The Dreidel that Wouldn't Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah

Great book for young readers. Lovely illustrations.

This is such an adorable story.

Enjoyed by my grandchildren!

grandson loved this book!

The shopkeeper knows there is something special about that dreidel the moment the peddler shows it to him. The peddler warns, the miracle of Hanukkah cannot be bought. But to the shopkeeper, that something special is the price it will fetch, so he displays it prominently in his window. Sure enough, a rich man and his daughter come into the store and, along with nearly everything else in the store, the daughter just has to have that beautiful dreidel. And what daughter wants, she gets.Except not always. In a huff, the rich man returns the dreidel the very next day – the darn thing won’t spin! Odd, the shopkeeper thinks, as he spins the dreidel. Nonetheless, he marks down the price and pawns it off on a well-fed woman and her well-fed son. And, surprise, the dreidel comes back the very next day – it won’t spin!And then the shabbily dressed man and his son beg the indulgence of the shopkeeper – could they, perhaps, just be permitted a few minutes to behold the joys of the toy store? Well, since there are no other customers this close to Hanukkah, why not let the riff-raff in? And since the shopkeeper happens to have a defective dreidel on his hands, why not let the kid have it? And I’m sure you can guess what happens.Although the Message is a bit heavy-handed, this is a charming book, not only for Jewish kids, but kids of all religious backgrounds (or no religion at all). For non-Jewish kids, it’s a nice introduction to the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and the meaning of the holiday, complete with learning a few Hebrew letters and words. It’s a simple story about appreciating one’s blessings and seeing value beyond monetary value.And like all Wisdom Press books, the book itself is very high-quality. It is well illustrated in an engaging way that captures the time period, the culture and the feel of the story. The cover is sturdy, the pages are thick and glossy, and it even comes complete with a wonderful new book smell. Wisdom Press books are designed to be treasured and shared through generations at different stages of your children’s (and children’s children’s) lives as they mature and gain more from each reading. No matter your cultural background, this is a fine addition to your child’s library to encourage a global and harmonious perspective.Please note, I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes

The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah is a memorable Hanukkah parable and an excellent picture book for the Jewish Festival of Lights. Martha Seif Simpson skillfully places the emphasis of this heartwarming story toward the merits of altruistic behavior.Greed and instant gratification are universal themes that affect both the young and the old. Prime examples of this negative behavior are initially seen in the shopkeeper as well as the first couple of children who enter the store.Early on the shopkeeper sets the tone when he states, … I am more concerned with turning a profit than I am in miracles.The parents in the first two scenarios give in to their children’s rude and demanding behavior. Instead of simply putting limits on the number of holiday gifts, the affluent parents appease their children’s whims. Both children are fascinated by a stunning dreidel. Each forces a parent to purchase the dreidel. In both cases, the spoiled children are disappointed that the dreidel will not spin. The parents return the dreidel.Toward the end of the story, the storekeeper is touched by a poor child’s appreciation of merely being able to look at the store’s toys. He offers the defective dreidel to the boy. Apprehensively, he accepts the gift. When the boy spins the dreidel, the Hebrew letters are magically changed. The nun, gimmel, hay and shin have now become nun, koof, hay and shin. The meaning of the traditional acronym had been transformed to “A small miracle happened here.”The attitude and behavior of the storeowner has been altered. He no longer looks at life as a series of monetary transactions.Durga Yael Bernhard’s watercolor illustrations add to the beauty of the story. She captures the unique charm of village life and provides useful picture clues to anyone who is listening to the story or attempting to read the book on their own. The placement of the pictures and the oversize text makes the book reader friendly.Anyone unfamiliar with Hanukkah or the dreidel game will appreciate the Author’s Note and Appendix. Both provide useful and accurate information.This picture book would be a wonderful addition for a home, school, or public library.In exchange for an honest interview and review, I was sent a copy of The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin.