Michael J. Rosen (1) (1954–)

Every Thanksgiving, Amanda and her entire extended family descend on her Bubbe's house, where they enjoy a feast like no other, prepared over the course of an entire month. Bubbe also prepares a series of wishbones for each of her grandchildren, allowing them the opportunity to make a wish on each night they are visiting with her. This year however, Bubbe is gone, and Amanda and her family must carry on without the family matriarch. Hosting her cousins and aunts and uncles at their new show more house, Amanda's family attempts to recreate Bubbe's fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, only to find themselves in the dark when the power goes out. Then their new neighbor Mrs. Yee arrives, and with the help of some of the other neighbors, Amanda and her family manage to have Thanksgiving after all. Amanda even gets to make a Thanksgiving wish, discovering in the process what it was that Bubbe herself wished for, every time they snapped the wishbone...

The second holiday picture-book I have read from author Michael J. Rosen - the first being his lovely Hanukkah title, Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah - A Thanksgiving Wish offers a poignant, heartfelt examination of one Jewish American family's Thanksgiving traditions, and how that family copes, when the grandmother around whom the entire celebration revolves passes away. Amanda's sense of loss, her feeling of being lost without Bubbe, is captured in the text, as is the particular difficulties that holidays pose, to those facing the death of a loved one. I appreciated the father's words here: "You never stop missing someone, Mandi...You sort of forget how much you miss them until something - like Thanksgiving - reminds you again" - as they are so true! The accompanying artwork from illustrator John Thompson, which looks like it was done in oil paint, captures each scene beautifully, depicting a family at work together in the kitchen, or sitting around a table filled with candlelight. This one is very text heavy for a picture-book - it's almost more an illustrated short story - so I would recommend it to those on the older side of the picture-book audience (perhaps six and up?), and particularly, I would recommend it to anyone looking for children's Thanksgiving stories which address loss, and the first celebration without a grandparent or other loved one. show less

A young boy describes the lights of Hanukkah in this lovely holiday picture-book. From the night before the celebration begins, when family preparations are afoot, through the eight nights when the candles of the Menorah are lit, to the nights afterward, when the boy sees many things that remind him of Hanukkah and of being Jewish, the theme remains that of light - and of love. An afterword gives more information about the historical circumstances that gave rise to the holiday...

I enjoyed show more Chanukah Lights Everywhere, which is actually my second Hanukkah picture-book from author Michael J. Rosen, following upon his Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah. There is a feeling of homeyness and family warmth in the story, and in the artwork. I appreciated illustrator Melissa Iwai's use of color and (of course) light here, and I found the cats depicted throughout to be absolutely adorable. Recommended to anyone looking for fun and engaging Hanukkah picture-books. show less

A young boy narrates this engaging story of one family's celebration of Hanukkah, from the initial night of the festival, when they light the first candle in his great-grandmother's menorah - brought all the way from Russia - and sing holiday songs together; to the eighth night, when they gather round and consider the miracle of their safe and comfortable life together. In between come visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house, a night of gathering and repairing used toys and clothing to be show more donated to a local shelter, a Hanukkah party at the local temple, a big dinner with extended family and friends, a trip to the mall to buy presents, and a visit with close family friends who celebrate Christmas. This family's eight nights of Hanukkah are jam-packed with family, friends and fun!

Both entertaining and informative - I liked the way that the historical background of Hanukkah, the story of Judah Macabee and his rebellion, and of the miracle in the temple, was worked into the more lighthearted details of contemporary celebration - Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah is a lovely tribute to to the Festival of Lights, one that could also serve as an introduction to the holiday for non-Jewish children. I liked the messages of diversity and tolerance worked into the story - the idea, not just of co-existing with people of other faiths, but of taking joy in one another's traditions - and also thought the colorful artwork was appealing. All in all, an excellent family-oriented Hanukkah picture-book! show less

We want books like this to make us feel good and connected with other people and dogs.

While there are fine and memorable little stories in here:
A Dog in Love, Take that Will Rogers, Mason, True Romance...and the one
I'll never forget, HOBO, there are problems.

First, why include depressing stories?
Next, what was the point of the "Sambo" remark?
Why did no one ever walk the Saint Bernard?
Why is it still cool to let dogs hang out car windows when this has proven to be
dangerous?
And, geez, how show more awful was the death of the pheasant...

If there's a sequel with hopefully more upbeat stories, it would also be good
to include a wider variety of photos...even better to show ones that connect to the story,
like the Two Foos. show less