probably more suited for 5 and older. It’s a funny story where grandpa is having a difficult time correctly recollecting the story of Hanukkah. The dog apple sauce continuously chimes in to tell the kids the correct information. So you are reading two story’s that alternate. You get grandpa’s silly story and the accurate story from apple sauce. This is why I feel that 4 and under might not be the age group for the book. It is a bit more difficult for them to come away with the story of Hanukkah. We are reading this with them but we also have two other books that have a more straight forward simple version of Hanukkah. All in all I’m glad we got this and I’m sure next year my oldest will understand the jokes even more.

There has long been an inequity in holiday books for children: Christmas has all the classics (think of the Grinch, the Night Before Christmas, Rudolph, etc.). But where's the classic Hannuka book? The one that kids pull out year after year when the season turns colder, the one that they look forward to reading to their own kids?There just hasn't been such a book, until now. Alan Silberberg, a writer for kids' TV and the author of several excellent books for adolescents, has written his first picture book, and it's a totally bonkers retelling of the story of Hannuka (also known as Channuka, as the characters explain with some irritation).The book works on several levels. On the surface, Silberberg offers the story of a family of fried potato pancakes (The Latkes), preparing for the first night of the holiday by listening to Grandpa tell the story of Hannuka. Somehow this version involves giant warrior bees (Judah and the Mega-Bees, of course), multi-eyed laser-shooting alien potatoes, and sullen teenagers. But at the same time (with the helpful assistance of a talking dog who is somehow also a potato pancake), Silberberg manages to convey the actual biblical story, complete with a helpful glossary in the back. Tying it all together are Silberberg's illustrations, which are adorable and unhinged.As a Jewish kid exposed to way too many Christmas specials on TV when I was growing up, I could have used a book like this to cement my own understanding of Hannuka and also to remind me that the holiday is cool! Now I have it, my kids have it, and their kids will have it too. This has the makings of a classic.

Super funny concept (I loved the dog named applesauce) but it is way too wordy and confusing for young kids. Better suited for late elementary or middle school. It’s a very long book. I bought it for preschoolers and it’s useless to me. 😣

This book is wonderful! We bought it to have for our grandson (and future grandchildren) this year for Hanukkah and it was a hit! He must have read it 10 times over the weekend. It is well written, illustrated and very funny. I hope the author does one for Passover!!

This book was a pure joy to read! My children, ages three and five, as well as the near 40 year old in me loved the story, artwork and learned a little too! As a PTA dad and a parent of an autistic child this book was a book that children have asked to re-read multiple times a day and subsequently we were the parents who were asked to share and read it with classmates and friends. I highly recommend buying this book and sharing it with others, regardless of what holiday you will be celebrating this season. Author Alan Silberberg has scored big with this one!

Utterly charming retelling of the Chanukah story by a family of latkes. Fresh and funny with illustrations that leap off the page. Your kids will love it and so will you. Now someone please make a TV special of this while Mel Brooks is still available to play Grandpa!

I gave this book to my friend's son as a gift, and everyone loved this book! Such a silly, creative way to tell the story of Hanukkah.

This book is hysterical. We were rolling with laughter reading this book. My 8 year old has read it multiple times a day to his younger siblings. It's a huge hit.

A really good read and funny for my grand kids.

Oh my goodness, what a hilarious, adorable book! Seriously, so funny and fun to read together. I’m certainly reading it to my 4 year old, but she practices reading the short, easy words. It tells both the real story of Channukah (with Judah Macabee and the Macabee army) and an absurd, silly version that the Grandpa Latke tells about Judah Mega-Bee and the Mega-Bees lol Trust me, it’s perfectly written, clever, hilarious, and a perfect length. Would 100% recommend the book to absolutely anyone, jewish or not.

Love this book! It’s a fun story for kids of all ages!

Awesome!

Excellent funny story. Very quickly it became my son's favorite. He was laughing non stop.