Oy, Santa! Or, There’s a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah

A youth valiantly defends Hanukkah as its own holiday in this distinctive epistolary work. After young Oliver Overstreet, portrayed with brown skin, sends pale-skinned Santa an email reminder—“I’m Jewish. And that means you don’t have to come down my chimney on Christmas Eve”—Santa responds that he’s certainly Hanukkah conversant, then closes with “Happy Chrismukkah!” No matter how face-palm-worthy Santa’s responses, Schreibman’s protagonist remains patient but firm: “I don’t want you to smush Hanukkah and Christmas together anymore. Okay?” Von Meissner depicts the ongoing exchange via a mash-up of email images, Ollie’s own drawings, and vignettes of each character at home. To his credit, Santa does seem eager to learn—a good thing, too, since by book’s end he’s smushed in Passover practices and put ketchup on latkes. Clever, knowing, and unique in its enthusiasm for the integrity of the holiday, this story is for readers who find themselves cast in the role of Hanukkah explainer. Back matter offers more about the holiday. Ages 4–9. (Oct.)