One of my favorite things about Hanukkah is the way it meets the darkest time of the year with light. Here in the northern hemisphere, the days are short, the nights are long, and tonight, the third night of Hanukkah, I am adding another candle to my hanukkiah. Outside it will be dark, but inside there will be the warm glow of candles, a plate of freshly fried doughnuts, and a beautiful book that captures the meaning of light across an array of cultures and traditions.
We Celebrate the Light by Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Jane Yolen, and Jieting Chen is a striking exploration of how light plays a role in seven fall and winter holidays celebrated by communities within the United States. The structure is simple and effective. Seven holidays—Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year—are each described across two spreads with spare text and brief sidebars. The unifying element of all of these holidays is the way light in used to celebrate, from twinkling lights to flickering flames to the radiant moon. Themes of joy, love, and togetherness glow on every page. The illustrations are infused with warmth and depict diverse communities.
This book makes for a wonderful classroom or library read aloud, a lovely bedtime story, and a perfect holiday—any holiday—gift.
I hope this season brings you joy and light. See you in 2025!
It looks gorgeous! Thank you. And lots of love and light to all here on PBB.
Beautiful concept and book, and the perfect way to usher in 2025. Adding it to my TBR list. Thank you for sharing!