Oskar and the Eight Blessings

This heartwarming picture book follows Oskar, a young Jewish refugee fleeing Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany, as he arrives in New York City in 1938. On the seventh day of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve, Oskar embarks on a journey across Manhattan to find his aunt. Along the way, he encounters various New Yorkers who offer him small but significant acts of kindness, providing comfort and a sense of belonging in a new world. It's a gentle introduction to themes of immigration, historical context, and the power of human compassion for children aged 4-11.

Winner of the 2015 National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature A young immigrant from Nazi Germany recieves small acts of kindness while exploring New York City in this heartwarming, timeless picture book, Oskar and the Eight Blessings. A refugee seeking sanctuary from the horrors of Kristallnacht, Oskar arrives by ship in New York City with only a photograph and an address for an aunt he has never met. It is both the seventh day of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve, 1938. As Oskar walks the length of Manhattan, from the Battery to his new home in the north of the city, he passes experiences the city's many holiday sights, and encounters it various residents. Each offers Oskar a small act of kindness, welcoming him to the city and helping him on his way to a new life in the new world. Richard and Tanya Simon's text matched with Mark Siegel's elegant illustrations makes for a wonderfully heartfelt read.