Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Gift Edition with Poster) - by Eric A Kimmel (Hardcover)

About the Book

Relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.

Book Synopsis

Boxed Poster and Book Gift Set

The perfect Hanukkah gift for the whole family! This beloved Caldecott Honor classic will delight readers each night of the holiday.

"A masterpiece."--Jason Chin, Caldecott Medal Winning Illustrator of Watercress

For more than thirty years, this clever story of a folk hero outwitting dreadful goblins has been a staple of family Hanukkah celebrations.

Celebrate the holiday and family tradition this season by sharing this elegant gift edition of the treasured classic with beautiful foil detailing and slipcase. Unfold a poster showcasing the evocative artwork, and read the insightful afterword from the 25th Anniversary Edition explaining the book's origins and remembering Trina Schart Hyman.

Adapted from a Ukrainian folktale, with an imaginative twist from master storyteller Eric Kimmel and featuring the timeless illustrations of Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a true classic of children's literature.

A haunting tale with a warm heart, Hershel of Ostropol arrives at a village on the first night of Hanukkah but finds the villagers too afraid to light a single candle! Goblins with spindly claws and twisted faces are haunting the synagogue. Hershel vows to break the curse. The clever trickster faces down one goblin after the next, night after night, until he meets the terrifying King of Goblins. It will take all of Hershel's wits to trick the King of Goblins to light the Menorah himself.

This classic picture book is a perfect Hanukkah gift and a wonderful read-aloud.

Caldecott Honor Book
ALA Notable Children's Book
NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
A Sydney Taylor Award Honor Book
Colorado Children's Book Award
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award

Review Quotes

"This, my friends, is our Hanukkah pop-culture icon. Judaism's very own A Christmas Carol, if you will. . . . Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins has become a holiday staple not only because it creates a compelling story that mimics the historical tale, but largely because it brings fun and magic to the season outside of the holiday's original traditions."--Aliza Pelto, heyalma.com

"Combining exquisite storytelling and captivating illustrations, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a masterpiece. This timeless tale has been capturing readers' imaginations for decades, and I have no doubt that it will endure for decades to come."--Jason Chin, Caldecott Medal Winning Illustrator of Watercress

★ "In this splendidly illustrated, humorous tale, Hershel outwits, one by one, eight fearsome goblins who not only haunt an old synagogue, but also have been forestalling Hanukkah in a nearby village . . . Rarely are author and illustrator so in tune."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Hyman is at her best with windswept landscapes, dark interiors, close portraiture, and imaginatively wicked creatures. Both art and history are charged with energy."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A welcome reissue that lights up holiday nights as few other books can."--School Library Journal

"This is a story whose essentials--cleverness, bravery, and otherworldly happenings-- always attract readers."--Booklist

"This original story in the tradition of Yiddish tales about Hershel Ostropolier is welcome as a Hanukkah story and as a trickster tale. . . . Hyman's illustrations capture Hershel's humor and earthy, peasant quality."--The Horn Book

"Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman provides wonderfully creepy art for Eric Kimmel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, a triumphant tale of goblins outwitted and faith preserved."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel has published more than fifty children's books, many of which have won state awards and appeared on school and library recommended lists. He has won the National Jewish Book Award for numerous books, including Hanukkah Bear and The Mysterious Guests: A Sukkot Story, and the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

One of the most distinguished and celebrated illustrators of her generation, Trina Schart Hyman (1939-2004) was awarded the Caldecott Medal for St. George and the Dragon, retold by Margaret Hodges, and Caldecott Honors for A Child's Calendar, by John Updike, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, and Little Red Riding Hood. Born in Philadelphia, she lived most of her life in New Hampshire.