Sammy Spider's First Taste of Hanukkah

October 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Sammy Spider watches the Shapiro clan cook a variety of foods and create toys, gift wrap, decorations, and a menorah in this Hanukkah cookbook/craft book. A brief introduction sets this up, along with the eight rules for cooking in the kitchen, including the importance of having adult participation throughout the process. Rule number three goes against current U.S. practice by suggesting that a child should "turn your head if you have to cough or sneeze" (as opposed to covering mouth and nose with an arm). A web icon for each recipe shows whether it includes meat or dairy or is parev (prepared without either meat or dairy, so appropriate to eat with either). Recipes are pretty general-snacks include a dried fruit and cereal mix, a dip for fruit, baked vegetable pieces coated in potato, cheese biscuits, etc. They do not include number of servings for the finished products. Directions are clear and include illustrations of the materials needed (bowls, grater, etc.) but not of the steps. Only a few of the recipes seem to celebrate the holiday specifically. VERDICT Buy where other books in the series are popular.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 14, 2015
Sammy is now in his second decade as an unlikely but winsome Jewish educator, and since the series kicked off in 1993 with a Hanukkah title, a holiday-themed cookbook is long overdue. Turndorf, who teaches cooking to children, has developed 17 easy recipes that kids can whip up with adult supervision, including snacks (“Maccabee Munch”), main courses (“Count to Eight Shishkebab”), and sweets (“Melt in Your Mouth Menorahs”); Sammy helpfully adds a spider web emblazoned with M, D, or P (for meat, dairy, and pareve) to each recipe for families who keep kosher. Kahn’s bright, impressionistic watercolor collages feel as fresh and expressive as ever—in fact, they’re particularly well suited to the pursuit of cooking and collective noshing. Ages 2–8.

September 1, 2015
Sammy Spider and his human friend Josh return in a Hanukkah kid-oriented cookbook. Unlike Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah (1993), which focused solely on the lighting of the candles and doubled as a counting and color concept book, this publication provides a one-page introduction summarizing the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the lasting oil. In the familiar style of the series, Sammy dangles from his web as he listens and asks if he can also celebrate. "Silly little Sammy," his mother laughs. "Spiders don't celebrate Hanukkah. Spiders spin webs! But you may watch the Hanukkah festivities while you spin." So he observes as Josh's parents list the eight rules for cooking safely. The subsequent recipes include more than just applesauce and latkes and will mostly need adult supervision. They are organized in three sections, with a few recipes for simple snacks (dipping fruit pieces in cinnamon-sugared sour cream), miracle meals (pita pockets filled with cooked ground beef and chopped veggies), and tasty treats (Hanukkah web cake). A fourth section includes crafty ideas for creating a homemade menorah, gift wrap, and even a Sammy Spider spinning puppet. A small web symbol with either an M for meat, D for dairy, or P for pareve is helpfully included in the upper corner of each recipe, all of which are kosher. A nice addition to the holiday collection. (Cookbook. 5-10)

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