Review of “Chanumas: One Boy, Two Holidays and a Very Big Wish” by Irv Brand

Score: 91+/100 (9.1+ out of 10)

We're so excited to get some Jewish representation and Jewish literature again. It feels like it's been a while!

Chanumas: One Boy, Two Holidays and a Very Big Wish by Irv Brand, illustrated by Hannah Finkelshteyn, is a rhyming picture book about a Jewish boy whose first night of Chanukah happens to fall on Christmas Eve.

The boy’s home fills with relatives, food, music, games, and holiday cheer. His family lights the menorah, sings, dances the hora, plays dreidel, and enjoys his mother’s cooking. Although he appreciates the Chanukah celebration and knows that tradition grants him eight nights of gifts, he cannot stop thinking about the Christmas stockings, decorated trees, and other customs he sees around him. He wants just one additional present in a stocking.

After he tells his parents how he feels, they promise to consider his wish while remaining “faithful and true” to their beliefs. The boy hangs a sock on the kitchen wall and begins wondering who might fill it. Santa seems unlikely, especially without a fireplace, so he imagines other possibilities, including Elijah, a kind-hearted neighbor, or even Houdini.

To tempt this mysterious visitor, he leaves out an increasingly funny assortment of foods: potato pancakes, brisket, cookies, milk, chopped liver, and fresh challah. The next morning, he discovers some “dough,” candy, and an orange in his stocking. More importantly, he receives kisses from both parents, creating what he calls the perfect ending to his combined “Chanumas” celebration.

This is a warm, original, and wonderfully specific holiday story. Its greatest strength is that it does not simply mash Chanukah and Christmas together or pretend that they are interchangeable. The boy’s parents want to accommodate his feelings without abandoning their own traditions. That gives the story more sensitivity and substance than a basic tale about receiving an extra present.

The boy’s wish is also more emotionally understandable than it initially appears. On the surface, he already receives eight Chanukah gifts and wants a ninth. That could make him seem greedy. Underneath that desire, however, he wants to participate in something he sees happening throughout his neighborhood. The stocking represents inclusion, curiosity, and the childhood fear of missing out. The parents’ modest solution allows him to enjoy that experience while keeping Chanukah at the center of the family’s celebration.

The book becomes especially entertaining once the boy begins speculating about his mysterious benefactor. The progression from Santa to Elijah, a helpful mensch, and finally Houdini is imaginative and funny. The parade of foods also gives the final section a growing comic rhythm. Leaving chopped liver for an anonymous nighttime visitor is an especially amusing touch. The “dough” in the stocking may also function as a clever little food-and-money pun.

Finkelshteyn’s illustrations are colorful, textured, expressive, and packed with family activity. They create a cozy, lived-in atmosphere rather than a spotless, overly polished holiday-card world. The boy's mom is especially... cute. The opening scenes effectively contrast Christmas trees and outdoor decorations with menorahs glowing inside nearby homes. Later spreads capture the crowded warmth of relatives eating, dancing, talking, and playing dreidel. The artwork feels distinctive and handmade, although some readers may find its intentionally loose proportions and folk-art qualities less refined than conventional commercial picture-book illustrations.

The rhyming language is playful, but it is also the book’s most uneven element. Some passages flow naturally, while others appear constructed primarily to achieve a rhyme. Words and phrases such as “illusory,” “inner misery,” “benefactor,” “not a weenie,” “needed Houdini,” and “lactose milk” may sound awkward or require explanation for younger children. “Fresh-baked chally” appears chosen to rhyme with “jolly,” but readers familiar with the food may expect the standard spelling, challah. The vocabulary occasionally seems more appropriate for adults reading aloud than for beginning readers navigating the book independently.

Another thing that kinda bugged us about this book is how it constantly skips around and seems random at times. There is also a slight tonal risk in building the entire conflict around a child who already expects eight gifts but wants another one. Fortunately, the modest contents of the stocking and the affectionate ending soften that concern. The resolution ultimately emphasizes parental love, cultural flexibility, and the joy of feeling understood rather than expensive presents.

Check it out on Amazon!