Hanukkah Is Coming!

In this board book, a companion to 2014’s Shabbat Is Coming!, rhythmic verse follows a family as its members light the menorah, fry latkes, enjoy dreidels and gelt, and spend time together during Hanukkah. The title repeats as a refrain after each of Newman’s gentle rhymes, giving the book a soothing structure: “Winter is near./ Long nights are here./ Hanukkah is coming./ All in a row/ Our candles will glow./ Hanukkah is coming.” Skillful use of drop shadows brings a subtle three-dimensional quality to Garofoli’s crisp digital illustrations, while the images’ canvaslike textures are suggestive of the homey closeness of the family’s Hanukkah’s celebrations. Ages 1–4. (Sept.)