Eight Wild Nights: A Family Hanukkah Tale

Brian P. Cleary
Kar-Ben Publishing (2006)
ISBN 9781580132299
Reviewed by Leslie Granier and Nicholas Lopez (age 5) for Reader Views (10/07)

“Eight Wild Nights” is a story about Hanukkah as told from a child's point of view.  It follows the hectic activities of spending time with a large family and following the traditions of Hanukkah, such as lighting a different candle each day, exchanging gifts, and eating special foods.

Nicholas thoroughly enjoyed this book (even though we do not celebrate Hanukkah).  He liked how it rhymed and thought “it was really funny.”  He also loved the pictures, especially the one in which the kid and the grandma had the same pajamas.  Grandpa Dave was “cool and funny and made me laugh.”  He thinks the book should have been longer because it is so good.

In the front of “Eight Wild Nights,” there was an overview of what Hanukkah celebrates and how the traditions were formed.  I normally would not have chosen to read a Hanukkah book but I am glad I was exposed to this one.  It has provided me not only with insight into other cultures/religions, but it also provided me a chuckle or two along the way.

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