
Reach for this book when you want to nurture a child's natural empathy or discuss how to make family traditions inclusive for everyone. While many holiday stories focus on receiving, this gentle narrative highlights the joy of thoughtful giving and the importance of accessibility. It follows young Jeremy as he participates in a dreidel-making workshop, where he decides to use his creativity to solve a unique problem. By using dots of glue to create braille letters on his clay dreidel, he ensures his blind father can fully participate in the Hanukkah games. It is a wonderful choice for children aged 5 to 8 who are beginning to notice the different ways people experience the world. It provides a heartwarming model for how small, creative acts of kindness can foster deep family connection and communal belonging during the holiday season.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe book addresses blindness directly but through a lens of capability rather than tragedy. The father is depicted as an active participant in family life who simply needs a different tool to play the game. The resolution is hopeful and realistic, focusing on the empowerment of the disabled individual through thoughtful design.
A child who is naturally observant and enjoys 'maker' activities. It is especially poignant for a child who has a family member with a disability and is looking for ways to express their love through inclusion.
This book can be read cold. Parents may want to have a picture of the braille alphabet handy, as children often want to see how the code works after reading. A parent might choose this after hearing a child ask why someone uses a white cane or after noticing their child feeling frustrated that a friend or relative cannot participate in an activity the same way they do.
Younger children (5-6) focus on the craft and the holiday symbols. Older children (7-8) begin to grasp the deeper concept of accessibility and the emotional weight of Jeremy's empathy.
Unlike many Hanukkah books that focus on the Maccabees or the oil, this is a contemporary story that centers on disability representation and the 'Mitzvah' of inclusion within a modern Jewish context.
At a community Hanukkah workshop, a group of children are tasked with molding their own clay dreidels. While the other children decorate theirs with traditional painted or carved letters, Jeremy takes a different approach. He carefully uses glue and small dots to create the Hebrew letters in braille. The story follows his creative process and the eventual reveal to his father, showcasing how Jeremy's observant nature allows him to bridge a gap in their family's holiday celebration.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.